OCTOBER. 267 



of seemed in beautiful plumage. As compared with the Lark they 

 are very much darker, and, of course, not nearly so large). 



The Bees and Insects are very busy round the flowers of the Ivy. 

 How they love the flowers of the Ivy in the Autumn and the flowers 

 of the Sallow in the Spring 



Noticed a very large dark green Dragon Fly out to-day, also 

 several Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies, and also Small Whites, and I 

 have seen more Red Admirals to-day than at any other time this year. 



The berries of the Holly are a bright red, and the dead keys of 

 the rarer Maple are noticeable now that the leaves on this tree have 

 mostly fallen. It has now lost its beauty. A few Grasshoppers still 

 to be heard. The woods after the rains are still bright and green, 

 and Autumn in many places seems a long way off. The low-cut 

 hedges, however, remind us of Winter, although the brilliant sun and 

 the warm atmosphere seems to take our thoughts Summer-wards. 

 Many small Flies out. Bees on the Michaelmas Daisies in the garden, 

 and also some very bright green Flies, very beautiful indeed. Also 

 noticed a very large Spider, who seemed to have a sort of emergency 

 web to run to in case of difficulty. 



I have a splendid show of Nasturtiums in the garden now, the 

 scarlets and yellows making a very brave show, together with the 

 snow white of the Japanese Anemones. The scarlet berries of the 

 Bryony seem more prominent than ever now that the foliage has died 

 down, and the Haws are assuming a darker tint. The Bracken is 

 still green, though underneath traces of browning are noticeable. 



That barren- looking ploughed field I was writing about a few 

 weeks since has once more become a transformation scene, for the 

 whole is now covered with little fresh green blades, and will some day 

 yield a crop of Oats. How quickly it has come through, to be sure 



The brilliant sun had only set about an hour in the West when 

 the silver moon rose in the East, and being so bright and full specially 

 attracted our attention. 



Sth. Heavy dew, but a beautiful bright morning. Heat almost 

 tropical; 75 degrees in the shade; 14 above the average for the time 

 of year. No day as late as the 8th October has been as warm as 

 to day during the last forty years, whilst the records for the past sixty 

 years only show one day as warm so late in the Autumn, and that day, 

 curious to relate, was also on the 8th October. 



