268 COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



Skylark singing. House Sparrows very noisy. If this weather 

 continues, surely the birds will begin to think of nesting again 1 



9th. Very misty early, but afterwards as yesterday; almost 

 identical temperature. Topcoats have all been discarded again, and 

 yet last week we were only too glad to don them. Hedge Sparrows 

 in the garden, hopping about in their perky, sprightly manner, and 

 uttering all the time a monotonous double note, something like the 

 "pink, pink" of the Chaffinch, but not nearly so musical or shrill. 

 Robin singing. 



10th. Much cooler, but fine and bright. Hedge Sparrows still 

 noisy in the garden. Robin and Lark singing. Two or three Carrion 

 Crows went over cawing loudly. 



I picked a House Fly out of a ju% of milk to-day, and 

 watched how wonderfully the minute creature cleaned itself. A 

 small particle of some sort adhered to one of its legs, and it 

 tried all ways and means to dislodge it. It in some extraordinary 

 way or other managed to get each of its front and side legs cleaned 

 by dragging one leg down another, and it at last succeeded in freeing 

 the impeded one. I have never before been so interested in a Fly 

 nor realised what intelligent creatures they are. 



A keeper writes me to-day about some albino Song Thrushes he 

 once found. They were taken about thirty years ago from Zouches 

 Farm, near Dunstable, Beds. There were five young in the nest, 

 three being the normal colour and the remaining two albinos. Both 

 had pink eyes, one was pure white, and the other had a cream band 

 round its neck. They never kept their head feathers long, appearing 

 to be constantly moulting at this particular part. They lived just 

 over two years, and would have been preserved but for the fact that 

 they were bald on the head when they died. 



llth. Bright, but much colder. Between 60 and 70 degrees in 

 the sun. Larks singing and soaring all round. House Sparrows still 

 carrying feathers about, apparently for nesting purposes. 



12th. Beautiful October weather; much more seasonable than 

 early in the week. Bright and fine. Hedge Sparrows prominent 

 near my garden. Rooks passing overhead early. Robin and Lark 

 singing continuously. 



Just at this season the casual observer considers there is little to 

 interest and amuse, but the practical observer knows different. The 

 Autumn tints are beautiful; the Summer dresses are being thrown off, 

 and the garb of Winter donned. For every leaf that falls a new bud 

 is forming, or formed, and those who study Nature in Summer and 



