280 COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



From an issue of a local paper bearing the date of March 20th, 

 1880, I cull the following: "The late seveie Winter appers to have 

 driven inland many aquatic birds. In January last a pair of Canvas 

 Blue Ducks or Pochards, were shot in Hyde Wood, near Bushey, and 

 also three Common Gulls (Larus canus). In December last a very 

 fine male specimen of the Tufted Duck was shot at Nash Mills, near 

 Watford; and in January last, on the Willesden Reservoir, near Tring, 

 a female specimen of the pretty little bird the White-headed or Dwarf 

 Goosander, or Hooded Merganser (Mergus cucullatus] was shot by 

 Mr. F. G. Munton." 



In the North of our island snow has fallen, and the question arises 

 as to the prospects for the fast approaching Winter. If the abundance 

 of berries is a guide, we are, indeed, in for a severely hard season; 

 but as we have had an exceptionally dry and hot Summer, we may, 

 perhaps, be allowed to follow the dear old Selborne patriarch, whose 

 memory will ever be cherished. Gilbert White held that, after a dry 

 Summer, a cold Winter was extremely unlikely, and that an exceptionally 

 cold and severe Winter only follows after a very wet Summer. Of 

 course we shall see what we shall see. 



Just now the Skylark and the Robin are in full song, and occa- 

 sionally the cheery little Hedge Accentor chimes up. But what a 

 monotonous note the latter utters at this season, irrespective of the 

 song, of course. It is something like the " pink, pink" of the gaily- 

 plumed Chaffinch, but not nearly so shrill or metallic. The Nuthatch 

 is especially noisy at this season, and the Starlings, although mostly 

 in large flocks, find time to indulge in a wonderful concert of their 

 own as they perch on the chimney pots, rough and ready. 



Several rare Butterflies have been recorded during the past 

 Summer from various parts of the Country. Mr. E. Morel, of Hoy- 

 lake, states in the "Pall Mall Gazette," that he took a dozen large 

 Blues (Lycana ariori) on the outskirts of Dartmoor on July 15, at 

 8.30 a.m. We would much rather have read that Mr. Morel had 

 observed instead of captured the 12 specimens of this beautiful insect, 

 for it is strictly a local species, and is never very abundant. On the 

 wing it can be identified from other Blues by the large size and dark 

 appearance. The following counties are recorded in which this 

 Butterfly has been noted : Bedford, Buckingham, Devon, Dorset, 

 Gloucester, Hants, Hereford, Huntingdon, Kent, Northampton, 

 Shropshire, Somerset, and Wilts. 



27th. Strong winds, but bright and fine. Lark singing. Rooks 



