NOVEMBER. 289 



like. Those returning from the treeless veldt in South Africa just 

 now must indeed be pleased to see the green meadows and well- 

 timbered lands of the dear homeland once more. 



oth. Dull and misty. Over fifty Rooks went over my house at 

 8 a.m. Robin noisy in the garden; Hedge Sparrow singing. 



6th. Dull; raining. Robin singing. Bright moonlight night. 

 7th. Wet; miserable, muggy weather. Robin and Skylark singing. 

 Hedge Sparrow, Starling, and Chaffinch noisy. 



8th. Much clearer, brighter, and colder morning; rain towards 

 afternoon and evening. 



9th. -Bright, but cold. 



10th. Sharp, white frost last night; the first real snap we have 

 had of Winter's icy touch. Bright and clear day. Misty towards 

 evening. Chaffinch and Hedge Sparrow noisy. 



llth. -Very hard white frost (7 degrees) again last night. Thick 

 coating of ice on water-butt; one of the most sudden and sharpest 

 November frosts I never remember. Rime on the trees and hedge- 

 rows very beautiful ; what delicate filigree work, to be sure ! It was 

 delightful to be out and about this morning, but in spite of the hard 

 frost the green and back lanes where we delight to wander were very 

 dirty and in places well-nigh impassable. 



Flowers in bloom : Fumitory, Scentless Mayweed, Nipplewort, 

 Sow Thistle, Groundsel, Germander Speedwell, Dandelion, Yarrow, 

 Autumnal Hawkbit, Long-rooted Cat's Ear, Bramble (quite a lot of 

 this flower in bloom in one certain sheltered spot), Dogwood (we 

 were very surprised to find this in flower so late in the year), Lesser 

 Stitch wort (a similar remark applies), Charlock (yellow and white), 

 White Campion, and White Dead Nettle. Now that the frosts have 

 set in, and November is so far advanced, our flora notes will soon 

 cease; at least, our list will be reduced very considerably. 



Birds singing: Skylark, Robin, Hedge Sparrow, and brown 

 Wren (what a perky little bird this is; it is so diminutive it often 

 escapes attention). 



Birds seen or heard : Starling (fourteen of these birds allowed 

 me to approach within a few feet of them, a result of last night's 

 sharp frost), Rook (one very large flock of some hundreds seen), 

 Chaffinch, House Sparrow, Mistle Thrush (a fine pair seen), Blackbird 

 (male and female on an old brick wall by the water's side, and a great 



