DECEMBER. 



" Hail to the coming of healthful Winter, 

 Hail to the festive joys of Yule." 



1st. Wet, miserable, and close. 

 2nd. Damp, unseasonable weather. 



The only flowers found in bloom to-day were: Shepherd's Purse, 

 Autumnal Hawkbit, Groundsel, Furze, and Heartsease. 



Birds singing, Robin and Song Thrush (listened with much 

 pleasure to three of these birds singing gaily this morning). 



Birds seen or heard. A great many Skylarks seen chasing one 

 another and twittering the while, but not singing; Carrion Crow, 

 Yellow Bunting, Starling, Hedge Sparrow, Rook (on a gun going off 

 how the artful birds manage to keep just out of gun-shot), Blackbird, 

 Jay, and Chaffinch. 



Several loafers out with greyhounds; watched two or three runs 

 with Hares. 



3rd. Dull and misty, but not at all cold. Very un-December- 

 like weather as yet. Starlings and Hedge Sparrows noisy in the garden. 



4th. Beautiful, bright, and clear. Like a Spring morning. Skylark 

 still silent. Robin not singing. 



5th. Dull and misty early, rain later. Hedge Sparrow singing. 



6th. Clearer and brighter morning, again giving place to rain later. 

 A beautiful sunrise. 



A solitary Skylark singing up aloft, appearing like a mere speck 

 against the blue and white sky-line. 



7th. Fine early; colder. Starlings and Hedge Sparrows 

 prominent in the neighbourhood of my garden. Another gorgeous 

 sunrise. 



