306 COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



Birds seen or heard. House Sparrow (bathing in the road 

 puddles on this bleak December morn; how clean birds are has 

 been amply demonstrated to me just recently), Rook, Blackbird (how 

 low this bird flies, and how rare it is seen in the open), Great Tit, 

 Chaffinch, Fieldfare, Sparrow Hawk, Starling (with the aid of our 

 strong glass we could see very plainly the beautifully-marked breast 

 of this bird ; to the naked eye it is quite invisible. Several of these 

 birds had been bathing, too, and sat at the top of an Oak sunning 

 themselves). 



The cones on the Spruce Fir are very prominent indeed just now 

 and the various berries seem more scarlet than ever. The birds have 

 taken a quantity of them, but we have had no hard weather yet to try 

 their hunger. 



Ploughing is still taking place, and the land looks fresh and 

 fertile. What a great good it does the land to have it thrown up in 

 ridges and clods for the frost to get into and improve. 



The Haystacks stand out well in the landscape now, and many a 

 little fortune may be espied tucked away in some distant rickyard. 

 How snug and inviting a farmhouse looks, as well as a lodge. Has 

 the reader ever noticed this? 



17th. Weather as yesterday. Starlings and House Sparrows is 

 rows on garden fence. Hedge Sparrow and Robin also prominent. 

 Song Thrush singing. Primroses in flower in garden. 



18th. Clear and bright; weather much more seasonable. It is 

 much better than the close, muggy weather of late, making one feel 

 better both in health and temper. Hedge Sparrow singing. 



19th. Colder, but bright. Hedge Sparrow, Robin, and Song 

 Thrush singing. Skylark silent. Rooks noisy. Rain and white frost 

 last night. 



'20th. Windy, very dark morning, and raining. Quite a gale at 

 night. 



21st. My calendar says this is the shortest day of the year, but 

 it was much lighter this morning than yesterday, and altogether a 

 longer term of daylight has prevailed I 



High wind, and cold. Looks like being a green Christmas. 

 Heavy rain last night. House Sparrows busy feeding on meat bone 

 hung up in the garden. Not a single Titmouse has been seen to visit 

 us yet Given a cold Winter snap, they will doubtless soon make 

 their appearance. Skylark still silent. 





