310 



COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



Nineteenth Century on which we should have the opportunity of a 

 ramble we braved the unpropitious elements, and here is the result: 



Flowers in bloom. Shepherd's Purse, Furze, and White Dead 

 Nettle. 



Birds singing. Robin (chanting a farewell lay to the fast dying 

 century), Song Thrush, Hedge Sparrow, and Wren. 



Birds seen or heard.- 

 House Sparrow, Starling (I 

 wonder what on earth sort of 

 music this interesting bird 

 presumes to utter; it really is 

 curious to listen to the bird, 

 now uttering a humanlike 

 whistle, now chattering like a 

 miniature Crow-scaring rattle, 

 now warbling, now but it is 

 impossible to write every sound 

 the bird sings, and talks, and 

 chatters, and what not) Sky- 

 lark, Rook, Blackbird, Pied 

 Wagtail, (this bird when seen 



perched on a tree, as we happened to see it this morning, does 

 not seem altogether in its proper element; to see it to perfection 

 one must observe the sprightly little creature running and walking 

 alternately along the ground), Chaffinch, Yellow Bunting Greenfinch, 

 Nuthatch, Ring Dove (for a considerable time past this bird has 

 been mostly silent, but to-day several were to be heard telling the 

 old, old story to the partners of their joys and sorrows, "Don't scold 

 so, Suky "), Great Tit (how one may be deceived by one of the notes 

 of this mimicking bird, being so like unto that of the "pink, pink" 

 of the Chaffinch), and Jay. 



It is now that we appreciate the Ivy-clad trees and Ivy bowers. 

 Many Gnats out Came across a wood of Hornbean. What a 

 contrast to the surrounding country, all winterly and bare. Here 

 one sees acres of brown and bronze leaves tossing and murmuring in 

 the December breeze. 



It is hedge-trimming time now, and as one gets about the country- 

 side piles of faggots can be seen by the hedgerows. 



The new leaves of the Honeysuckle are unrolling fast, and there 





SNOW BUNTING. 



