34 IN BIRD-LAND 



after entering the forest we heard some notes, but 

 could not see anything of the singer, although we 

 searched among dripping bushes all around which 

 bore signs of returning spring. 



In sheltered places the young bushes were 

 breaking into leaf and beginning to show green ; 

 above these in the taller trees a Sparrow- Hawk 

 was searching for a. suitable place for its nest ; a 

 pair always building hereabout year after year. 

 Along the hedgerows Robins were flitting about ; 

 some probably had already got nests in the 

 sheltered banks underneath ; a Blackbird's nest 

 was ready for eggs, its owners calling pick, pick, as 

 we passed ; Missel-Thrushes were everywhere 

 busy building. Underneath the hedges arums 

 were showing above-ground ; the wood -sorrel 

 was here and there peeping through the dead 

 beech leaves of the past season, which were still 

 thickly strewn on the ground, while underneath 

 a spreading oak a solitary wood-anemone with 

 its snow-white blossoms and graceful leaves was 

 seen ; its petals being closed hung down ; but 

 when the sun breaks through the branches above, 

 these elegant little flowers open and face the 

 welcome and reviving rays. 



Near a bush of butcher's broom, underneath an 

 ancient oak was a number of Owl's pellets, evi- 



