H4 WILD BIRDS 



they look rather bigger, too, perhaps because their 

 plumage does not as yet sit so smooth and sleek 

 upon them as does that of their parents. 



Common as the marsh titmouse is in most parts of 

 the South of England that I know and in the Mid- 

 lands, I have never met with him in London. I 

 wonder whether he has ever been seen in the parks 

 or gardens within London. The cole titmouse does 

 visit London. I have heard and seen the bird in 

 Chelsea, and I fancy that even lately a pair have been 

 in the old Physick Gardens on the Chelsea Embank- 

 ment, where there must be plenty of seed food for 

 them. The blue titmouse I see in London, both in 

 spring and autumn. The great titmouse visits 

 London, though I cannot recall seeing him. But I 

 have not heard of the marsh titmouse there. I dare 

 say he is often seen and heard in Richmond Park 

 and Wimbledon. 



THE HARVEST SCENE 



Writing on Nature rarely seems to me quite a happy 

 occupation unless it can be done in the open air 

 at the very scene or the haunt of the wild thing one 

 tries to describe ; and of all times for writing out of 

 doors none is better than an early September day. 

 The afternoons from one till three o'clock are deli- 

 cious, when there is sun and a breeze from the west 

 or south-west. Then the oat field set in high downs, 

 with twenty miles of the gold, green and blue of an 

 English harvest scene around us, is a great spot. I 

 often notice severe criticisms of series of " beautiful 



