SPRING AND SUMMER RAMBLES. 37 



rail when we returned. I searched about amongst 

 the bushes in the hope of finding some nest not her 

 own, of course in which she had deposited her eggs, 

 but I failed to find one. Evidently there was some 

 special attraction for her at that spot, for we heard her 

 note and saw her return there when we had got some 

 distance away. Her mate was answering her from a 

 long way off. It is surprising what a distance that 

 monotonous cuckoo note can be heard. 



Cuckoos are more often heard than seen. Words- 

 worth calls him " The darling of the Spring ... a 

 voice, a mystery." 



"To seek thee I did often rove, 

 Through woods and on the green ; 



And thou wert still a hope, a love, 

 Still longed for, never seen." 



May 1 7th was remarkable for the fact that a little 

 rain fell at Shanklin for the first time for about ten 

 weeks. 



On the 2Oth I found myself again on the banks of 

 the Itchin, and with an interesting company, for the 

 early May- fly. We had a good time and excellent 

 sport. I fished, of course, and with good success, but 

 I was quite as well pleased to sit idly under a tree or 

 a hedge, or on the bench in front of our humble 

 straw-thatched hut and watch the skilful performance 

 of my friends. I must say I was equally interested in 

 watching the antics of that amusing but timid little 

 reed bird, the black- capped bunting, sometimes so 

 shy that he will not permit himself to be seen ; at 

 another time so bold that he would flit across from 

 the opposite bank and twitter on a rail within a few 



