NATURE NEAR LONDON 



There are so many jackdaws about the suburbs 

 that, when a flock of rooks passes over, the caw- 

 cawing is quite equalled by the jack-jucking. The 

 daws are easily known by their lesser size and by 

 their flight, for they use their wings three times to 

 the rook's once. Numbers of daws build in the 

 knotholes and hollows of the horse-chestnut trees 

 in Bushey Park, and in the elms of the grounds 

 of Hampton Court. 



To the left of the Diana Fountain there are a 

 number of hawthorn trees, which stand apart, and 

 are aged like those often found on village greens 

 and commons. Upon some of these hawthorns 

 mistletoe grows, not in such quantities as on the 

 apples in Gloucester and Hereford, but in small 

 pieces. 



As late in the spring as May-day I have seen 

 some berries, then very large, on the mistletoe here. 

 Earlier in the year, when the adjoining fountain 

 was frozen and crowded with skaters, there were 

 a number of missel-thrushes in these hawthorns, 

 but they appeared to be eating the haws. At all 

 events, they left some of the mistletoe berries, 

 which were on the plant months later. 



Just above Molesey Lock, in the meadows be- 

 side the towing-path, the blue meadow geranium, 

 or crane's-bill, flowers in large bunches in the 

 summer. It is one of the most beautiful flowers 

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