LOCAL OBSERVATION 15 



hemipode,' in very fair good health. Burghley tells me the 

 small fishes find it so cold in the water that they jump 

 ashore, in proof of which he has brought me two baskets 

 full for my piscivorous birds." l 



" December 17 th, 1891. 



u I should very much like to have your otter, but as 

 my principal object in view is a mate and playfellow for my 

 female, I fear it would break her heart to part with him 

 again, so that I must decline your offer with many thanks. 

 I hear of very few woodcocks (we never have many) here- 

 abouts, and singularly few snipes. Our valley has been 

 more or less under water since the middle of October. 

 We have had a good many ducks, and, for us, an unusual 

 lot of teal. No end of fieldfares ; a good many arrived 

 in September, about six weeks earlier than usual." 2 



"February 17 th, 1892. 



" You are doing better out of this country at present ; 

 for after some ten days of lovely mild weather, with wood- 

 pigeons cooing, rooks building, and thrushes in full song, 

 on Monday last, I5th, we had a fall of six inches of snow 

 on the level, and last night the thermometer in our kitchen 

 garden registered 30 degrees of frost. The Campo de 

 Gibraltar, Cork Woods, Sierra del Nino, Plaza de Levante, 

 etc., are delightful, and I am very glad that you enjoyed 

 your three days there. 



1 To the Rev. W. Willimott. 



2 To E. G. B. Meade- Waldo, Esq. 



