CHAPTER VI 



BURNHAM BEECHES 



May 1908 



The Beeches in spring Frost and snow Cuckoo first heard 

 30th April Lovely day in May Burnham Beeches and 

 Burnham Birches in December Migration of the 

 swallows Our dog Caesar His travels and adventures 

 with me His misbehaviour I gave him a thrashing 

 Twa dogs Pinto, a Chinese terrier, gave much 

 trouble. 



" IT was in the gay season of spring" that 

 I found myself in the neighbourhood of and 

 within a three-mile walk of Burnham Beeches. 

 The cuckoo is due here about i2th April, but 

 it was not until 3oth April that his most cheering 

 note was distinctly heard by me. It is in the 

 midst of woodland scenery, of old hedgerows, 

 and green meadows that he most delights to 

 hear his own voice, and commit little depre- 

 dations on other birds' nests. Surely it is here 

 that " Summer first unfaulds her leaves/' but 



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