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but also that these were covered with aphides, 

 which I promptly brushed off where I could 

 reach them. This noxious little insect, however, 

 always interests me, as it constitutes the herds 

 of liliputian cattle tended and milked by some 

 species of ants, and, more interesting still, fur- 

 nishes one of the examples in the animal king- 

 dom of parthenogenesis, or virginal reproduction, 

 among its various methods of procreation. 



I am glad to say the nightingale has returned, 

 though he has not yet established himself perma- 

 nently for a nightly serenade, as I hope he will a 

 little later on. The cuckoo, however, does not 

 cease to call from early morn till evening, and his 

 " pint " and his flower, Ladies' smock, came with 

 him in the hedgerows and meadows. The ap- 

 pearance of flies .and wasps also denotes the 

 change of season. 



My flowers in the grass have in part been a great 

 joy, especially the snowdrops, crocuses, scillas, 

 and daffodils. Some of the fritillaries and a few 

 dog-violets have also come up; but the chiono- 

 doxas, tulipa sylvestris, and anemone appenina have 

 done no good. On the other hand, common tulips 

 117 



