MAY. 



May 1st. A stormy, thundery day. Swallows as well as 

 martins are becoming tolerably common. The geese generally 

 leave here about the 3rd or 4th May. From the quantity of 

 snow on the hills to the north this season, they should naturally 

 remain longer, but I have seen very few for the last two or three 

 days. 



To-day is the first day on which I have seen any quantity of 

 nies on the river, but all the morning the streams were covered 

 with a kind of grey-blue gnat, which the trout were feeding on 

 most greedily. 



It is remarkable that the insectivorous birds appear to be the 

 first to have eggs, such as the thrush, blackbird, robin, hedge- 

 sparrow, when the chaffinch, greenfinch, and the different bunt- 

 ings, etc., have not yet commenced laying, although busy build- 

 ing. I shot a brown owl to-night. 



May 3rd. In the woods. Saw the cuckoo for the first time 

 this year. Also crossbills in pairs, siskins, etc. etc. 



May 1th. We heard the land-rail to-day for the first time, 

 being a week after the usual time. 



May 8th. The land-rails begin to be numerous. Swifts as 

 well as the other swallows and martins appear. I also saw 

 several wheatears to-day, and whitethroats. 



