290 MY COUNTRY WANDERINGS 



dine," I answered; " that reddish flower is the 

 Red Dead Nettle; here is the White Dead Nettle 

 almost bursting into bloom, and here is the Sting- 

 ing Nettle, an identification you may make doubly 

 certain of by pinching the leaves with the fingers. 

 Those long greenish stalks belong to the Goose- 

 grass, also known as Cleavers; that Parsley-like 

 leaf is the Wild Chervil — one of the earliest wild 

 plants to garnish the countryside with the fresh 

 green of Spring — and these sword-shaped leaves 

 here are those of the Greater Stitchwort which will 

 be in flower very shortly now. These coarse- 

 looking leaves here are those of the Garlic Mustard, 

 which will soon be blossoming; here is the Wood- 

 ruff — a typical woodland flower — and notice, too, 

 the prominent leaves of the Wild Arum or Cuckoo 

 Pint, whose curious flowers have not yet made an 

 appearance." 



" Do you hear in the distance that mellow and 

 measured song of the sooty Blackbird .? " said I. 



" I do," replied my friend; " but, tell me, 

 what is that louder and more varied songster at 

 the rear of us ? Is that also a Blackbird ? " 



" Nay, sir," I replied, " that is a Song Thrush, 

 and once having carefully listened to the songs of 

 the two birds, confusion is impossible." 



" I understand," said he. " I hear now that 

 the lyrics of the Thrush are more varied, louder, 

 richer, and more powerful, whilst those of the 



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