2704 The Zoologist — August, 1871. 



free from the noxious weeds which rob the crop of its nourishment 

 and spoil the hay. 



13. (Young redstarts out of nest. — P. I.) 



14. Observed grubs of Agrolis Segetum at the roots of turnips. 



15. Found nest of whitelhroat, made partially of spiders' nests. 

 17. Thorn in fruit. Soft grass and elder in flower. Barley 



shooting. 



20. Poppy and pimpernel in flower. Wheat shooting. 



21. Ragged robin, meadow-sweet and trembling grass in flower. 



22. The wandering snail {Linmcea peregia) frequently allows 

 itself to drift on the surface of running water, with shell inverted. 

 Wheat and cornel in flower. Red admiral on wing. 



25. Observed Helix lapicida on the ruined wall at Fountains 

 Abbey. Bulimus obscurus occurs on the walls near Ripon. Mimulus 

 luteus and the white water-lily grow in the river near the Abbey. 

 Hairy St. John's-wort and restharrow in flower. Golden carpet- 

 moth on wing. 



28. Odd fields of grass cut. (Parnassia palustris in full flower 

 in the valley above the Lodge. — P. I.) 



30. Bluebottle and common toadflax in flower. 



July. 



4. Yellow mellilot, houselcek and barley in flower. Heard corn 

 crake. Haymaking commencing. Catkins of alder forming. 



5. Butterflies and wasps not numerous. 



16. Haymaking general. Aphides appearing on turnips and 

 other cruciferous plants. Svvifts, swallows, martins and cuckoos 

 apparently scarce. 



17. Corn and fruit ripening. 



18. The ways and habits of our common frugivorous birds, as 

 exhibited in orchards, arc exceedingly various. The blackbird flies 

 into a cherry tree, pulls ofl" the cherries, and alights among goose- 

 berry bushes lo eat them ; it then silently reascends and dresses its 

 beak on a branch. It is excessively fond of gooseberries and ripe 

 pears, feeding on the latter on the trees, and also when fallen. 

 When flushed from the ground it rises to a tree, reconnoitres with 

 an eye marvellously quick, gives a short " cluck," a shorter curtsey, 

 and is off. When blackbirds have young they attend them and 

 feed them some time after they are fledged. The common song 

 thrush or throstle is very silent when feeding; when frightened it 



