24 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



13th. — Flock of Peewits on swedes. 



16th. — Drought still continues. News that Mr. G. Colegrave 

 has seen one Quail this year, and that Mr. E. Colegrave heard 

 one in the spring at Milcomb. 



17th. — My garden is nearly deserted by birds (on account of 

 the dry weather). Caterpillars (Pieris brassicte) swarm on the 

 cabbage tribe, but the birds do not touch them. As for the 

 Sparrows, not one is seen about my garden and the outbuildings ; 

 they are all away in the cornfields. 



21st. — Very dry ; about 75°. Still many Missel Thrushes in 

 loose flocks. 



22nd. — The bulk of the village Swallows gone. 



23rd. — The caterpillars of Pieris brassicce having eaten all the 

 green from a considerable quantity of the cabbage tribe in a large 

 garden near here (leaving an array of skeletons), went over the 

 wall in swarms, and across the village street, the people on the 

 other side having to shut windows and doors to keep them out of 

 their houses. The side walk was covered with caterpillars, 

 crushed under foot by the passers-by. I may here add that 

 during the winter of 1898-9, green vegetables were scarcer in 

 the village than they had been for very many years. Drought 

 and blight partly accounted for this. My own plants were only 

 saved from caterpillars by hand-picking. Whether it is that 

 there are now so many more insects which are " nasty " to birds, 

 or whether the birds have changed their habits and got into bad 

 ways in the matter of their food, I cannot say. But it is certain 

 that, although ordinary small birds (except Swallows and Martins) 

 are commoner than ever, they seem year by year less able, or less 

 willing, to cope with the insect pests of the garden. Began apple 

 gathering in the orchard ; an early date. 



26th. — Thermometer down to 35° last night. Hot sun but 

 cold air from the E. and a slight whirlwind about midday. 



27th. — Showers. Song Thrush sang in a low and subdued 

 tone ; the notes very poor. 



28th. — Country and grass fields perhaps never before in my 

 experience so brown, dried up, and dusty. 



29th. — The drought broke up and a good rain fell. We have 

 met with only three or four Landrails this year, and I have 

 heard of some half dozen others. 



