England.
The Thames.
1909
Aug. 9 [August 9, 1909]
(No 5)
  In a dozen or more places along the river we passed
family groups of Swans, most of them of the black species
and nearly all consisting of a pair of adult birds with
from 2 to 5 well grown cygnets. They are all tame
birds of course and most of them belong to "The Crown"
we were told. They are free to go where they will, however,
and their presence in the river adds greatly to its attractiveness.
  Equally free were five or six Emus, scattered about
on a wide grassy slope on Earl Harcourt's estate. They
looked healthy & vigorous as they strode along picking at
the grass & clover but it is said they are not really 
doing well.
 The insect life that came under my observation
was disappointing. Despite the warm and sunny weather
I saw only two large Dragon Flies and but five
smaller ones; the latter, belonging to the Agrionidae,
evidently, were all together in a little nook among
the reeds and two were in sexual contact.
  The only Butterflies seen were the common white 
Cabbage ones. These were as abundant in the clover
fields as our little yellow field Butterflies ever are 
at home.
  There were no lucky bugs, skaters or water oarsmen
as far as I was able to notice but myriads of minute
gnats danced in the sunshine whenever the wind
was not blowing hard enough to disperse them.
  The only wild mammal seen was a Water Vole or "Rat"
which swam in towards shore diving near the base of
a bank much as a Muskrat would have done.
  I forgot to mention Rooks & Starlings. They were both
seen in countless numbers & in practically every large field.