. Birds and their nests and eggs : found in and near great towns . trife stems amongst the sand andstones, that by and by will add vivid colourto the scene. White and scarlet catchfliesare flourishing in fine style, steahng amarch upon the yarrows, pink and bloom is still upon the may, whilstprivet bushes show a wealth of bud. Andprickly blackberries are promising greatthings for tarts and jam this year. Thisisland, like the others, is covered with denseundergrowth, from which the oak grows out,with its young and tender tassels dancing inthe breeze, and many so-called oak apples (inse
. Birds and their nests and eggs : found in and near great towns . trife stems amongst the sand andstones, that by and by will add vivid colourto the scene. White and scarlet catchfliesare flourishing in fine style, steahng amarch upon the yarrows, pink and bloom is still upon the may, whilstprivet bushes show a wealth of bud. Andprickly blackberries are promising greatthings for tarts and jam this year. Thisisland, like the others, is covered with denseundergrowth, from which the oak grows out,with its young and tender tassels dancing inthe breeze, and many so-called oak apples (insect-made) hanging from the stems. Aldersand poplars have a place amongst thegreenery, making a contrasting backgroundand a shelter for their shorter friends. Nowand then a catkin is shed from a bowingwillow branch, and the stream floats thetiny seeds along to find a new home forthemselves. Peering from the boat downinto the stilly depths, and choosing a calm MIDDLE OF MAY 47 Spot that is not ruffled by the wind, or wherethe sociable and busy whirligig beetles are. XVIII: The bloom is stix upon the may.* dancing their wild jigs in ceaseless circles roundand water spiders skate the livelong sunny 48 WITH J HE ISLAND BIRDS ONCE MORE: day, a soft green carpet meets the eye. Thewater thyme, now a serious hindrance to navi-gation, introduced into this country from farCanadian shores, holds its own down there, w \ m XIX : The sociable and busy whirligig beetles ARE DANCING THEIR WILD JIGS IN CEASELESSCIRCLES ROUND. (|-size.) and forms a comfortable bed, that harboursperch and roach and dace. But near by,hidden by thick stalks of weed, with quiver-ing fins, and ever watchful eye, lurk greedy MIDDLE OF MAY 49 pike, both great and small. As the eye getsaccustomed to the light, a busy scene ofsmaller hfe presents itself upon the waterbed : the lively water-boatman plies histiny pair of oars, and water-beetles of allsizes, each with a little bead of air upon hisback that gives him life, are
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublishern, booksubjectbirds
