... NATURE NOTE Wasps and I Willow Herb RAMBLING around the country during the sunny week-end. I was impressed by the abounding life on every side. In a few weeks the tempo will slow down with the approach of autumn, but in August. life. both animal and vegetable ...

... Nature Note Sir, —It may interest some of your readers to know that, on Sunday, a peacock butterfly was observed in the backgarden. This beautiful butterfly does not usually make its appearance until towards the end of July. It is probable that this one ...

... NATURE NOTE Twilight in the Lane shadows were deepenlni under the trees as I walked along the lane in the late ,ening. The last swallows were still hawking high la the air. calling incessantly with their high-pitched cries. A solitary blackbird was singing ...

... NATURE NOTE co.ltoo has if gain at last! I: 7 I heard to: the h.st tme week•tnil as be timed his weicorne nive win:o fleiti ov:.rhead. It is to be hoped that lie is :•eal.v the herald warmer and weather. for after the depressing and severe w'wer which ...

... NATURE NOTE Butterflies and Bees first butterflies of the 1 4 year are on the wing enjoying the unusual holiday sunshine. It is true that butterflies have been seen earlier this year, but these were hibernating species aroused from their slumber by a ...

... NATURE NOTE The Silent Woodland riIHE woods are quiet at this . time of the year. In the spring melody echoed among the green boughs, but now the birds axe silent, save for an occasional plaintive twitter from a bluetit There was much cloud as I walked ...

... NATURE NOTE March Woodland ALONG the edge of a small woodland flew the first humble bee of the year These early bees are all queens who have slept through the winter and who will be the parents of the teeming hordes seen later in the year. Flying by on ...

... NATURE NOTE Winter Sleepers IN spite of the mildness of the weather, many 01 the little creatures of the countryside are still wrapped in their • winter sleep. Food is scarce, and it is better to sleep until the spring comes. The hedgehog and the dormouse ...

... NATURE NOTE A Lane in I September I QCARLET BERRIES were hanging in clusters from the rowan or mountain ash as I walked along a Warwickshire lane in the September sunshine. 'Summer Is now moving to its close and the leaves are beginning to fall. Trees ...

... NATURE NOTE THE WINTRY I HILLSIDE A CHILL wind was blo as I walked along the narrow path that led up the hillside. Silver birches and rowans. ; all leafless, bent in the wind, which rustled the foliage of the/ tall pines. The dead leaves of bracken were ...

... NATURE NOTE Lapwings and Larks Wwarm sunshine of the eek-end brought increased activity in the bird world. As I walked across the meadows I saw the nuptial flights of the lapwing, always an g e xc iting y p r e e w i n ir he c p n in h o l f en he their ...

... NATURE NOTE BY LANE AND POND THE road that runs froth Meriden to the Four Oaks crossroads is, in some places, cut below the level of the surrounding land. These high banks gave me some shelter from the sharp wind, and I noticed bow the earth was mined ...