Wild Birds’ Nests in early April—Rook stealing Eggs frightened and almost captured—The Domestic Cock—What he was, and what he is—Sadly demoralised by intermixture with “Cochin-Chinas” and “Bramahpootras,” 165

[CHAPTER XXIX.]

The Vernal Equinox—Beauty of Loch Leven—Astronomical Notes—How an old Woman supposed to possess the Evil Eye escaped a cruel death, 172

[CHAPTER XXX.]

Midges and other Bloodsuckers—The Tsetse of South Africa—The Abyssinian Zimb—Livingstone—Adders and Grass Snakes—Lucan’s Pharsalia—Celsus—Legend of St. John ante Portam Latinam, 178

[CHAPTER XXXI.]

The Leafing of the Oak and Ash—Splendid Stags’ Heads—Edmund Waller—Old Silver-Plate buried for preservation in the ’45—Mimicry in Birds—An accomplished Goldfinch, 185

[CHAPTER XXXII.]

Potato Culture—Sensibility of the Potato Shaw to Weather changes—The Carline Thistle—Burns—The true Carduus Scotticus—The old Dog-Rhyme, 192

[CHAPTER XXXIII.]