27 Taking a walk along the banks of the River Allan at Dunblane, on the 22nd of August, I saw several Grey Wagtails among oiany Pied Wagtails, on the docks. As I expected I also perceived the res..less Dipper. The next day, I saw the following birds in a very short time at a delightful little village called Inchture (Scotland):—Robin, Whitethroat, Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcaps, Red Wagtails, Coal Tits and a Wren. These birds were in a small garden near the road. whom I spoke, told me he had seen many different kinds of birds on the loch, at various times. These included Golden Eagles, White Tailed or Sea Eagles, a Buzzard, Ravens, Gooseanders, Mergansers and Grey Lag Geese. Some thirty Swans were seen on the Tweed at Berwick, as I passed on August 30th. I also saw six gannets on a pond near Tweedsmouth. On the first of September, I Saw a flock of Tits and Chaffinches, in some trees at Meldon Bridge. Early in the morning of the 15th of September a flock of some hundred Swallows were seen on telegraph wires near Longframlington. - There were about eighty Mallards in two flocks on the Wansbeck at Morpeth on October 27 th. I also saw some skilful maneouvring from Blackheaded Gulls. On November 5th I set up a new bird-table at 9.40 a.m., which was inspected by a pair of Blue Tits a quarter of an hour later. I saw a bird on the 17th of November at Bebside Pond, which I am sure could only have been a " Vulture of the Sea "— a Great Blackheaded Gull. J.A.W., Form V. W H A T ! NO MORNING TEA?
With these words on my lips, I unwrapped myself from my three G.S. blankets down in Devon, after that first uncomfortable night in the army way back in 1940, a civilian turned soldier. With these words on my lips, I raised myself from my snug couch at Tynemouth School in November, 1945, a soldier turned civilian. In the army of 1940 private soldiers in the prone position were not served with refreshment: in " civvy street " in 1945 the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Food are to blame. But in 1941 Nobby Clarke, a little cockney from Chiswick was allotted to me and henceforth brought the steaming brew: perhaps in 1946 the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Food will have changed heart. Tynemouth School of 1945 has changed: a sea of new faces at my first school prayers, when sheeplike, clad in a frayed gown and an elegant " demob " suit, I sidled nervously into the school hall. " Yes! there are Brierly and Mackie and Miller, but who are all the ladies? Oh yes! of course! they have been holding the fort, haven't they?" We sang a hymn, the headmaster led the prayers, a prefect read the lesson, we sang the 23rd psalm. Perhaps it has not changed so much after all! rugger in