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rewarded with the sight of the first few flowers of lesser
celandine and dogs mercury. Sheep with their lambs grazed
peacefully behind the hedge although a newly-filled gap strewn
with pieces of wool showed where one opportunist had escaped
on to the road. At the farm some hens pecked the ground quite
unconcerned at my approach. Three proud cockerels watched, me,
their green tail feathers moving in the gentle breeze and their
red wattles showing up brightly against their chestnut feathers.
The farm buildings included an odd hexagonal building which I
thought might once have been a dovecot. Cattle mooed mournfully
from inside the big barn where new nests of straw poked out
' from under the eaves.
I reached the pub., unfortunately closed, and sat outside
on one of their wooden seats where a young friendly black cat
was delighted to greet me. A group of cows bellowed their
insistence it was milking time, the peace was further shattered
by a flock of bantams squabbling, half a dozen geese added their
hooting to the din and the farm dog noisily chased the bantams
back to the farmyard. Soon my chauffeur returned and together
we watched the geese enjoy their ablutions in the pond by the
farmyard gate. We left this noisy country scene, homeward bound
for tea well refreshed by our springtime ramble.
Florence Caldwell.
Answers to Flower and Bird Quiz. By Judith Boniface
The best entry to my quiz was submitted by Mrs. Ruth
Phillips to whom the Club is sending a £4 book token. The
answers I expected are given below:-
1. Listen to the cereal. Wheatear.
2. Husky measure. Chaffinch.
3. Witch doctor. Black Medick.
4. Trifling victory. Petty Whin.
5. Metallic toothpaste. Goldcrest.
6. Five slow swords. Creeping Cinquefoil.
7. Jaundiced announcer. Yellow Archangel.
8. Arnold? Ruff.
9. Inhale. Puffin.
10. Heather comes out at night. Starling.
11. It was wet underfoot. Bog Bean.
12. Connoisseur of oatmeal. Goldilocks.
13. Sweet bunch. Candytuft.
14. Poles in a line. Sparrow.