The present inclement weather offers further evidence of the somewhat early and sudden lending of summer this year in the Shanghai area, and already our gardens are showing the effects of the advent of lower temperatures. "The leaves of many trees have withered and allen, not frst turning yellow or gold or red, jas would be the case with the "same trees further north, but just shrivelling up while still green and drooping off to litter the lawns. The [Virginia creeper on my fence is shedding its saves, although they are still green, instead of beauty whatever den-hair or ginkgo trees which should turn a fine golden yellow before falling, are being! shed while still green. The same is the case with the poplars, which are already almost! bare. The absence of the autumn tints which 80 beautify the countryside in England, parts! Jot North America, Japan, Manchuria and Siber-Is one of the things we have to put up with here in Shanghai. I have never been able to understand just why this should be. Probably it has something to do with the abruptness of the change from warm to cool weather in this region. But, whatever the cause, this lack autumn colours in our Shanghai' gardens is Joss, and, were it not for the fact that many of the flowers we plant goon blooming profusely till quite late in the season, by. which time the chrysanthemums are on, we would be in a bad way. Other indications of the close of summer are to be found in the animal' world. The cicadas have ceased their shrill songs. The last date on which T heard a cicada this season was September 17. Many of our summer birds have gone—the golden oriole, the paradise flycatcher, David's bush-warbler. and so on, I have seen numbers of ruddy. turtle doves passing overhead, always moving in a southerly direction. 'The members of this [species are the smallest of the doves to be found in this area. They come to us from India to breed, building their nests only in large trees, and leave' us-for- tropical climes about! the middle of autumn. Willow wrens, which are migrants passing through, are' showing Up {from time to time on the rose vine over my porch. Long-tailed tits and crow-tits are make {ng their appearance in large troupes, os. their habit during the colder months. They range through this area from garden to garden. Suddenly one becomes aware of their" shrill eries, and for a few minutes every shrub. and tree seems to be alive with small birds; then they are gone, as quickly and mysteriously as they came. 'The bulbuls, too, are in family' groups of about half-a-dozen birds, consisting lof the two parents and three or four fodgelings, The sparrows have already formed into their large winter flocks of as many as forty or fifty' individuals, as Is their wont. The mynahs,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.