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 GOLDEN ORIOLES 75

delicate peach blossoms, the crowning glory of the Kashmir spring, were withered up, and for the moment we seemed plunged back once more to winter.

But April 15th was one of Kashmir’s most lovely days. The poplars were now in fresh light foliage. May was in full leaf. Irises were plentiful. Several columbines were in bloom. Both the Kashmir and English tulips were well out; and the strawberries were in blossom. On this day, too, I saw a flight of green parrots with long yellow tails in the garden.

The first rose bloomed on April 17th, a white climber whose name I do not know, growing on the south verandah. The previous year the first did not appear till the 26th.

May came into bloom on April 24th, and on the 25th a scarlet poppy and a white peony blossomed. For some days’ then the weather had been ex- ceptionally warm, the maximum rising to 80° in the shade and 129° in the sun, and the minimum to 51°,

The first golden oriole appeared on the 26th— the same date as that on which it appeared the year before. The golden orioles have a glorious deep, liquid, flute-like note which thrills through