you are a
likely looking chap, I think I'll take you; when would you like to be
examined?" "I'll be examined noo, far's the doctor?" "I'm the doctor,"
said R. "God," says the chap, "ye dinna look muckle like a doctor."
"But why do you wish to join?" "It's jist like this, I hid a dram, an'
the maister said I was a damned feel, so I telt him if I wis a damned
feel, he wis a damneder, an' he telt me to gang tae hell, sae I jist
gaed, an' here I am." "When can you join?" "Weel, this is Saeterday
nicht, it wid need tae be Tiesday or Wednesday. Ye see I drive the
milk caert, a damned responsible poseeshen." Not much of a story but
real Aberdeen.

_July 7th._--Had seventy shells to-day on W. Beach, mostly big ones
from the "Asiatic Annies"; bag, two killed and three wounded.

_July 8th._--W. Beach. Yesterday we had a big mail--great rejoicing.

When we came out of the mess tent to-day at 1.15 we found a great
swarm of what we all think must be locusts, but no one is sufficiently
well up in zoology to be certain. All are flying inwards in the same
direction, as if they had come out of the sea, but it is more likely
they have come from Asia, across the Dardanelles. There is a slight
breeze and they have difficulty in flying, and are resting everywhere,
and bump up against tents and everything that comes in their way, and
are not strong flyers. They have powerful grasshopper legs, red from
the knee downwards, and an inner pair of wings, which are also red
and give the whole animal a red colour when in flight. Now, after an
hour, they are still more plentiful, and are flying past actually in
myriads.

At 4.30 I got a message to relieve Col. Yarr at Corps H.Q. An
aeroplane was drawn up there, and along with myself a second one
arrived. Now I am in for a shelling, I said to myself, and I had just
entered Col. Yarr's dugout when the first shell exploded a few yards
off, and this was immediately followed by two others. Near the middle
of the aerodrome a large gun emplacement--or whatever it is--is being
dug, which, it is hoped, will draw some of the fire away from here.

The swarm of locusts (?) did not diminish for three hours, when it
tailed off. Their bumping into one's face made walking almost
impossible.

_July 9th._--Head-quarters. We have had a quiet night. The shelling
does not commence here till the aeroplanes arrive from Tenedos. Last
night at dinner various subjects were discussed, such as the duration
of the