222 ENVIRONS OF BATH. 



as they had no parallel for many miles, formed a most conspicuous point, 

 and were known as "The Beeches." Immediately beneath the trees a 

 small residence, with a cottage attached, had been some years previously 

 built by one Ford, who sold it to my grandfather, who was the owner 

 of it at this period. This cottage was, I believe, the first habitation 

 ever built on the spot, and was inhabited by an old man named Biggs, 

 who gained a precarious subsistence by keeping fighting-cocks, and attending 

 fairs and markets. Living in a lonely manner he obtained among the 

 thinly-scattered population the reputation of having money, and whether 

 well-founded or not, it excited the cupidity of one Stephen Dicker, a 

 notorious highway-man of those days, who haunted the neighbourhood of 

 Broomhall and Urly Wood, as a low ground near was called, and sur- 

 prising the old man one evening in winter, he beat him unmercifully and 

 left him, believing him to be dead, stealing from the house a gold-laced 

 hat and some trifling articles; but, contrary to his expectations, the old 

 man recovered, and appeared against him at the next Reading assizes, 

 where he was condemned and executed for the crime; and I have seen a 

 copy of the indictment. This was, I think, one of the last of that race 

 of mounted desperadoes for which Bagshot and Hounslow Heaths were so 

 famous. 



This hill, under a grant from the crown became our property, and is 

 such at the present day, and here it was that my yearnings after the study 

 of nature were first indulged. Here I became known as a bird-preserver, 

 and it may easily be imagined that scarcely a tom-tit came to grief 

 without being brought to me as a good specimen for "Master Oliver," 

 as old Trapbois said, "for a consideration." Such rarities as were really 

 brought to me, or came under my observation, I shall hereafter refer to. 



(To be continued.) 



THE ENVIRONS OF BATH. 



BY TEOMAS FULLER, ESQ. 

 (Continued from page 202.) 



The note of the Cuckoo was first' heard in this neighbourhood on the 

 15th. of April, since which time I have enjoyed many opportunities of 

 observing him, and am of opinion that his plumage is of lighter shade 

 than at a later period of his sojourn amongst us. The idea might be 

 merely a supposition, suggested perhaps by the contrast in colour from 

 that of the numerous Rooks and Jackdaws, whose sable hues I had for 

 so long previously been familiar with. 



The dell mentioned in my last communication, although not so extensive 



