298 ENVIBONS OP BATH. 



and most conspicuous. On the afternoon of the 25th. of May, in my 

 walk by the side of the Avon, beginning with the point where Lock's 

 Brook joins, and following the towing-path down the river, my attention 

 was attracted by the number of these birds. The country-people here 

 call them "Screechers," or "Screech Martins." The difference in their 

 motions on this occasion from what I have previously observed upon 

 their first arrival and up to the present time was very remarkable. They 

 were then silently and swiftly cutting through the air, and skimming 

 over the fields in graceful sweeps and turns in pursuit of food. Now 

 they were darting and wheeling in flocks, with shrill screeching notes, 

 thrilling upon the ear as they rushed past with the rapidity of lightning. 



On the opposite side of the river is the parish of Tiverton, and at a 

 short distance below is the village, with its large clothing manufactories 

 close to the water. The machinery of these establishments, and of other 

 mills on both sides of the river, is driven by the power of two water-falls, 

 produced by two weirs built across the stream; over these weirs the river 

 tumbles in white foam and continued roar. For the purpose of carrying 

 on the navigation traffic a canal is made to avoid the weirs, with suitable 

 locks for raising and lowering barges from one level to the other. This 

 canal is cut through the land on the Weston side, and the piece so 

 separated is called the Weston Island. The towing-path being by the 

 side of the canal, the pedestrian in his progress down loses sight of the 

 river and of the upper weirs, which are hid from sight by the buildings 

 and trees upon the Island, and it is not until he arrives at the 

 lower end of the canal, where it again joins the river, that a view of the 

 lower weirs is obtained, over which the river is seen tumbling in one broad 

 sheet of white foam. The appearance of falling water is an agreeable ad- 

 dition to a landscape, and the sounds of this and the upper weir mingling 

 together are pleasing and soothing to the ear; the spectator hesitates to 

 leave so attractive a spot; but upon this occasion my attention was diverted 

 by the noisy active motions of the myriads of swifts, as they chased in 

 flocks over the broad basin into which the river tumbled, their dinning 

 screeches were heard above the roar of the waters. After watching them 

 for some time I resumed my walk down the towing-path. The village of 

 Tiverton terminates at the lower weir, and is followed by a thick planta- 

 tion of forest trees, rising in bold elevation to the summit of a command- 

 ing hill. 



The beautiful variety of shades in the different species of firs and other 

 trees, with their tops shewing above each other as the hill rises from the 

 river like an extended amphitheatre, is seen with great advantage from 

 the towing-path, and at this time with additional pleasure from the 

 chorus of the feathered inhabitants, which floated in the clear air across 



