STADDON HEIGHTS IN MAY. 263 



may certainly inspect and admire them without being 

 bound to point out the difference between a linnet and 

 a lark. When some of the small birds are singing they 

 choose the top twig of a shrub or bush, and it is curious 

 to note them while^hus engaged : some warble out their 

 notes like automata, without a movement and appar- 

 ently unconscious of what they are doing ; others seem 

 to be electrified and exalted into something higher than 

 mere animal life ; they look as if inclined to shout out 

 their souls into the passionate strain. Many of the 

 birds have their nests on the faces of the steep cliffs 

 where they build and brood in security. There is one 

 bold, black wall of sandstone rock, about half-way to 

 Bovisand, and nearly opposite to a small head land 

 where the foot of a flag-staff still remains ; here a flock 

 of crows may often be observed congregated on the 

 jutting fragments of stone near the summit, and so well 

 do they seem to be aware of their safety that a loud 

 shout will hardly startle them away should they even 

 move, it is only to wheel in a circle high above your 

 head and then return to their resting place. In thread- 

 ing the brambles and furze bushes, you will frequently 

 disturb thrushes and black-birds ; they seldom move 

 until you are very near them, and then rush out with a 

 startling whirr of their powerful wings, darting over the 

 precipice or shooting higher up on the rising ground. 



In the cloven dells which intersect the Heights, the 

 bushes are something larger than on the other parts, a 

 few even approach the size of small trees. Here it not 

 unfrequently happens that you will disturb a wild 

 pigeon ; she makes a bold flight at once, floating quietly 

 but swiftly over the sea, and you can seldom detect her 

 return to the same spot. 



Insects may be observed in great abundance when 

 the day is clear and sunny ; it does not necessarily 

 require entomological knowledge to observe and admire 

 these beautiful objects of creation, many hundred varie- 

 ties of bees, flies and butterflies may be observed among 

 the blossoms in one spot in the course of an hour ; it is 

 not probable that any one who has ever used a micro- 



