484 THE WOODS IN A UTUMN. [Dec. 



But what about the animal and insect life, without which the 

 most favoured locality becomes a dreary solitude ? For life and 

 motion we have not far to seek ; for in and out among the curved 

 roots of the alder which springs from the opposite alluvial bank, a 

 weasel — the very emblem of stealth and activity — has been twining 

 his lithe body and hurrying to and fro as if imbued with a demon 

 of perpetual motion. 



Doubtless he is fully aware of the presence of that fat, round, and 

 innocent rabbit, whose ears have been visible above you tuft of 

 coarse grass for the last few minutes, and whose four brothers 

 presently make their appearance from some invisible burrow and 

 join in an exciting game. See how one springs high into the air 

 wdth a ridiculous aflectation of mingled surprise and fear as his 

 fellow charges at him, and see too how a little later they all circle 

 in merry chase round that sheep-trimmed furze-bush — evidently 

 the last figure of the game, for now two or three have settled down 

 in a business-like fashion to their evening meal, while the remainder, 

 throwing themselves at full length upon their sides, seem to revel 

 in the full warmth of the declining sun. 



Nor is bird life wanting, for two plump blackbirds are deeply 

 engaged amid the boughs of the mountain ash to the right, now 

 decked out in the full pride of its crimson fruit, of all berries the 

 choicest and most eagerly sought after by most of our British birds. 

 A solitary crow appears to take a serious view of things in general, 

 as he solemnly stalks about in the shade ; a sprightly water-ousel 

 has been darting to and fro across the stream, now alighting and 

 taking a plunge from one half-submerged stone, now from another ; 

 a solemn heron, still as deatli itself, stands knee-deep where the 

 glistening gravel forms a shelving strand near the bend to the left, 

 and here and there through the surrounding foliage a short note or 

 two, or a gentle rustle, denotes the presence of other inhabitants — 

 invisible no doubt, but the knowledge of whose presence seems to 

 dispel any sense of loneliness, and even to produce a feeling of 

 gratification and contentment. 



But what comes dropping down through the leafy beechen canopy 

 overhead, and pattering upon the hard surface at the base of the 

 great grey stem, or falling noiselessly among the tangled grasses and 

 tall bracken ? A squirrel, or probably two, are busy up aloft, 

 severing the stalks of the husks containing the oily l)eecli-nuts. 

 By and by they will no doubt descend, and ranging round will 

 collect the valuable spoil (for they have already been careful while 

 above to pass over each blank or " blind " husk that may have 

 come in their way), and will then carry it away to some place of 

 security as a reserve for the coming winter. 



