Across the Channel. I13 



Marly next iiiorniiiL; we were aroused and marched to another 

 \illa,L;e. passinL;" throu,L;li a splenchd wood en rv.de. It was a 

 feast for tlie artistic eye, IjrilHant in its sprint;" dress of myriad 

 hues of .L^'reen, l)lendin^' with anemones, violets, hyacinths, and 

 some horse chestnut trees in full blossom. We halted outside 

 the wood near an orchard, and here I cauj^iit sis^lu of a wry- 

 neck tryiuii;" to keep out of sig'ht. A couple of blue tits were 

 busy in the branches of a tree, turnint;- ni)side down and clinging" 

 to t\\ igs in all sorts of fantastic positions. A spotted flycatcher, 

 fr(jm a point of vantage, took many short flights, returning 

 after having accounted for his insect prey. In a cage a greater 

 whitethroat, was threading its way, its brownish back and 

 whitish underparts being easily seen. Here also we heard the 

 somewhat harsher note of the missel thrush, a common bird out 

 liere. When we continued our luarch, a swallow-tailed butterfly 

 settled quite close. J'his was the first living example of the 

 species I ha\e e\er seen, l)ut it was unmistakable. I saw birds 

 of many kinds all through the march. The '' laugh " of the 

 green wootlpecker was frequent, and the bird itself once flew 

 across our i)ath, as if to show us its undulating flight, l^ied 

 Wagtails walked about seeking their food on the ground, and 

 looking graceful, as always. And. as if to introduce an added 

 touch of colour, a pair of yellow hanmiers perched on the top of 

 a bush, a position which shewed otT their golden plumage to 

 advantage. 



We passed through many other villages in the days that 

 followed and. gradually growing louder and more sinister 

 came the sullen roar of the guns, and then once more we were 

 in the midst of the sights, as well as the sounds of war. So you 

 see. each day brings some interest to the observant eye. Some- 

 times peaceful scenes and sometimes the reverse. Nature takes 

 little notice of war. and carries on in sublime optimism. One 

 comes across rookeries where shells hurtle daily, the birds 

 apparently indifferent. 



Perhaps one of the most striking facts is the unconquer- 

 able cheeriness of " Tommy Atkins " under all circumstances, 

 lie may be tired to exhaustion, footsore and weary, and abso- 

 lutely " fed up " after a hard day of physical and mental strain, 

 but he is never too tired or depressed to appreciate the humour 

 of son:c subject. He can always find something to make hini 



