FEBRUARY. 25 



ditch, by any of the Woolwich trains, we shall in a 

 very short space of time be located at North Woolwich, 

 from whence we shall be ferried across the River 

 Thames to South Woolwich. Having arrived there 

 we turn to the left, and, following the bearing of the 

 road to the right, we continue our course until we 

 reach an open space; then bearing to the left, and 

 taking the main road, we shall, after we have pro- 

 ceeded some distance, see on our right a fine avenue of 

 pines, and a little further on a goodly wood — this is 

 Plumstead Wood. 



Having now arrived at our destination, we prepare 

 to commence operations. Tt is a fine bracing day ; the 

 air, though cool, is by no means unpleasant, and the 

 brisk wind as it flies on its course makes iEolian har- 

 mony as it whistles through the tops of the noble pines, 

 which bend their heads in deference ; the rustling 

 leaves of " Autumn's sad decay" mingle their cadences, 

 while the robin's merry song, the blackbird's angry 

 chatter, as disturbed at his feast of haws or mountain- 

 ash berries he dashes through the underwood, together 

 with the monotonous and plaintive call of the bullfinch, 

 or the sprightly movements of the active little blue tits, 

 as suspended, back downwards, they are busily engaged 

 upon the pine cones over our heads, give life and ani- 

 mation to the scene. 



The ground is thickly covered with underwood and 

 plants of various growth ; whitethorn, sloe, broom and 

 brambles innumerable cover the ground ; the vegeta- 

 tion is on the move, the sap is giving evident signs of 

 returning spring, for on the bushes of broom we shall 



c 



