102 Virginian Nightingales 



the mastery over some particular site, or wheeling 

 round with beak-fulls of building material. 



Beneath, where the fresh growth of emerald grass 

 was studded with yellow celandine, two or three 

 gplden pheasants were tilting round each other, dis- 

 playing their gorgeous ruffs, barred in black and gold, 

 and their saffron backs. 



Thrushes were piping loudly, and blackbirds were 

 fluting amongst the chestnut trees. 



A hundred voices came from amongst the shrub- 

 beries, where all seemed life and brightness. 



And there, perched on the tip top of an ancient 

 thorn tree, that grew in solitary grandeur upon the 

 lawn, was the cock Virginian, facing the sun, in the 

 light of which glistened his scarlet coat. 



A rare sight in an English garden. 



But where was his mate ? 



The fact that he seemed so well at ease, and so 

 thoroughly at home, reassured any qualms in my mind ; 

 yet I could nowhere hear her call, or catch a glimpse 

 of her. 



So I went further into the garden, where syringa 

 bushes and clipped yew hedges, amongst sycamores, 

 hollies, elms, and chestnuts, hid winding paths until 

 one approaches a rock garden. 



Here grew so many favourites : auriculas, primulas, 

 lilies of the valley, ferns of many kinds, and the great 

 Crambe cordifolia, with, later on, its giant spray of 

 snowy honey-scented flowers, as well as sedums and 

 other rock-loving plants. 



Mesembryanthemums, and crassullas, and the hand- 



