STRANGE AND BEAUTIFUL SHELDRAKE 189 



cloud of linnets, seemingly blown across the sky by 

 the gale ; but quite suddenly, when directly over 

 me, the birds all came straight down, to drop like 

 a shower of small stones into the great masses of 

 ivy and furze and bramble. And no sooner had 

 they settled, vanishing into that warm and windless 

 greenery, than they simultaneously burst into such 

 a concert of sweetest wild linnet music, that I was 

 enchanted, and thought that never in all the years 

 I had spent in the haunts of wild birds had I heard 

 anything so fairy-like and beautiful. 



On this hill, or down, at the highest point, you 

 have the Severn Sea before you, and, beyond, the 

 blue mountains of Glamorganshire, and, on the shore, 

 the town of Cardiff made beautiful by distance, 

 vaguely seen in the blue haze and shimmering sun- 

 light like a dream city. On your right hand, on 

 your own side of the narrow sea, you have a good 

 view of the big young growing town of Weston- 

 super-Mare — Bristol's Margate or Brighton, as it 

 has been called. It is built of Bath stone, and at 

 this distance looks grey, darkened with the slate 

 roofs, and a little strange ; but the sight is not un- 

 pleasant, and if you wish to retain that pleasant 

 impression, go not nearer to it than Brean Down, 

 since on a closer view its aspect changes, and it is 



