Return to Meiringen. 205 



during my stay in the Alps. The Wheatears are, 

 as in England, the first migrants which arrive in 

 the spring, and doubtless they are also among the 

 first to depart. The only other bird which was 

 common here at this time was the Kestrel the 

 Thurmfalk (tower-falcon) as he is here called ; 

 they nest in the Alps in old towers or rocks, and 

 several were always to be seen about the old 

 Lombard tower which overlooks the village, and 

 once overawed its inhabitants. 



The next day I resolved to try whether the 

 Grimsel Pass, the second principal opening from 

 the north through the great barrier, would show 

 us anything new ; but in this project I was dis- 

 appointed, for rain and intense cold came on, 

 which drove me down to Meiringen and deprived 

 me of any opportunity of further observation. 

 And here, as I write, the sun has once more 

 broken through the clouds, a bracing north wind 

 blows, the mountains above us are covered with 

 fresh snow, the trees are beginning to lose their 

 summer green, the cow-bells are ringing in the 

 valley instead of upon the alps, and alpine autumn 

 is here in all its health and beauty. The hotel is 



