22 A GARDEN OF PLEASURE 



must have been destroyed by some one 

 with a stick who had caught them un- 

 awares while in the blind fury of deadly 

 combat. I think these beautiful creatures 

 are scarcer everywhere than in former 

 days. It is very long since I have rejoiced 

 at the sight of a snake in some wild place, 

 slipping through the long green grass ; a 

 beauteous wreath with melancholy eyes 1 

 or undulating across a streamlet. 



Harmless and graceful however as is 

 the common snake, an adder is quite a 

 different affair ! No living creature bears 

 a more sinister expression. The form of 

 the small cruel head, and the faultlessly 

 regular and even chain-pattern along the 

 back. The very shade of cold pale brown 

 that colours it, and the glassy green of its 

 under side, seem to bear a wicked look. 

 One may well fear ' a snake in the grass ' 

 of that species ! In the garden, animated 

 Nature is always as full of charm, (at least 

 to me!) as are the flowers. A pair of 

 small call-ducks wander here at will. Sir 

 Francis, the drake, is very handsome : 

 plumaged like a mallard. His partner takes 



