Blackthorn and Woodbine. 199 



what to them must seem a terrible risk for the sake 

 of gratifying their taste. 



The wood-pigeons are fond of acorns, and come for 

 them to the oaks growing in an irregular row along 

 the hedge at the top of the home-field. They are 

 most A r oracious birds and literally cram their crops 

 with this hard fruit. Squirrels and mice enjoy the 

 nuts in Hazel Corner, and the thrushes and pigeons 

 feed on the peggles which cover the great hawthorn 

 bush there so thickly as to give it a reddish tint. 

 There is a difference even in this fruit : on some 

 bushes the peggles consist mainly of the internal 

 stone, the edible coating being of the thinnest. On 

 others the stone is embedded in a thick mellow 

 covering affording twice as much food. Like other 

 products of the hedge, they are supposed to be im- 

 proved by frost. 



Farther down the highway hedge, by the gateway, 

 a large elder bush, or rather tree, bears a profusion 

 of berries. Blue-black sloes adhere to they do not 

 hang on the blackthorn bushes : in places the 

 boughs are loaded with them. Here and there crabs 

 cling to the tough crab tree, whose bark has a dull 

 gloss on it, something like dark polished leather. 

 Bunches of red berries shine on the woodbine : fruit 

 growing in bunches usually depends, but these are 

 often on the upper side of the stalk ; and the latter 

 bloom shows by them flower and fruit at the same 

 time. The berry has a viscous feel. 



Larger berries some red, some green, on the 

 same bunch cluster on the vines of the bryony. 

 The white bryony, whose leaf is not unlike that of 

 the grape, has a magical reputation, and the cottage 



