NIGHTINGALE ROAD 45 



that in the country adds to the beauty of distant hills 

 and woods. 



It was clearly the atmosphere not the fog but 

 simply the atmosphere of London brought out over the 

 fields by a change in the wind, and prevented from 

 diffusing itself by conditions of which nothing seems 

 known. For at ordinary times the atmosphere of London 

 diffuses itself in aerial space and is lost, but on this hot 

 July day it came bodily and undiluted out into the corn- 

 fields. From its appearance I should say it would travel 

 many miles in the same condition. In November fog 

 seems seasonable : in hot and dry July this phenomenon 

 was striking. 



Along the road flocks of sheep continue to travel, some 

 weary enough, and these, gravitating to the rear of the 

 flock by reason of infirmity, lie down in the dust to rest, 

 while their companions feed on the wayside sward. But 

 the shepherds are careful of them, and do not hasten. 

 Shepherds here often carry the pastoral crook. In 

 districts far from the metropolis you may wander about 

 for days, and with sheep all round you, never see a 

 shepherd with a crook ; but near town the pastoral staff 

 is common. 



These flocks appear to be on their way to the southern 

 down farms, and, as I said before, the shepherds are 

 tender over their sheep and careful not to press them. 

 I regret that I cannot say the same about the bullocks, 

 droves of which continually go by, often black cattle, 

 and occasionally even the little Highland animals. The 

 appearance of some of these droves is quite sufficient to 

 indicate the treatment they have undergone. Staring 

 eyes, heads continually turned from side to side, starting 

 at everything, sometimes bare places on the shoulders, 

 all tell the same tale of blows and brutal treatment. 



