92 NATURE NEAR LONDON 



green wax taper, and afterwards turns the other. Some- 

 times it resumes the original turn before reaching a 

 branch to cling to, and may thus be said to have re- 

 volved in three directions. The dusty celandine grows 

 under the bushes; and its light green leaves seem to 

 retain the white dust from the road. Ground ivy creeps 

 everywhere over the banks, and covers the barest spot. 

 In April its flowers, though much concealed by leaves, 

 dot the sides of the ditches with colour, like the purple 

 tint that lurks in the amethyst. 



A small black patch marks the site of one of those 

 gorse fires which are so common in Surrey. This was 

 extinguished before it could spread beyond a few bushes. 

 The crooked stems remain black as charcoal, too much 

 burnt to recover, and in the centre a young birch 

 scorched by the flames stands leafless. This barren 

 birch, bare of foliage and apparently unattractive, is 

 the favourite resort of yellow-hammers. Perching on a 

 branch towards evening a yellow-hammer will often sit 

 and sing by the hour together, as if preferring to be 

 clear of leafy sprays. 



The somewhat dingy hue of many trees as the summer 

 begins to wane is caused not only by the fading of the 

 green, but by the appearance of spots upon the leaves, as 

 may be seen on those birches which grow among the 

 furze. But in spring and early summer their fresh light 

 green contrasts with masses of bright yellow gorse bloom. 

 Just before then just as the first leaves are opening 

 the chiffchaffs come. 



The first spring I had any knowledge of this spot was 

 mild, and had been preceded by mild seasons. The 

 chirTchaffs arrived all at once, as it seemed, in a bevy, 

 and took possession of every birch about the furze, 

 calling incessantly with might and main. The willow- 



