24 THE INCOMING OF SUMMER 

 upwards like a silvery flight of starlings. 

 From the mud precious doubloons have 

 been raised by the root-divers of the king- 

 cups, and are cast thickly by the bank. 



Behind the hedge the gorse grows, 

 stretching up the hill in spiky profusion 

 of rusted jade and orange. Under the 

 roots a colony of rabbits has been founded, 

 and the does are scratching fur from hind 

 legs to line the dug-outs where their little 

 ones will be yeaned. A longtailed titmouse 

 spies a furry fragment, seizes it, and carries 

 it to her nest in a distant bramble. With 

 faint rustling of wings a linnet alights 

 upon a bush, and sings to the mate who is 

 weaving her cradle. Among the apple 

 blossoms below, soft cadences are borne 

 in the sunshine the goldfinches cannot 

 cease the telling of their happiness. A 

 greenfinch answers with wistful, long- 

 drawn note, and a corn bunting repeats his 

 song again and again. Primroses, daisies, 

 and the scentless violet grow on the turf 



