176 RED DEER. 



and thick where the water falls over the 

 hatch, and by the shore flourishes the tall 

 reed-mace (so rarely distinguished from the 

 lesser bulrush). A ripple here, a circle 

 yonder, a splash across in the corner, show 

 where trout have risen to flies. The osprey 

 was shot at these ponds, and once now and 

 then the ' spoor ' of an otter is found on 

 the shore. Leaving the water, the path 

 goes up the steep coombe under oaks, far up 

 to the green pasture at the summit. Across 

 on another slope, against which the declining 

 sun shines brightly, there are two or three 

 white spots — quite brilliantly white. One 

 moves presently, and it is seen that they are 

 white wild rabbits. Their brown friends are 

 scarcely visible except when moving. Red 

 deer used to lie in the cover yonder till they 

 were chased, since which none have returned 

 to the spot. Beside the oak wood in the 

 pasture on the summit it is pleasant walking 

 now in the shade after the heat of the day. 

 It is along the side of a cover like this 



