NATURE NEAR BRIGHTON. 97 



domed nest of the long-tailed titmouse. Yuc — yuc, 

 again. Stalks of spurge, thickening towards the top, 

 and then surrounded with leaves, and above these dull 

 yellow-green flowers, grow in shrub-like bunches in 

 more open ground. Among the shrunken leaves on 

 the turf here and there are the white flowers of the 

 barren strawberr}^ A green woodpecker starts from 

 a tree, and can be watched between the trunks as 

 he flies ; his bright colour marks him. Presently, on 

 rounding some furze, he rises again, this time from 

 the ground, and goes over the open glade ; flying, the 

 green woodpecker appears a larger bird than would be 

 supposed if seen when still. He has been among the 

 beeches all the time, and it was his " Yuc, yuc " which 

 we heard. Where the woodpecker is heard and seen, 

 there the woods are woods and wild — a sense of wild- 

 ness accompanies his presence. 



Across the valley the straight shadows of firs rise up 

 the slope, all drawn in the same direction, parallel on 

 the sward. Far in a hollow of the rounded hill a herd 

 of deer are resting ; the plain lies beneath them, and 

 beyond it the sea. Though they rest in a hollow the 

 green hill is open above and below them ; they do not 

 dread the rifle, but if they did they would be safe 

 there. Returning again through the woods, there are 

 some bucks lying on a pleasant sunny slope. Almost 

 too idle to rise, they arch their backs, and stretch their 

 legs, as much as to say, Why trouble us ? The wind 

 rushes through the trees, and draws from them strange 

 sounds, now a groan, now almost a shriek, as the 

 boughs grind against each other and wear the bark 

 away. From a maple a twisted ivy basket hangs filled 



H 



