OPEN COUNTRY. 155 



Have you ever observed, previous to a change in 

 the weather, cattle performing a variety of awkward 

 yet amusing evolutions, the purposes of which were 

 quite unaccountable ? I frequently have ; and to- 

 day witnessed a somewhat similar performance, and 

 had the good fortune also to discover the cause for 

 these eccentricities. 



From a bend in some low ground, which turned 

 off to the south for more than a mile, I resolved to 

 walk due east, where I hoped my progress would be 

 less impeded. For some yards my steps were much 

 harassed by a thick growth of under-brush, which 

 after a struggle, and no small amount of exertion, I 

 traversed. From here the brush became more and 

 more open, till at length the bushes were so far apart 

 as to encourage a close growth of short grass. It 

 had been so long since I had seen such grass for in 

 this land it either does not grow, or it is longer and 

 stiffer than meadow-hay, and matted together that 

 I felt the greatest pleasure in traversing its velvety 

 surface ; and while doing so, visions of numerous 

 croquet-grounds I know well Richmond, Kensing- 

 ton, and other places celebrated in the calendar of 

 my memory for turf floated before me. After tra- 

 versing several acres, I was attracted out of my 

 course by a pair of red-headed woodpeckers, who 

 were most assiduously plying their avocation on the 

 dead limb of a gnarled old tree. These birds have 

 always been prime favourites with me, for they are 

 the most indefatigable little labourers, gifted with a 



