WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 59 



crumbling rubble bank of the rough track may be 

 found a greater variety than by searching the broad 

 acres beyond. In the season the large white bell-like 

 flowers of the convolvulus will climb over the haw- 

 thorn, and the lesser striped kind will creep along 

 the ground. The pink pimpernel hides on the very 

 verge of the corn, which presently will be strewn with 

 the beautiful " bluebottle " flower, than whose ex- 

 quisite hue there is nothing more lovely in our fields. 

 The great scarlet poppy with the black centre, and 

 "eggs and butter " curious name for a flower will, 

 of course, be there : the latter often flourishes on a 

 high elevation, on the very ridges, provided only the 

 plough has been near. 



At irregular intervals along the slope there are 

 deep hollows shallow near the summit, deepening 

 and widening as they sink, till by the hedge at the 

 foot they broaden out into a little valley in them- 

 selves. These great green grooves furrow the sides 

 of the downs everywhere, and for that reason it is 

 best to walk either on the ridge or in the plain at the 

 bottom : if you follow the slope halfway up, you 

 are continually descending and ascending the steep 

 sides of these gullies, which adds much to the fatigue. 

 At the mouths of the hollows, close to the hedge, 

 the great flint stones and lumps of chalky rubble roll- 

 ing down from above one by one in the passage of the 

 years have accumulated, so that the turf there is 

 almost hidden as by a stony cascade. 



On the ridge here is a thicket of furze, grown shrub- 



