WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 75 



some success : it could be done without a doubt if it 

 were not that after a short course all the streams upon 

 this side of the downs enter the meadows, and imme- 

 diately run over a mud bottom. With care, a few 

 young fish were maintained in the upper waters, but 

 it was only as an experiment ; left to themselves, they 

 would speedily disappear ; and, of course, no angling 

 could be thought of. 



On the opposite side of the range of hills, where they 

 decline in height somewhat, but still roll on for a great 

 distance, the contrary is the case. The springs that 

 run in that direction pass over a soil that gives a good, 

 clear bottom, and gradually assume the character of 

 rivers ; narrow, indeed, and shallow, but clear, sweet, 

 and beautiful. There, as you wander over the down, 

 and push your way through one of those extensive 

 nut-woods which grow on the hills, acres and acres of 

 hazel bushes, suddenly you come to the edge of a steep 

 cliff, falling all but perpendicularly, and, lo ! at the 

 foot is a winding river, bordered by broad green meads 

 dotted with roan-and-white cattle. 



Here in the season the angler may be seen skilfully 

 tempting the speckled trout. Across the meads a 

 grove of elm and oak, and the dull red of old houses 

 dimly seen between, and the low, dark crenellated 

 tower of a village church. Behind, the downs rise again, 

 their slopes in spring a mass of colour green corn, 

 squares of bright yellow mustard, bright crimson tri- 

 folium, and brown fallows. 



