240 WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



tall and gaunt fir tree, whose thin and perhaps dying 

 boughs project almost at right angles. This landmark, 

 visible over the level meadows for a considerable dis- 

 tance, stands in that little enclosed meadow which 

 has once before been mentioned as one of the favourite 

 resorts of birds and wild animals. 



From the ash copse the travelling parties come down 

 the highway hedge to the orchard ; then crossing 

 the orchard and road, they enter another thick hedge, 

 which continues in the same general direction ; and 

 finally, following it, arrive at this small green mead 

 walled in by trees and mounds so broad as to resemble 

 elongated copses. The mead itself may perhaps be 

 two acres in extent, but it does not appear so much ; 

 the part visible on first glancing over the gateway 

 can hardly exceed an acre. The rest is formed of 

 nooks deep indentations, so to say not more than 

 six or eight yards wide at the entrance, and running 

 up to a point. Of these there are four or five re- 

 cesses in the massive walls of green. 



These corners are caused by the mound following 

 the curiously winding course of a brook which flows 

 just without on the left side ; and without, on the 

 right side, runs a second brook, whose direction is 

 much straighter and current slower. These two meet 

 at the top of the mead, and then, forming a junction, 

 make a deep, swift stream, flowing beside a series of 

 water meadows broad, level, and open, like a plain 

 which are irrigated from it. The mounds in the 

 angle where the brooks join enclose a large space 



