254 WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



their coming unexpectedly on the cliff from above ; 

 if they begin from below they are safe. A wood-pigeon 

 may frequently be found in the quarry sometimes 

 in the pits, sometimes on the ledges high up and the 

 goldfinches visit it for the abundant thistledown. 



Between the excavated hollow and the lake there is 

 but a narrow bank of stone and sand overgrown 

 with sward ; and reclining there, the eye travels over 

 the broad expanse of water, almost level with it, 

 as one might look along a gun-barrel. Yonder the 

 roan cattle are in the water up to their knees ; the 

 light air ripples the surface, and the sunshine play- 

 ing on the wavelets glistens so brilliantly that the 

 eye can scarcely bear it ; and the cattle ponder 

 dreamily, standing in a flood of liquid gold. 



A path running from Wick across the fields to the 

 distant downs leads to the forest. It would be quite 

 possible to pass by the edge without knowing that it 

 was so near, for a few scattered trees on the hill-side \ 

 would hardly attract attention. Nothing marks 

 where the trees cease : thin, wide apart, and irregu- 

 larly placed, because planted by Nature, they look 1 

 but a group on the down. There is indeed a boundary, 

 but it is at a distance and concealed : it is the trout- 

 stream in the hollow far below, winding along the | 

 narrow valley, and hidden by osier-beds and willow 

 pollards. 



Ascending the slope of the down towards the trees, 

 the brown-tinted grass feels slippery under foot : this 

 wiry grass always does feel so as autumn approaches. 





