I 2 A YEAR WITH NATURE. 



life until they got it. I could perceive Rudd, Roach, Perch, and 

 Carp, their golden and red sides dazzling in the sunlit beam 

 which was thrown right across the stream. The river has not 

 been fished for years; how I longed for my rod and line, a 

 nice red worm, and a permit for a few hours ; but his Lordship 

 does not even fish himself, preferring to stroll down by the 

 mossy banks and giving the finny tribe a piece of sponge cake, 

 so the gossips say 1 Two hundred Pike were taken out not 

 long ago. Small wonder is it, therefore, that the fish mentioned 

 are so plentiful when these "gentlemen" are put out of the way. 



It was a glorious view from the bridge. The red brick 

 house is in an excellent position, and makes one feel somewhat 

 despondent that one man should have such belongings, whilst 

 the poor and downtrodden toil from week end to week end 

 for a mere crust of bread. 



Over the bridge and we again see that "Sport" is being 

 catered for. Here and there a veritable sea of Bracken is seen, 

 now in its green foliage. I should say there were acres of it, 

 and in it and underneath the Rabbits disport themselves to their 

 heart's content until the " fatal day " arrives. The uncurled 

 ends of the ferns presented a curious and pleasing sight, and 

 the level at which the whole grows is wondrous indeed. On 

 the left, in the bracken and underneath the shelter of the trees, 

 some Woodcocks are always shot in the season, but they have 

 never been found nesting here. 



From a hawthorn bush I noticed a gaily-plumed bird alight on 

 to the top of the bracken, and I watched it carefully. My friend 

 was of the opinion it was a gorgeous Bullfinch, but the black 

 of the throat and the little patch of white near the head to 

 be seen on closer examination proved it to be a Stonechat. 

 One cannot see this bird on every ramble, it is purely local 

 in its distribution. 



A refreshing cup of tea at mine host's at the " Wagoners" 

 on the Great North road, and we proceed through the middle 

 of a 500 acre wood. A heap of Jays slaughtered by the side 

 of the green drive made me shudder for a moment and wish 

 for a conversation with the keeper who shot them. The picture 

 Mr. Newman has given us shows a well stocked keeper's 

 gibbet, or vermin pole. I could wish for a quarter of an hour 



