AMONG THE HILLS. 63 



head out, whereupon I nipped him behind the head 

 with my finger and thumb. I fear, when I left those 

 charming localities, I went credited with many un- 

 canny qualities that I did not certainly possess. 



When the sun had gone westward any one might 

 study the habits and haunts of that giant swallow, 

 the fern-owl or heave-jar. Fern-owls were as plenti- 

 ful as pigeons about a pigeon-cote. This neighbour- 

 hood suits them to perfection, both as regards food 

 and shelter, and for nesting purposes. The numbers 

 that visit certain counties must be very great. Here 

 alone, the whole forest hums with their spinning- 

 wheel-like song. Sometimes I have lain out of doors 

 three nights in the same week, watching their ways 

 and their means of living. The heather was my 

 couch, and a very fragrant and good one it makes. 



Pitch Hill, Ewhurst Hill, Holmbury Hill, and 

 Leith Hill, at the time I lived in their neighbour- 

 hood, were full of water to their very summits. The 

 whole of the water-supply for the houses and offices, 

 when those red mansions were built, came from the 

 hills in pipes laid down, besides which there were 

 fine open - air swimming - baths conveniently near. 

 There is stone, too, of the most enduring quality 



