2 NATURE IN DOWNLAND 



of downland and the grey glinting ocean beyond on one 

 side, the immense expanse of the wooded Sussex weald 

 on the other, is covered with a blue obscuring haze, 

 and this hot, windy August day was no exception. 

 The wind, moreover, was so violent that all winged life, 

 whether of bird or insect, had been driven into hiding 

 and such scanty shade as existed ; it was a labour even 

 to walk against the wind. In spite of these draw- 

 backs, and of the everywhere brown parched aspect 

 of nature, I had here some hours of rare pleasure, felt 

 all the more because it had not been looked for. 



Kingston Hill is not one of the dome-shaped downs, 

 where when not on the very summit you are on a 

 slope : the top forms a level plateau or table-land of 

 considerable extent, covered with a thick turf and 

 occasional patches of furze, with some bramble and 

 elder bushes. After aimlessly wandering about over 

 this high plain for some time I went to a spot where 

 the hill sloped away toward the valley of the Ouse. 

 Beyond the vast sweep of parched ground beneath me, 

 green meadows and trees were visible, with scattered 

 village and farm houses, and the two small churches 

 of Iford and Kingston vaguely seen in the haze. 



Here, sitting on the dry grass with my face to the 

 wind, I spent two or three hours in gazing at the 

 thistle-down. It is a rare thing to see it as I had it 

 before me that day ; the sight of it was a surprise, and 

 I gave myself up to the pleasure of it, wishing for 

 no better thing. It was not only that the sight was 



