176 NATURE IN DOWNLAND 



In the course of a hot summer day on these shade- 

 less hills one may experience a variety of tempera- 

 tures and a succession of contrasted sensations. 

 Lying flat on the grass on a lower slope it is exces- 

 sively hot ; merely to sit or stand up is to enter 

 into another and more temperate climate; in toiling 

 up a steep slope the sensation is that of wading chin- 

 deep in a hot bath with one's clothes on ; higher up 

 a breeze is often met which strikes one "vvith a de- 

 licious chill. The sudden cold produced by rapid 

 evaporation refreshes and exhilarates at the same 

 time ; it is like a draught of cider to the parched 

 reaper. However motionless the air may be in the 

 valleys, the deep clefts dividing the downs, there is 

 always some wind on the summits. 



There are of course some days in July and August 

 when there is scarcely a breath of wind even on the 

 highest crests ; yet even so the heat is never so 

 oppressive there. If at the height of 300 feet you 

 feel that it would be a relief to creep into the shade 

 of even a stunted blackthorn or furze-bush, at 800 

 feet you can still sit or even Ue in the full blaze and 

 enjoy it. Birds as well as men feel this; frequently 

 on a hot windless day I have been surprised on 

 getting to the highest point in any place at the 

 number of birds collected on it ; not to feed but 

 merely to repose during the idle noonday hours. One 

 August day, on coming to the summit of Mount Harry, 

 west of Lewes, I found a company of rooks and daws 



