AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. 181 



In the sheltered hollows, which are covered with short 

 grass and furze, the place seems teeming with animal life : 

 rabbits burrowing in the ground; and polecats, stoats, and 

 weasels, skulking and hunting them from burrow to burrow ; 

 vipers, slow-worms, snakes, and lizards, writhing in the 

 grass, and basking in the sun ; beetles of brilliant hues ; 

 butterflies of the rarest kinds alighting on the blossoms, 

 and spreading their beautiful wings ; amongst them is the 

 large blue butterfly (Polyomatus arion) which is quite a 

 local fly, being found only in a very few places in England.* 



Now look upwards — that kestrel is hovering above our 

 heads, intent on the capture of an unsuspecting mouse or 

 mole, who may be enjoying himself amongst the herbage 

 below. 



Soaring aloft over the sea, at an altitude of some hundreds 

 of feet, the solan goose, or gannet (who looks as if he had 

 on a pair of spectacles), is surveying the surface of the 

 waters, on the look-out for a passing fish. Suddenly his 

 wings are closed, and he plunges down, head foremost, 

 into the deep ; in a few seconds he is seen struggling 

 with the prey, which he quickly dispatches, and then away 

 he soars again to watch for more. 



Sometimes, while rambling on the cliffs, a sound strikes 

 the ear as of horses and dogs rapidly approaching, and a 

 poor timid hare, almost black with perspiration and terror, 

 passes before you. He stops a moment, raises his ears, 

 and then dashes on again. Poor hapless creature, our heart 

 aches for thee ! oh, if the huntsman could only exchange 

 places with his victim for one short hour, we think he 

 would never again have the least desire to pursue this cruel 



* For Mr. H. Nicholls' list of butterflies found in the district, see end of 

 the book. 



