156 VIGNETTES FROM NATURE. 



XVI. 



SEASIDE WEEDS. 



BEHIND the bar which closes the wide throat 

 of the estuary here at Stourmouth a long ex- 

 panse of sand stretches away inland almost as 

 far as the weirhead that marks the highest 

 point of tidal action in the little river. Some 

 of this sand lies below the level of high water, 

 and is therefore very soft and smooth and 

 muddy ; but a large portion of it stands 

 always high and dry, blown about into uneven 

 ridges and hollows by the strong winds that 

 rush down the opening between the two 

 parallel ranges of neighbouring hills. As I 

 sit upon one of these ridges watching the 

 slow clouds drifting landward before the 



