124 AUTUMNAL LEAVES. 



which we command a prospect all around us of 

 open forest bounded to the north-west by a dark 

 line of Firs over the tops of which the hill-country 

 lying beyond is pleasantly shown by the light hue 

 of its upland pastures and sunny cornfields whilst 

 down to the west, by a dip in the rolling ground 

 of the open forest, we can look again into the 

 pleasant valley of the Avon. 



We must traverse several miles of forest before 

 we reach Bramshaw and forest, much of which, 

 though open, is probably as wild as it was in the 

 Conqueror's time. To many a wayfarer the route 

 we are now following might appear monotonous ; 

 but to one who loves to carefully observe the fea- 

 tures of the country it is full of variety and full of 

 beauty and suggestiveness. The rich purple 

 brown of the general surface of the heath is varied 

 by lighter and darker shades of brown. Amidst 

 the masses of autumnal Bracken there are dark 

 green and golden green fronds which light up the 

 fading clusters of this graceful plant. The purple 

 Heather blossoms show richly against the deep 

 green Gorse, and against the brown and withered 

 bells that still cling to the heathery sprays whilst 



