THE FERNY MOORLANDS. 



sudden flight across the path of a rabbit; the 

 rolling, hurry-scurrying contortions of a snake, 

 which our unexpected appearance has sur- 

 prised, basking in the tiny gleam of sunshine 

 which has fallen on to the greensward through 

 an opening in the trees overhead; the heavy 

 splash in the river on our left, as a water-rat, 

 which had not dreamed of our unwelcome intru- 

 sion, takes the shortest and readiest path to his 

 hole, diving one moment in one place into the 

 stream, to reappear the next somewhere else, 

 under the belief that meanwhile we may think 

 that his power of holding his breath is unlimited ; 

 or the lighter splash of a trout, as, unaware of 

 our presence, it rises in the dark, deep pool near 

 us at the tempting palmer-fly that has just dropped 

 from the bushes. All these sights and sounds 

 contribute to the delight of this river-side ramble. 

 Or we may rest for a moment, and, peering cau- 

 tiously around us, so as not to disturb the free 

 inhabitants of this woodland, admire and enjoy 

 their unrestrained movements. The snake will 

 wriggle on to the sunlit path again ; the rabbit 

 will come quietly out from his hiding-place; the 



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