64 IN BIRD-LAND 



Swallows will flutter gaily overhead, while Wood- 

 Pigeons fly to the oaks. In the wood itself stillness 

 reigns supreme. A cock Pheasant strutting about 

 runs to shelter, when it sees an intruder, and 

 startles a Blackbird as he pushes through the 

 bushes soon to be lost to sight. 



Under the beeches the undergrowth is very 

 scant. In winter these open spaces will be thickly 

 covered with leaves from the taller trees, but the 

 young beeches retain their leaves until the follow- 

 ing spring. In other places the ground is covered 

 with brambles bearing a crop of large ripe black- 

 berries. Although some leaves of the bramble 

 remain green throughout the winter months, others 

 turn to the most lovely tints ranging from yellow 

 to the deepest crimson. Playing among the larger 

 branches of the oaks are many squirrels ; and as 

 we approach, some of them will run up among the 

 slender branches and jump from tree to tree, 

 others lay full length on the upper boughs and 

 remain still until we pass. 



Perhaps the most beautiful of all the forest trees 

 at this time is the horse-chestnut, the large crinkled 

 leaves being tinted with most striking colours. 

 When several trees are together forming a small 

 grove the scene is truly one of autumnal grandeur, 

 some of the leaves being a deep russet, others a 



