EVENING IN THE WOODS 65 



fine bronze, such as this noble tree alone can put 

 on in the fall of the year. For some reason the 

 birds do not seem to build in the branches of 

 chestnuts so frequently as they do in other trees. 

 It is seldom that one sees an old nest in a chestnut 

 when the branches are bare. Deer love to rest in 

 their shade during summer days, however, and 

 they may often be seen lying down in such a sylvan 

 grove during the heat of the day. 



Long-tailed Titmice and Goldcrests are seen 

 flying about in small parties, and the Tree-Creeper 

 is patiently working up some of the slender trees. 

 The Blue Titmice knock off many leaves in their 

 search for insects, and these float down in the still 

 air to settle at our feet. Although these are some 

 of the most beautiful things it is possible to find 

 in the woods, they will soon decay when the 

 showers and the heavy morning dew soaks them 

 through. When we leave the wood at evening 

 the setting sun is like a great yellow ball, and the 

 trees of the wood are lightened up to show brighter 

 tints as the rays fall upon the leaves. The cumulus 

 clouds floating before the sun now turn to a deep 

 yellow with the deepest copper linings, looking as 

 though edged with fire. Long rays move across 

 the sky as the clouds pass, and when the sun sinks 

 lower and vanishes from sight, all these colours 



6 



