io IN THE GREEN LEAF 



pond. It was enlivened in some measure by 

 the numerous kingfishers that shot to and fro ; 

 not a pair only of birds dashing here and there. 

 I counted six of the flashing beauties at one 

 time. For more than forty years this spot has 

 been noted for these birds ; and to those that 

 know it, great consolation can be derived from 

 the fact that they can be seen there now. I 

 have never seen a kingfisher in front of a 

 modern hat in Sussex. 



After leaving the " woodland-mirror," our 

 track kept gradually rising, until at last a wide 

 common was in front ; a genuine furze common, 

 all ablaze with orange-gold blossoms. After it 

 the ground once more dipped, and there below 

 us, on the borders of a feeding stream, stood 

 a clump of Scotch firs, four in number, their 

 trunks covered for three parts of their great 

 height with ivy. I had at last reached the 

 confines of the boy Will's beat ; and a couple 

 of herons were flapping over the flat tops of 

 the ancient firs. Knowing from past expe- 

 rience their wary nature, I skirted the side of 

 the rising ground and came (out of sight, of 

 course) into a line with the tops of the trees. 



From my station I could see the feeding 

 stream winding here and there, lost for a time 



