ii2 IN THE GREEN LEAF 



gentle rise to the crest of a low hill that sloped 

 down through hop gardens to the tide. The 

 only things growing on the hill were thistles of 

 a very stout and prickly nature, and low scrub 

 thorns ; nothing very inviting. On either side 

 of this hill were shaws, which in southern 

 counties are called copses, and thinly sprinkled 

 about in these shaws were spindly ash trees. 

 In the middle distance hop gardens and poles, 

 hop oasts where the hops are dried, a few 

 farmhouses, and the salt water beyond. On 

 the tops of those consumptive -looking ash 

 trees the magpies would sit and chatter, vary- 

 ing this amusement by flying to and fro from 

 one side to the other, the distance between 

 being certainly not more than a couple of 

 hundred yards. As no restrictions existed as 

 to where you might go, we explored a little 

 and saw as much of the birds' proceedings 

 as they would let us. Birds young and old, 

 mice, frogs, snails, and beetles, as well as 

 a plentiful supply of worms, must have been 

 all that they could get there, and these needed 

 a careful search. 



From the position of the place, exposed as it 

 was to all the fierce sea-gales, trees did not 

 flourish luxuriantly, and the elms round the 



