VII 



LEAFLESS WOODS AND GREY MOORLANDS 



As is frequently the case after rain and rough 

 gales, there is now not a breath of wind ; one 

 or two leaves that have not yet been blown 

 off, are motionless ; there is not even a quiver 

 about them. Leaf- sweepers they call these 

 November winds ; the fierce gusts catch the 

 leaves up and carry them in one direction, to 

 drop them again in sheltered hollows in cart- 

 loads, where they are gathered without the 

 trouble of raking up ; fine leaf-mould for the 

 forcing houses and frames. 



The birds will certainly benefit by the blasts, 

 for they have laid bare a vast supply of acorns 

 and beech nuts. So much bird provender has 

 not been seen for years ; the fall season has 

 been a bounteous one. 



As we pass along we do not hear the rustle 

 and scrape of leaves, caused by the pheasants 



scratching amongst them, or by the breast 



187 



