208 IN THE GREEN LEAF 



to break again, and scatter themselves in all 

 directions. Where some of the trees have 

 fallen, leaving gaps and open spaces below, 

 bright blue-green patches show, about which 

 dark grey dots are astir. These are rabbits 

 feeding on the short tender grass ; for nothing 

 is left bare long ; directly through some natural 

 accident a larger growth ceases to exist, a 

 smaller one of a very different nature is ready 

 to take the place of it. 



Old woods, when leafless, if the moon is high 

 up and bright over all, provide a series of ever- 

 changing pictures. Nothing, you fancy, could 

 surpass that effect of light and shade ; but the 

 light shifts on, and, if possible, another picture 

 is presented more beautiful than the one that 

 has gone. That owl's hooting is about all you 

 are likely to hear, and he will not shout to the 

 moon for any length of time, for his mate will 

 join him on a hunting expedition, far away 

 from his sleeping quarters. And now the 

 hooter has flighted, and not even a wood- 

 mouse rustles the dry crisp leaves which are 

 so thickly gathered under the trees. From a 

 distant farm the shrill crow of a rooster is 

 heard with startling clearness. If Reynard is 

 about and is sharp set for his late dinner, 





