12 ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



The principal rivers are the Arun, the Ouse, the 

 Cuckmere, and the Adur, all flowing into the Bri- 

 tish Channel. 



The Arun rises in the forest of St. Leonard, in 

 western Sussex, crosses a considerable portion of 

 the weald, and passes through the Downs between 

 Bury Hill and Amberley, where, during the rainy 

 season, it overflows the low meadows in that neigh- 

 bourhood to the extent of many miles, so as to re- 

 semble a great lake, and ultimately debouches at 

 Littlehampton. 



The Ouse and the Cuckmere rise in the forest 

 country, and enter the sea through the Downs to 

 the eastward of Brighton. The former passes 

 near Lewes, where it waters the flat, alluvial tract 

 of Lewes levels, and so on to Newhaven, on the 

 coast. The latter, still more to the eastward, 

 passing by Arlington, Alfriston and Littlington, 

 falls into the sea at Cuckmere haven, to the west- 

 ward of Beachy Head. 



The Adur, which also rises in St. Leonard's 

 Forest, enters the sea at Shoreham, about six 

 miles west of Brighton. Although the mouth of 

 the harbour is narrow, and difficult of access to 

 large vessels, except at full tide, yet the waters 

 within expand laterally to a great extent, so as to 

 form a tolerably commodious haven for steamers, 

 colliers and fishing-boats, which the vicinity of 



