NATURE AND SPORT . 

 IN BRITAIN 



CHAPTER I 

 A SUSSEX MARSH 



Pevensey Level — Its attractions — The eel-fisher — Sussex dialect — Sheep- 

 washing' — A legend of William Rufus — Pevensey and Herstmonceux 

 Castles — A herony — The rare spoonbill — The "Crumbles" — Shore 

 flowers — Wildfowl — Grey phalarope — Hooded crows — Black scoters 

 — Marsh hare hunting — Sussex smugglers — The "lookers" — Floods 

 — Marsh islets — A reposeful scene. 



THE wide stretch of marshland known as Pevensey 

 Level, or, more familiarly, Pevensey Marshes, 

 lies to-day very much as it has lain these two hun- 

 dred years past. It has seen but little change since 

 Charles II.'s time. There are, perhaps, more dykes, 

 the system of water drainage is more perfect, and the 

 winter floods are of less volume. But in other respects 

 the aspect of the country has seen few changes in two 

 centuries. It is one of the quietest parts of Sussex, 

 and until the era of the safety cycle few people other 

 than sportsmen, cattle dealers, and the Marsh graziers 

 set eyes upon it. Within the last half-dozen years 

 cyclists from Eastbourne, Bexhill, and Hastings have 

 begun to know something of the Marsh and its aspect ; 

 but as a rule these are folk not greatly interested in the 

 country and its wild life. Some few may discover the 



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