IN THE WOODS 67 



bably proved fatal to large numbers of the more 

 delicate migrants. 



In this low, level country, sheltered by woods and 

 hedgerows, we feel the tremendous power of the sun 

 even before the last week in June. It is good to feel, 

 to bathe in the heat all day long ; but at noon one 

 sometimes finds it too hot even on the open heath, 

 and is forced to take shelter in the woods. It was 

 always coolest on the high ground among the pines, 

 where the trees are very tall and there is no under- 

 wood. In spring it was always pleasant to walk 

 here on the thick carpet of fallen needles and old 

 dead fern ; now, in a very short time, the young 

 bracken has sprung up as if by miracle to a nearly 

 uniform height of about four feet. It spreads all 

 around me for many acres an unbroken sea of brilliant 

 green, out of which rise the tall red columns of the 

 pines supporting the dark woodland roof. 



Why is it, when in June the luxuriant young 

 bracken first drops its fully-developed fronds, so that 

 frond touches frond, many overlapping, forming a 

 billowy expanse of vivid green, hiding, or all but 

 hiding, the brown or red soil beneath why is it the 

 eyes rest with singular satisfaction on it? It is not 

 only because of the colour, nor the beauty of contrast 

 where the red floor of last year's beech leaves is seen 

 through the fresh verdure, and of dark red-boled pines 

 rising from the green sea of airy fronds. Colours and 

 contrasts more beautiful may be seen, and the pleasure 

 they give is different in kind. 



