318 HAMPSHIRE DAYS 



away from the weed-grown churchyard, I began to 

 wonder what his feelings would be could he revisit this 

 old familiar spot. The group of yew-trees where the 

 church had stood, and the desolate aspect of the ground 

 about it would disturb and puzzle his mind ; but, on 

 looking farther, all the scene would appear as he had 

 known it so long ago the round, wooded hills, the 

 green valley, the stream, and possibly some of the old 

 trees, and even the old cottages. Then his eyes would 

 begin to detect things new and strange. First, my 

 bicycle, leaning against the trunk of the great ash-tree, 

 would arrest his attention ; but in a few moments, 

 before he could examine it closely and consider for 

 what purpose it was intended, something far more 

 interesting and more wonderful to him would appear in 

 sight. Five large birds standing quietly on the green 

 turf beside the stream birds never hitherto seen. 

 Regarding them attentively, he would see that they 

 were geese, and it would appear to him that they were 

 of two species, one white and grey in colour, with black 

 legs, the other a rich maroon red, with yellow legs ; 

 also that they were both beautiful and more graceful in 

 their carriage than any bird of their family known to 

 him. Before he would cease wondering at the presence 

 at Swarraton of these Magellanic geese, no longer 

 strange to any living person's eyes in England, lo ! a 

 fresh wonder beautiful yellow flowers by the stream, 

 unlike any flower that grew there in his day, or by any 

 stream in Hampshire. 



