STRATHFIELDSAYE PARK. 195 



tufts of rushes nesting-places. High overhead in 

 the breeding season snipe can be seen rising and 

 falling on vibrating pinions through the air, mak- 

 ing their peculiar bleating all the day long, while 

 the hen birds are on their nests. 



Woodcock frequent the quiet glades of the park, 

 and in April are sometimes plentiful ; the large 

 hollies with straggling branches drooping over the 

 withered brackens provide splendid shelters, while 

 the woodcock's mottled plumage of grays and 

 browns assimilates so nicely with the dead leaves 

 in which they cower, that a passer-by may almost 

 touch them before they will take flight 



As we were resting by the bridge, enjoying the 

 fragrant weed, the startled cry of a blackbird drew 

 our attention to some thickets beneath the firs 

 bordering a woodland path. Ascending the hill, a 

 dog-fox showed himself for a minute, and per- 

 ceiving us, slily glided back to shelter, and out of 

 our sight. He was no doubt intent on catching a 

 rabbit for his evening meal ; and .as daylight was 

 now fast fading, we tipped the keeper, got into the 

 waggonette with our fish and tackle, and drove 

 away to our friend's farmhouse. Its surrounding 

 walls were part of what had been a monastery, 

 suppressed during the reign of Henry VIII. The 

 granary had been the chapel this was evident from 

 the eastern widow, which yet remained with its 

 stone traceries also the gables, and a small belfry ; 

 but the bell which once summoned the holy men to 

 prayer had long since disappeared. Outside these 

 walls was an orchard, full of crabbed and gnarled 

 fruit trees, hoary with age ; beyond this was a 

 stream and a dilapidated fish-pond or stew. 



The once rapid stream is now arrested by a weir, 



