212 THB COUNTRY CLERGYMAN. 



from the dirt, and noise and smoke of a metropolis. 

 In this respect, there is nothing perhaps more 

 striking than a good country bed and bed-room, 

 and a good country breakfast. These Dr. Hast- 

 ings* visitors enjoyed in perfection, and it was after 

 the latter meal, that the party prepared for a ramble 

 round the premises. 



Every thing appeared new to Mr. Hilary, and 

 as he listened to Dr. Hastings' 1 facts and illustra- 

 tions of the economy of nature as .they pursued 

 their walk, he became interested in the subject, and 

 his eyes appeared to be opened for the first time 

 to the beauties of the works of creation. His 

 curiosity was excited, and he asked for information 

 with an eagerness which astonished his friend Mr. 

 Eames. A hawk was observed hovering high in 

 the air over the edge of the chalk-pit, which had 

 been formed out of the side of the precipitous hill 

 at the back of the rectory. The party admired 

 its smooth and elegant movements, sometimes 

 appearing as if it was suspended in the air, and at 

 others falling for a short distance like a stone, and 

 then suddenly resuming its original position. This 

 afforded an occasion for Dr. Hastings to give his 

 friends an interesting account of the habits of the 

 falco genus. He described their flights, their 

 migrations, the beauty of their plumage, the quick- 

 ness of their eye-sight, and the admirable manner 

 in which they are formed as birds of prey. He 



