216 THE COUNTRY CLERGYMAN. 



Dr.Hastings conducted them to the lower grounds 

 by a rocky path which wound its way through the 

 sloping wood of beech trees beneath them. The 

 rocks on each side of them were streaked with nar- 

 row veins, some of which had been perforated by 

 sand-martins, while wild-strawberries, and other 

 creeping plants of great variety, and some of great 

 beauty, attracted the notice of the party. From 

 some breaks in the rocky sides of the path, clusters 

 of beech were seen, with their silvery trunks glit- 

 tering amidst the shade of this woodland scene. It 

 seemed a favourite haunt of the wood-pigeon, 

 whose distant plaintive cooing was heard, while 

 others were disturbed from neighbouring trees, and 

 their sudden and loud flight was echoed in the 

 silence of the wood. They emerged from it into a 

 lovely glen, from which rabbits scudded as they 

 approached, and pheasants sculked in the grass, 

 and then flew to the neighbouring thickets. The 

 spire of the village church was seen to the right, 

 and on a Sunday the rocky road which has just 

 been described, might be seen covered with pea- 

 santry in their various picturesque dresses, coming 

 from their neighbouring cottages, to the church, 

 to hear the prayers and instructions of their beloved 

 pastor. 



As they pursued their walk, a loud and singular 

 note was heard. Mr. Hilary enquired what it pro- 

 ceeded from, ' It is the cry of the corncrake,' said 



