228 IN THE ISIS VALLEY 



rose with a croak, and after flapping some way, with 

 its dangling toes touching the ice, rose high into 

 the air, and flew steadily in the direction of Wytham 

 Woods, where the hen-birds were already sitting on 

 their eggs. 



Viewed from the western shore, the scene was in bright 

 contrast to the prevailing steely monotony of an Eng- 

 lish landscape in March. The tops of the overgrown 

 osiers which fringed the lake wore the polished scarlet 

 bark of early spring, and shot up in a stiff line of red 

 rods. Beyond them lay the surface of the lake, under 

 the sun, in three zones of colour, following the sweep- 

 ing bays and curves of the ice. Next to the shore, 

 the ice was dazzling white with snow, which had 

 melted on the earth, but still lay deep on the thickest 

 ice ; and against this white background stood up the 

 thousands of scarlet osier rods. Next to the snow was 

 a zone of clear ice, blue-grey and snowless ; and beyond 

 the margin of the ice-fringe lay the deeper waters of 

 the lake, of the deep translucent green of jade, on which 

 some fifty shining swans were floating in every attitude 

 of motion or repose. Beyond, on the hill, the long 

 colonnades and shining cupolas of Blenheim stood 

 solemn and severe, like some "Palace of Silence," 

 against the sky. 



A great number of duck and teal, and a flock of 

 widgeon, were floating near an evergreen-covered 

 island, in separate groups ; and a score of coots, con- 

 spicuous by their white heads and velvety black bodies, 

 were feeding near the shore. At the sound of a stick 



