102 HILLSIDE, ROCK, AND DALE 



phenomenon ; one tree alone is disturbed among a 

 number of others. I have seen this happen in a 

 wood. A tree surrounded with others will suddenly 

 show its branches to be moving, this being caused by 

 a breeze which affects this one only, while those 

 around are still. Acorns, leaves, and large drops of 

 water fall as single trees are moved by this local 

 wind. Rabbits stand up and listen, and some run 

 to their holes. One bolts full speed along the lake- 

 side, seeming to bounce from mound to mound in its 

 wild scamper. The still surface of the water here 

 and there shows ripples as the curious local wind 

 passes over it. This is a very fine lake from a bird- 

 lover's point of view ; throughout the year there are 

 always interesting phases of bird life here, however 

 bare the woods or fields may be. Although within 

 nine miles of London, we have had ospreys here. 

 Not very many years ago a pair of these extremely 

 rare birds visited this lake and stayed for a period of 

 three weeks. Many a rare bird now often stays to 

 feed here, but soon passes on. There is only one 

 thing which takes away much of the charm of such 

 a spot, and that is the roar of London, which is 

 nearly always heard. 



I leave the lake and go among the bracken in the 

 wood. The September sun, in the sheltered path- 

 way, beats down with scorching heat, making last 

 year's dead oak leaves, which strew the ground, 



