A UTUMN LIGHTS AND SHADES. 193 



are little patches of mottled gold and crimson scat- 

 tered at intervals over the barest portions of the 

 turf. These are caused by the dying leaves of the 

 trailing brambles. It is very quiet here ; no foot- 

 step of ours can be heard on these soft, elastic, dead 

 leaves. 



So still is it that the brown owl sits motionless, 

 asleep, close to the trunk of a Scotch fir which is 

 near to us. One look at him through the field- 

 glass, and we pass on. Bird-life is very scanty in 

 these woods in late autumn ; even the great green 

 woodpecker the yaffle leaves his stronghold of 

 the beeches for a season. He gives, however, proof 

 positive that he has not quite deserted them yet, 

 for as we slip quietly along, he catches sight of us 

 as he is busy on the stem of a decayed beech. 

 After scuttling round, we can hear the tick of his 

 claws on the bark distinctly; he just pokes his 

 crimson - patched poll round the other side, his 

 quick eye gives one glance at the intruder, then 

 he yells his loudest, making the woods ring with 

 his maniacal yikes ! I do not know any two birds 

 that can make more noise when startled than the 

 yaffle and the blackbird. You may occasionally 



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