SUMMER IN SOMERSET. 285 



that one side of the current of insects flies up that way, 

 and the other side returns. They go to and fro in regular 

 order, exactly like the fashionable folk in Rotten Row, 

 but the two ranks pass so quickly that looked at both to- 

 gether the vision cannot separate them, they are faster 

 than the impression on the retina. 



At Selworthy a footpath leads up through a wood 

 on Selworthy Hill, and as it ascends, always at the 

 side of the slope, gradually opens out what is per- 

 haps the finest view of Dunkery Beacon, the Dunkery 

 range, and that edge of Exmoor on to the shore of the 

 sea. Across the deep vale the Exmoor mountains rise 

 and reach on either hand, immense breadths of dark 

 heather, deep coombes filled with black shadow, and 

 rounded masses that look dry and heated. To the right 

 is the gleaming sea, and the distant sound of the surge 

 comes up to the wood. The headland and its three 

 curves boldly project into the sunlit waters ; from its 

 foot many a gallant stag hard pressed by the hounds has 

 swum out into the track of passing vessels. Selworthy 

 Woods were still in the afternoon heat ; except for the 

 occasional rustle of a rabbit or of a pheasant, there was 

 no evidence of hie ; the sound of the sea was faint and soon 

 lost among the ferns. Slowly, very slowly, great Dun- 

 kery grew less hard of aspect, shadows drew along at the 

 base, while again the declining sun from time to time 

 sent his beams into valleys till now dark. The thatched 

 house at Holnicote by the foot of Selworthy much inte- 

 rested me ; it is one of the last of thatched houses inha- 

 bited by a gentleman and landed proprietor. Sir Thomas 

 Acland, who resides here, is a very large owner. Thatch 

 prevails on his estates ; thatched cottages, thatched farm- 

 houses, and his thatched mansion. In the coolness of 

 the evening the birds began to sing and squirrels played 



