146 WITH THE WOODLANDERS. 



and the light stripes on the upper plumage made 

 it look very toad-like. So very closely does the 

 snipe's plumage fall in with withered herbage, that 

 you might be the length of any ordinary room 

 from one and yet not see the creature. But the 

 snipes have gone from those water-meadows, and 

 so have the fish. 



The otter, one of the greatest ornaments and 

 the most interesting creature that the river Mole 

 still can boast of, will be in fine form in a week 

 or two ; for what with eels just getting about, 

 frogs, rabbits, and other little items, he will cer- 

 tainly whistle for pure gladness of heart, because 

 for him the winter is past and gone. 



In the sheltered willow - holts the little chiff- 

 chaff chatters as yet feebly his chiff-cheff-cheff-chiff, 

 chevy-chevy-chevy, chiff-cheff-chiff. On and about 

 the old trees in the park the "yaffle" yikes, and 

 the nuthatch sends forth his liquid flute-like call ; 

 while the wryneck, just arrived, chatters out a 

 half-hearted peet, peet-peet, peet-peet! He will 

 find his voice presently and make good use of it. 



On the topmost limbs of the dead and dying 

 trees, for most of these old woodland giants for 



