98 WOODLANDERS AND FIELD FOLK 



filament over all. Far out and beyond the deep 

 wood it comes from the " scars," and the limestone 

 sends its carbonate to dome our retreat. Miniature 

 stalactites hang from the roof, and bright bosses rise 

 from the floor. Frail fern fronds depend from the 

 crevices, and, as the light rushes in, masses of golden 

 saxifrage gild all the chamber. The beams will not 

 long stay, for the sun dips in the western woods. 

 From the mouth of my recess I take in a silent river 

 reach. It is thickly embowered and overhung. 

 Long drooping racemes of green tree-flowers, especi- 

 ally those of the lime, attract innumerable insects; 

 intent upon these a flycatcher sits lengthwise upon a 

 branch. How beautiful are its short flights, the 

 iridescence of its plumage, its white eye-lines, and 

 barred forehead! The gauzy filmy veils and dripping 

 moss of numerous small waterfalls, have attracted 

 the dippers. Kingfishers, too, in their green flight, 

 dash over the still water. The remote pines have 

 lost their light, and stand black against the sky. 

 The crescent moon shows a bit of light at intervals; 

 soon masses of cloud intervene. 



A faint whistle, unlike that of any bird, comes up- 

 stream: and I know that, although imperceptibly, 

 the dark, still water is moved. The trout cease to 

 rise. The whistle comes nearer, and then a rustle is 

 heard. The osier beds are stirred, and some long 

 dark object makes its way between the parted stems. 



