Nest-building Time. 69 



fantastic shapes, or to the woodbine hanging in 

 festoons from branch to branch. The rubble under 

 foot crumbles and slips, the roots tear up bodily from 

 the thin soil, the branches bend, and the woodbine 

 'gives/ and the wayfarer may readily descend much 

 more rapidly than he desires. Not that serious con- 

 sequences would ensue from a roll down forty feet 

 of slope ; but the bed of briar and bramble at the 

 bottom is not so soft as it might be. The rabbits 

 seem quite at home upon the steepest spot ; they 

 may be found upon much higher and more precipi- 

 tous chalk cliffs than this, darting from point to point 

 with ease. 



Once at the summit under the beeches, and there 

 a comfortable seat may be found upon the moss. 

 The wood stretches away beneath for more than a 

 mile in breadth, and beyond it winds the narrow 

 mere glittering in the rays of the early spring sun- 

 shine. The bloom is on the blackthorn, but not yet 

 on the may ; the hedges are but just awakening from 

 their long winter sleep, and the trees have hardly put 

 forth a sign. But the rooks are busily engaged in the 

 trees of the park, and away yonder at the distant 

 colony in the elms of the meadows. 



The wood is restless with life : every minute a 

 pigeon rises, clattering his wings, and after him 



