HEATHLANDS 



several stalks, it is very conspicuous where the 

 grass is short. 



There are hundreds of these flowers in this 

 corner, and along the edge of the wood ; a quarter 

 of an acre is blue with them. So indifferent are 

 people to such things that men working in the 

 same field, and who had pulled up the plant and 

 described its root as like that of a dock, did not 

 know its name. Yet they admired it. " It is an 

 innocent-looking flower," they said, that is, pleas- 

 ant to look at. 



By the roadside I thought I saw something red 

 under the long grass of the mound, and, parting 

 the blades, found half a dozen wild strawberries. 

 They were larger than usual, and just ripe. The 

 wild strawberry is a little more acid than the culti- 

 vated, and has more flavour than would be supposed 

 from its small size. 



Descending to the lower ground again, the brake 

 fills every space between the trees ; it is so thick 

 and tall that the cows which wander about, grazing 

 at their will, each wear a bell slung round the 

 neck, that their position may be discovered by 

 sound. Otherwise it would be difficult to find 

 them in the fern or among the firs. There are 

 many swampy places here, which should be avoided 

 by those who dislike snakes. The common harm- 

 less snakes are numerous in this part, and they 

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