80 THE LIFE OF THE FIELDS. 



to look back upon the beech woods at the foot of the 

 great Downs, and far over the endless fields of the 

 Weald or plain. Thirty fields could be counted in 

 succession, one after the other, like irregular chess- 

 squares, some corn, some grass, and these only extended 

 to the fijst undulation, where the woods hid the fields 

 behind them. But beyond these, in reality, succeeded 

 another series of fields to the second undulation, and 

 still a third series to the farthest undulation visible. 

 Yet farther there was a faint line of hills, a dark 

 cloud-like bank in the extreme distance. To the right 

 and to the left were similar views. Reapers were at 

 work in the wheat below, but already much of the 

 corn had been carried, and the hum of a threshing 

 engine came up from the ricks. A woodpecker called 

 loudly in the beech wood ; a " wish-wish " in the air 

 overhead was caused by the swift motion of a wood- 

 pigeon passing from " holt " to " hurst," from copse to 

 copse. On the dry short turf of the hill-top even the 

 shadow of a swallow was visible as he flew but a few 

 yards high. 



In a little hollow where the rougher grasses grew 

 longer a blue butterfly fluttered and could not get out. 

 He was entangled with his own wings, he could not 

 guide himself between the grass tops ; his wings 

 fluttered and carried him back again. The grass was 

 like a net to him, and there he fluttered till the wind 

 lifted him out, and gave him the freedom of the hills. 

 One small green orchis stood in the grass, alone ; the 

 harebells were many. It is curious that, if gathered, in 

 a few hours (if pressed between paper) they become a 

 deeper blue than when growing. Another butterfly 



