220 The Amateur Poacher 



the ice for some distance out is darkened by the 

 aquatic weeds frozen in it. From here the wood, 

 rising up the slope, comes into view at once — the 

 dark trees, the ash poles, the distant beeches, the 

 white crest of the hill — all still and calm under the 

 moonlight. The level white plain of ice behind 

 stretches away, its real extent concealed by the 

 islands of withy and the dark pines along the distant 

 shore ; while elsewhere the ice is not distinguishable 

 from the almost equally level fields that join it. Look- 

 ing now more closely on the snow, the tracks of hares 

 and rabbits that have crossed and recrossed the ice 

 are visible. 



In passing close to the withy-beds to return to 

 the wood some branches have to be pushed aside and 

 cause a slight noise. Immediately a crowd of birds 

 rise out of the withies, where they have been roosting, 

 and scatter into the night. They are redwings and 

 thrushes; every withy-bed is full of them. After 

 wheeling about in the air they will presently return — 

 first one, then three or four, and finally the flock, to 

 their roosting-place. 



It is easy now to walk through the wood without 

 making a noise : there is room to pass between the 

 stoles of ash ; and the dead sticks that would have 

 cracked under foot are covered with snow. But be 



