MARCH 57 



ephemeral habits. Yews, elaborately clipped into 

 semblance of towers, columns, vases, lions, and pea- 

 cocks, stand in preposterous array along the broad 

 paths; and between their sombre forms, in borders 

 deeply edged with ancient box, there flame out each 

 summer ' bemant's ' crimson and white roses, carnations, 

 lilies, and wealth of old-world flowers. 



There is brewed at the Hall, after a time-honoured 

 recipe, a dark, heady beverage called ' Morocco.' It is 

 produced on state occasions, and many have learnt to 

 pledge heartily the prescribed toast, ' Luck to Levens 

 while Kent runs ! ' 



XXV 



There is a belief prevalent in some districts that 

 rooks begin the foundations of new nests, or repairs on 

 old ones, on the first Sunday in March. Be Wreck 

 that as it may, the daffodil moon of 1895 among 

 has been one of sore tribulation to Chaucer's 

 ' crow with voice of care ' ; for the violent gale which 

 swept over the Midlands on Sunday the 24th not only 

 levelled many of the finest trees in the rookeries of 

 Warwickshire and Berkshire, but tore hundreds of 

 nests, laboriously brought to completion, out of the 

 branches of those left standing, scattering the material 

 in shapeless ruin, just as the birds were beginning to 

 lay. On the whole, rooks have fared scurvily this 

 season. Thousands perished in the mighty gale which 

 visited Scotland on December 22. They were killed by 



