20 NATURE IN ENGLAND. 



bloom, and a kind of Solomon's-seal as at home, and 

 what appears to be a species of golden-rod with a 

 midsummery smell. The note of the yellow-hammer 

 and the wren here and there. Beech-trees loaded 

 with mast and humming with bumble-bees, probably 

 gathering honey-dew, which seems to be more abun- 

 dant here than with us. The landscape like a well- 

 kept park dotted with great trees, which make islands 

 of shade in a sea of grass. Droves of sheep grazing, 

 and herds of cattle reposing in the succulent fields. 

 Now the just felt breeze brings me the rattle of a 

 mowing-machine, a rare sound here, as most of the 

 grass is cut by hand. The great motionless arms 

 of a windmill rising here and there above the hori- 

 zon. A gentleman's turn-out goes by with glitter- 

 ing wheels and spanking team ; the footman in liv- 

 ery behind, the gentleman driving. I hear his brake 

 scrape as he puts it on down the gentle descent. 

 Now a lark goes off. Then the mellow horn of 

 a cow or heifer is heard. Then the bleat of sheep. 

 The crows caw hoarsely. Few houses by the road- 

 side, but here and there behind the trees in the dis- 

 tance. 1 hear the greenfinch, stronger and sharper 

 than our goldfinch, but less pleasing. The matured 

 look of some fields of grass alone suggests midsum- 

 mer. Several species of mint by the road-side, also 

 certain white umbelliferous plants. Everywhere that 

 yoyal weed of Britain, the nettle. Shapely piles 

 of road material and pounded stone at regular dis- 

 tances, every fragment of which will go through a 



