MOORLAND IDYLLS. 



red, and he ran so well, with his sharp 

 head held low, and with the wild air of his 

 species. 



By the chestnut plantation, where a grassy 

 little lane dips close between the trees, 

 cropped and cut for hop-poles, we began to 

 descend in real earnest to the valley. A 

 rabbit just dashed across the sward on the 

 slope of path ; his twinkling white tail scarce 

 betrayed him for a moment. Two hawks 

 hovered above, but held off for fear of us. 

 Rustlings in the fallen foliage beneath the 

 sapling chestnuts to right and left gave 

 sign of other rabbits, unseen, but scurrying 

 burrow-ward. As we reached the open we 

 disturbed a young covey of nursling par- 

 tridges. Most of them disappeared after 

 their prudent mother before we could catch 

 a glimpse of them ; but one poor little chick, 

 belated and terrified, darted with its tiny 

 half-naked wings erect in an agony of alarm 

 in the opposite direction. It found covert 

 in the chestnuts, its tiny heart throbbing. 

 134 



