194 OUT OF DOORS. 



very few still remain, to which assiduous attention is 

 being paid by sundry bees and hoverer flies, and all 

 these are on the sheltered side of the bush. Over the 

 whole of the clump the berries have taken the place of 

 the flowers. There is a curious lack of berries through 

 the lower parts of the bush, scarcely a respectable berry 

 being visible within four feet of the ground. This 

 phenomenon is soon explained, for I meet a couple of 

 fair golden-haired children, taking turns at driving a 

 wheelbarrow half full of blackberries, every one of which 

 has been picked from this special bush, and to every 

 one of which they are heartily welcome. 



All the northern side of the bush is flecked with 

 large tufts of thistledown. The thistles themselves 

 are a long way off, growing on some neglected ground, 

 and the sharp north wind has stripped them of their 

 down, and whirled it along until it has been intercepted 

 by the prickly branches of the blackberry bush. That 

 the whole land is not overrun with thistles we are 

 indebted to the finches, the principal of which in use 

 and beauty is the goldfinch, flocks of which may be 

 seen flitting along the hedges or over the ground, 

 picking up the thistledown as it is whirled lightly 

 along by the wind. 



There is still too much wind for insects. In this 

 part of the country at least, which is perched on the 

 top of a hill, the present season has not been favourable 

 for insects. When the weather has been fine and the 

 sun hot, there has been a smart breeze blowing ; and 



