UNDER TEE ACORNS. 175 



because the singing of these birds at night disturbed 

 the repose of the pheasants! They also always 

 stepped on the eggs of the fern-owl, which are laid 

 on the ground, and shot the bird if they saw it, for 

 the same reason, as it makes a jarring sound at dusk. 

 The fern-owl, or goatsucker, is one of the most harm- 

 less of birds — a sort of evening swallow — living on 

 moths, chafers, and similar night-flying insects. 



Continuing my walk, still under the oaks and green 

 acorns, I wondered why I did not meet any one. 

 There was a man cutting fern in the wood — a labourer 

 — and another cutting up thistles in a field ; but with 

 the exception of men actually employed and paid, 

 I did not meet a single person, though the lane I was 

 following is close to several well-to-do places. I call 

 that a well-to-do place where there are hundreds of 

 large villas inhabited by wealthy people. It is true 

 that the great majority of persons have to attend to 

 business, even if . they enjoy a good income; still, 

 making every allowance for such a necessity, it is 

 singular how few, how very few, seem to appreciate 

 the quiet beauty of this lovely country. Somehow, 

 they do not seem to see it — to look over it ; there is 

 no excitement in it, for one thing. They can see a 

 great deal in Paris, but nothing in an English meadow. 

 I have often wondered at the rarity of meeting any 

 one in the fields, and yet — curious anomaly — if you 

 point out anything, or describe it, the interest ex- 

 hibited is marked. Every one takes an interest, but 

 no one goes to see for himself. For instance, since 

 the natural history collection was removed from the 

 British Museum to a separate building at South 



