SPORT AND SCIENCE ON THE 



bling upward through rending thorn-scrub, close 

 matted bryony and fast searing hazel, we next 

 came out upon terraces of long, waving grass, 

 which in turn gave place to gentle shale slopes, 

 dotted over with sapling pines and dense bushes, 

 on which the golden berries hung in rich and 

 tempting clusters. Through all this the spore 

 we followed was plain, but presently, as it emerged 

 upon the rocky bluffs of sandstone, it became more 

 difficult to follow, till it was lost in an extensive 

 patch of hazel-scrub, through which only a pig 

 could force its way, and where, in all probability, 

 our quarry was lying up for the day. 



Thus we spent two fruitless but interesting 

 days — interesting because of the wonders of nature 

 presented at every step. 



Here, in loose coils, lies a viper, his lithe form 

 flattened to catch the full benefit of the sun's ravs, 

 while an ugly swelling in the region of his stomach 

 shows that he has recently dined. On an over- 

 head bough is perched an angry chipmunk, scream- 

 ing at the cold-eyed monster, thus giving vent 

 to his feelings for the loss of his luckless mate. 

 There, in a damp hollow, sits a great toad, his fat 

 sides and throat throbbing and his golden eye 

 ever watchful for some hovering fly or careless, 

 crawling beetle. Soon there passes through the 

 woods a troop of lively, chattering tomtits, each 

 tiny bird examining the under surfaces of the leaves, 

 searching amongst the scales of the pine-cones, 



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