22 8 Summer Studies of Birds and Books chap. 



own, and all the creatures seem to know and love it. 

 Even among the hills of his own narrow range — a 

 range full twenty miles in length — Bindon is quite 

 unique in the charm he exercises over all bees, 

 butterflies, and grasshoppers. 



This curious individuality of his is easily under- 

 stood if he be looked at in front, either from the sea 

 or inland from the north, so that his whole length is 

 seen at once, together with the long ridge of which 

 he really forms a part, stretching far to east and west. 

 In all this range Bindon is the only isolated hill ; 

 he does not slide easily down to any saddle which 

 connects him too familiarly with another rise ; he 

 stands alone, and the sea washes his base at either 

 end. As you approach him from the east along the 

 ridge, you become aware that you must descend into 

 a gap to the sea-level, and then toil upwards for nearly 

 a mile before you reach his highest point. And when 

 you stand at last on the top, you find that you have 

 yet nearly another mile before you drop down at his 

 western end to the shore of the little cove I spoke 

 of. Thus Bindon demands his tribute of those who 

 would worship on his high places ; but he is a hospi- 

 table and kindly hill, generous to all who know him. 

 At the very first step you take in mounting him from 

 Arishmill Gap he offers you, even in the most arid 

 season, a draught of clear cold water, bubbling up 

 ready filtered from beneath his deep chalky recesses ; 



