166 OUR WOODLAND TREES. 
road to the right the whole of the way, we reach 
an unusually large clump of gorse. Turning 
now, and looking south-eastwardly, the eye will 
follow the descent of the upland to a point in the 
valley below, where an opening between woods to 
the right and to the left gives the prospect of an 
expanse of woods beyond, covering the rise of 
distant uplands, and stretching away until the 
point is reached where the undulated country is 
defined under the blue haze, which denotes the 
commencement of a gradual fading of the land- 
scape. Beyond, again, the Isle of Wight looms 
up against the horizon, backed by a faint haze 
of colour, which indicates the sea. But the nearer 
landscape has the greater charm; for the hill-side 
sweep from where we stand is densely clothed with 
brake and heather—the graceful bracken fronds 
of soft light green with golden tinge, contrasting 
finely with the darker, browner green of the spread- 
ing heather, whose early blossoming already begins 
to empurple the uplands. And then below, a sweep 
of woods of varying shades of glorious green— 
light, dark, and golden tinged—the dark green leaf 
of Oak mingling with the mellow tints of Beech. 
