FROM SPRING TO FALL. 



vast spaces of blue, bathing the landscape with 

 soft bright light, at the same time bringing the 

 surroundings out in their most vivid colours ; and, 

 best of all, bringing them close to you — a common 

 atmospheric effect in March and April. The pro- 

 perties and degrees of light are very different, as 

 the seasons vary : some days you may keep in- 

 doors, if your object be natural observation ; but 

 in March, as a rule, we can see well. And as we 

 jog on, wild life presents itself in various shapes, 

 both furred and feathered. 



One spot, on the outskirts of a vast heath or 

 common, furnishes us with a fine picture, for the 

 furze-blossoms show out like gold spangles. It is 

 somewhat damp in places ; great bunches of rushes 

 and grey moss-covered stones are all round us, 

 also stunted thorns and creeping brambles. A 

 couple of titlarks are running about, balancing 

 their bodies, as is their habit when in their restless 

 tripping to and fro they mount on the tops of the 

 moss-covered stones. They are prospecting in all 

 directions for a future nesting-place, and they wish 

 to seem very unconcerned about this appearance 

 of an intruder in their haunt ; but, for all that, 



