NATURE IN DOWNLAND 



CHAPTER I 



THISTLE-DOWN 



On Kingston Hill — View from the hill — A day of thistle-down — A 

 memory of the pampas — Down of the dwarf thistle— First 

 sight and pleasant memories of the downs — Resolution to 

 write a book — Jennings' JRambles — Sussex in literature — Less 

 favoured than other counties — Minor poets — Hurdis — The 

 Favorite Village — In Bishopstone church — Richard Jefferies — 

 Birds on the beach at Goring — Horses eating sea-weed. 



On one of the hottest days in August of this ex- 

 ceptionally hot year of 1899, I -spent a good many 

 hours on the top of Kingston Hill, near Lewes. There 

 are clear mornings, especially in the autumn months, 

 when magnificent views of the surrounding country 

 can be had from the flat top of that very long hill. 

 Usually on hot summer days the prospect, with the sea 



