CHAPTER XI 



AUTUMN 



Suddenness of the change from summer to autumn on the downs — 

 Birds in autumn — Meadow-pipits — Shore birds on the hills — 

 September flowers — Remnant of insect-life — Effect of roufjli 

 weather — Effect on the mind of the cessation of life — Man's 

 long life — An immortal surveying the insect tribes of human 

 kind — The prospect from the hills — Pleasure of walking. 



On the South. Downs the change from summer to 

 autumn is almost startling in its suddenness. The 

 rough September days of wind and driving rain, and 

 of nights when the temperature drops almost to freez- 

 ing point, make little difference in the lower sheltered 

 country ; flowers fade and life lessens gradually there, 

 and from August onwards the change is scarcely per- 

 ceptible until in October the autumnal colours begin 

 to appear in the trees. On the treeless hills the effect 

 of a spell of rough weather with a touch of winter in 

 it is infinitely greater: you are astonished at the 

 almost total absence of life and colour, the naked 

 cheerless aspect of things: September is then like 

 December. 



