THE STRANGE AND BEAUTIFUL SHELDRAKE 183 



This low level strip of country is mostly 

 pasture-land, and is drained by endless ditches, 

 full of reeds and sedges growing in the stagnant 

 sherry-coloured water ; dwarf hawthorn grows on 

 the banks of the ditches, and is the only tree 

 vegetation. Standing on one of the wide flat 

 green fields or spaces, at a distance from the 

 sandy dyke or ditch, it is strangely silent. 

 Unless a lark is singing near, there is no sound 

 at all ; but it is wonderfully bright and fragrant 

 where the green level earth is yellowed over 

 with cowslips, and you get the deliciousness of 

 that flower in fullest measure. On coming to 

 the dyke you are no longer in a silent land with 

 fi-agrance as its principal charm — you are in the 

 midst of a perpetual flow and rush of sound. 

 You may sit or lie there on the green bank by 

 the hour and it wiU not cease ; and so sweet and 

 beautiful is it, that after a day spent in rambling 

 in such a place with these delicate spring delights, 

 on returning to the woods and fields and home- 

 steads the songs of thrush and blackbird sound 

 in the ear as loud and coarse as the cackling of 

 fowls and geese. 



It is in this district, from Brean Down 



