THE " KUSSET-PATED CHOUtfH" OF SHAKESPEARE. 335 



Gisborne, in his * Walks in a Forest/ employs the word 

 russet to describe the colour of dead fern : — 



" With faded leaves bestrewn and floating wings 

 Of russet fern o'ershadow'd whence upstarts 

 The woodcock." 



Somervile, describing a Hare in her form, wrote : — - 

 "Ah ! there she lies ! how close, she pants, she doubts 

 If now she lives ; she trembles as she sits, 

 With horror seized ! The wither'd grass that clings 

 Around her head of the same russet hue 

 Almost deceived my sight . . ." 



The Chase, Bk. ii. 137—141. 



The colour of a plain in autumn, imparted by an expanse of 



withered grass, is described by Somervile, in his ' Field Sports,' 



in the line — 



" The Swallow skims the russet plain." 



Pope also conceived that the word russet well described the 

 colour of an open plain : — 



" Here in full light the russet plains extend, 

 There wrapt in clouds the bluish hills ascend." 



Windsor Forest. 

 Sir Walter Scott again, when describing the colour of a bare 

 hill side, wrote : — 



" Away hath pass'd the heather bell 

 That bloom 'd so rich on Needpath Fell, 

 Sallow his brow and russet bare 

 Are now the sister heights of Yair." 



Marmion, Intro., p. 4. 

 Elsewhere he writes : — 



" And wither'd heath and rushes dry 

 Supplied a russet canopy." 



Lady of the Lake, Canto I., p. 32. 



At the present time, when naturalists are commemorating the 

 centenary anniversary of his death, it is opportune to enquire 

 what was Gilbert White's idea of the colour termed " russet." 

 Fortunately for our present purpose, he has enlightened us on 

 this point : — 



" Romantic spot ! from whence in prospect lies 

 Whate'er of landscape charms our feasting eyes, 

 The pointed spire, the hall, the pasture plain, 

 The russet fallow or the golden grain." 



Invitation to Selbornc. 



