208 Wild Life in a Southern County 



orange ; yonder the same tree, from the highest branch to 

 the lowest, has become a rich brown. Brown, too, and 

 buff are the oaks ; but the tints so shade into each other 

 that it is hard to separate and name them. 



It is not long before sounds and movements indicate 

 that the forest around is instinct with life. Often it hap- 

 pens that more may be observed while stationary in one 

 spot than while traversing a mile or two ; for many animals 

 crouch or remain perfectly still, and consequently invisible, 

 when they hear a footstep. There is a slight tapping 

 sound — it seems quite near, but it is really some little way 

 off; and presently a woodpecker crosses the open, flying 

 with a wave-like motion, now dipping and now rising. 

 Soon afterwards a second passes : there are numbers of 

 them scattered about the forest. A clattering noise comes 

 from the trees on the left — it is a wood-pigeon changing 

 his perch ; he has settled again, for now his hollow note is 

 heard, and he always calls while perching. A loud screech- 

 ing and chattering deeper in the forest tells that the 

 restless jays are there. A missel-thrush comes and perches 

 on a branch right overhead, uttering his harsh note, 

 something like turning a small rattle. But he stays a 

 moment only : he is one of the most suspicious of birds, 

 and has instantly observed that there is some one near. A 

 magpie crosses the mead and disappears. 



Something moving yonder in the grass catches the 

 eye ; it is a reddish bushy tail, apparently without a body, 

 yet held nearly upright, and moving hither and thither in 

 a quick, nervous way. Suddenly down it goes, and the 

 squirrel raises himself on his haunches to listen to some 

 suspicious sound, holding his forefeet something like a 

 kangaroo. Then he recommences searching and the tail 

 rises, alone visible above the tall grass. Now he bounds, 



