OF SELBORNE 



349 



droughts of Summer. Ow chalk- hills I say, 

 because in many rocky and gravelly soils 

 springs usually break out pretty high on 

 the sides of elevated grounds and moun- 

 tains ; but no person acquainted w^ith 

 chalky districts will allow that they ever 

 saw springs in such a soil but in vallies and 

 bottoms, since the waters of so pervious a 

 stratum as chalk all lie on one dead level, 

 as well-diggers have assured me again and 

 again. 



Now we have many such little round 

 ponds in this district ; and one in particular 

 on our sheep-down, three hundred feet 

 above my house ; which though never 

 above three feet deep in the middle, and 

 not more than thirty feet in diameter, and 

 containing perhaps not more than two or 

 three hundred hogsheads of water, yet 

 never is known to fail, though it affords 

 drink for three hundred or four hundred 

 sheep, and for at least twenty head of large 

 cattle beside. This pond, it is true, is over- 

 hung with two moderate beeches, that, 

 doubtless, at times, afford it much supply ; 



