142 



THE HAZEL. 



than at any other season of the yeai% a succession 

 of loud and quickly repeated tappings is a certain 

 guide to its haunts. I am 



of a few nuts wedged into its bark, and later 

 in the season, acorns may be found similarly 

 placed. 



But in spite of squirrels and nuthatches, every 

 Hazel-copse will retain enough clusters to tempt 

 young people to go a-nutting," a pastime which 

 is perhaps more delightful than any other of the 

 many which the country offers. The 14th of Sep- 

 tember appears to have formerly been the day 

 generally selected for this amusement. Brand 

 cites from the old play of " Grim, the Collier of 

 Croydon:" — 1 



It appears, too, from a curious old manuscript 

 relating to Eton-school, that in the month of 

 September, on a certain day," most probably 

 the fourteenth, the scholars there were to have a 



even inclined to think that 

 the noise which it makes is 

 understood by the squir- 

 rel, for the latter animal 

 frequently resorts to gar- 

 dens in quest of filberts at 

 this season, though at other 

 times it is very shy, and 

 confines itself to woods 

 and plantations. In the 

 Midland Counties, an Oak 

 standing in a Hazel-copse 

 generally has the remains 



NUT IN BARK. 



• This day, they say, is called Holy-rood day. 

 And all the youth are now a nutting gone." 



