206 THE OPEN BOOK OF NATURE 
olive-green eggs, blotched with black, harmonize 
well with their surroundings, and it is easy to pass 
over them without seeing them. Lapwings, or 
Peewits, are very common in this district ; I think 
they are very handsome, with their neat crests, and 
the manner of their flight is most interesting. 
As we climb the hill we cannot fail to notice the 
golden glory of the Gorse, or Whin (Ulex Huropeus), 
which is so well known as to its general appearance 
that it needs no description. There is no season of 
the year when some few flowers of the Gorse are 
not to be seen, but just now it is at its very best. 
Doubtless people would like to gather the flowers 
for home decoration, but few attempt to do so; 
they do not like the sharp prickles. As it happens, 
the Gorse would be dainty eating for cattle, but 
not liking either to be cut or eaten, it has covered 
itself with sharp spines, which keep its enemies at a 
safe distance. But it cannot protect itself against 
fire, and when men want to be rid of it they set 
it on fire, and thus clear the ground. The Gorse 
belongs to the Pea and Bean tribe, Natural Order 
Leguminose. It bears its seeds in small pealike 
pods which open suddenly, with a slight explosion, 
in hot weather, and in that way scatter the seeds 
over a considerable area of ground. 
But we won’t talk any more until we get over 
the hill and descend to the lovely glen through 
which the river has made its course. 
* * So %* * 
There could be no more charming spot than this. 
The stream makes its way over a rocky bed, descend- 
