. The New Forest . g solong, straight at her without seeing her became thefirst marvel, and Natures power of concealmentthe next; but that the bird should be aware of this,and trust so confidently to the similarity of herselfand her surroundings, was what, perhaps, seemedthe strangest thing of all. Quietly we would stealaway, or as quietly as the dead leaves and stickswould permit, and she hatched her brood safely, inspite of our visits; but as soon as the chicks weregrown, they quite disappeared, as they always 3—2 36 THE NEW FOREST seem to do. Indeed, though it is not possible tobe certain,
. The New Forest . g solong, straight at her without seeing her became thefirst marvel, and Natures power of concealmentthe next; but that the bird should be aware of this,and trust so confidently to the similarity of herselfand her surroundings, was what, perhaps, seemedthe strangest thing of all. Quietly we would stealaway, or as quietly as the dead leaves and stickswould permit, and she hatched her brood safely, inspite of our visits; but as soon as the chicks weregrown, they quite disappeared, as they always 3—2 36 THE NEW FOREST seem to do. Indeed, though it is not possible tobe certain, it would seem, from various observations,that these birds, if reared in England, are neverseen in winter in the place where they werebred. MAY Oh, had I but Aladdins lampIf only for a day,Fd try to find a link to bindThe joys that pass away. It should be May, and always May,Id wreathe the world with flowers,Fd robe the barren bring lifes happy hours. 38 EARLY MAY IN THE CRAB MAY May often comes in accompanied by north-eastwinds, varied on some days by showers of cold rainand even hail, and dark, heavy clouds pass over after waiting for the true Maytime throughday after day of cold winds, it comes at last; thebreeze is soft, and full, warm sunshine gladdens allaround. Daily the green mist on hazel and haw-thorn bush thickens in the underwoods. The wildcrab-tree has crept out into full bloom, the longdrooping boughs studded with creamy-pink flower-cups, crimson buds, and tiny green leaves, thehigher branches tossing their rosy foam into theair. In the orchard the apple-trees are in fullflower, and we long for the sunny days to continue,so that this much-loved, fleeting blossom may stayin its perfection for a few days more, ere the timecomes for dropping white petals on the grassywalk. A thick border of wliite stars of the pheasant- 39 40 THE NEW FOREST eye narcissus fringes the lawn, with many otherkinds of white and cream clustere
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