is close and sandy; so I did not mind it much, but made the best of my way. I spied, however, a curious thing in the hedge. It was an old crab-tree, out of which grew a great bunch of something green, quite different from the tree itself. This is a branch of it.

Mr A. Ah! this is mistletoe, the plant which the Druids used so much, in days of old, in their religious services. It bears a very slimy white berry, and is one of those plants which, instead of growing in the ground, fasten themselves always upon other plants.

W. A little farther on, I saw a green woodpecker fly to a tree, and run up the trunk like a cat.

Mr A. That was to seek for insects in the bark. They bore holes in it for that purpose with their strong beaks, and do much damage to the trees.

W. When I got upon the open heath, how charming it was! the air was so fresh, and the view on every side so open. It was all covered, too, with gay flowers, many of which I had never observed before. There were at least three kinds of heath, of which I have pieces here my handkerchief, and there were gorse, and blue-bells, and many other flowers. I saw, too, several birds that were new to me. There was a pretty grey one, of the size of a lark, that was hopping about some great stones; and when he flew, he showed a great deal of white above his tail.

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Mr A. That was a wheatear. to eat, and are found in great downs.

They are very nice birds numbers upon the open

W. There was a flock of lapwings upon a marshy part of the heath, that amused me much. As I came near them, some kept flying round and round just over my head, and cried peewit so distinctly, that I almost fancied they spoke.

H

I thought I should have caught one, for he flew as if one of his wings were broken, and often tumbled close to the ground; but as I came near, he always managed to get

away.

Mr A. Ha ha! you were finely taken in. This was all a trick of the bird to entice you away from its nest ; for they build upon the bare ground, and their nests would easily be found, if they did not draw off the attention of intruders by their loud cries and pretended lameness.

W. I wish I had known that, for he led me a long chase, often over shoes in water. When I left the hill I went straight down to the meadows below, and walked by the side of a brook that runs into the river. It was all bordered with reeds, and flags, and tall flowering plants, quite different from those I had seen on the heath. As I was getting down the bank to reach one of them, I heard something plump into the water near me. It was a large water-rat, and I saw it swim over to the other side, and go into its hole. There were a great many large dragonflies all about the stream; and there was a bird hovering over the water, and, every now and then, darting down into it, which was all over a mixture of the most beautiful green and blue, with some orange colour. It was less than a thrush, and had a large head and bill, and a short tail.

Mr A. That bird was a kingfisher, and lives on fish, which it catches in the manner you saw. It builds its nest in a hole in the bank, and is a very shy bird, and seldom seen far from the stream near which it lives.

W. There were a great many swallows too, sporting upon the surface of the water, that amused me by their movements. Sometimes they dashed into the stream; sometimes they pursued one another so quickly, that my eye could scarcely follow them. In one place, where a

high steep sandbank rose directly above the river, I saw many of them going in and out of holes, with which the whole of the bank was covered.

Mr A. Those were sand-martins, the smallest of our species of swallows. They are of a mouse-colour above, and white beneath; and they make their nests, and bring their young, in these holes-which run into a great depth, and so protect them from all plunderers..

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W. While I was looking at these, a heron came flying over my head, with his large flagging wings. He alighted at the west turn of the river, and I crept softly behind the bank to watch his motions. He had waded into the water as far as his long legs would carry him, and was standing with his neck drawn in, looking intently on the stream. Presently he darted his long bill, as quick as lightning, into the water, and drew out a fish, which he swallowed. I saw him catch another in the same manner; but just then he was frightened by some noise I made, and he flew slowly away to a wood at some distance, where I saw him settle.

Mr A. Perhaps his nest was there, for herons build upon the highest trees they can find, and sometimes live in society like rooks. They are among the largest wild birds which we have in England, and are of a great length and spread of wing, though their bodies are comparatively small.

W. I got to the high field next our house just as the sun was setting, and I stood looking at it till it was quite lost. What a glorious sight! The clouds were tinged purple, and crimson, and yellow, of all shades and hues. But how large the sun appears just as it sets! I think it seems twice as big as when it is over head.

Mr A. Well, you have had a nice walk, William. But did not you see any of these sights, Robert?

R. I saw some of them, but I did not take any particular notice of them.

Mr A. I think you would have been wiser if you had. But so it is-one man walks through the world with his eyes open, and another with them shut; and upon this difference depends all the superiority of knowledge the one acquires above the other. Do you then, William,

continue to make use of your eyes; and do you, Robert, learn that eyes were given you to use.

EYES, AND NO EYES.

"WHAT, Charles returned!" papa exclaimed,

"How short your walk has been ! And Thomas-Julia-where are they? Come, tell me what you've seen.”

"So tedious, stupid, dull a walk!"
Said Charles, "I'll go no more→→
First stopping here, then lagging there,
O'er this and that to pore.

"I crossed the fields near Woodland House,
And just went up the hill;
Then by the river-side came down,
Near Mr Fairplay's mill."

Now Tom and Julia both ran in

"Oh, dear papa," said they,

"The sweetest walk we both have had-
Oh, what a pleasant day!

"Near Woodland House we crossed the fields,

And by the mill we came."

"Indeed!" exclaimed рара, "how's this?

Your brother took the same;

'But very dull he found the walk.
What have you there? let's see:-
Come, Charles, enjoy this charming treat,
As new to you as me."

"First look, papa, at this small branch,
Which on a tall oak grew,
And by its slimy berries white,

The mistletoe we knew.

"A bird all green ran up a tree,

A woodpecker we call,

Who with his strong bill wounds the bark,

To feed on insects small.

"And many lapwings cried peewit;

And one, among the rest,
Pretended lameness, to decoy
Us from her lonely nest.

"Young starlings, martins, swallows, all
Such lovely flocks, so gay;
A heron too, which caught a fish,
And with it flew away.

"This bird we found, a kingfisher;

Though dead, his plumes how bright! Do have him stuffed, my dear papa; "Twill be a charming sight.