Nature near London / by Richard Jefferies.

  • Richard Jefferies
Date:
1883
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Nature near London / by Richard Jefferies. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    height, crowding the spaces between the ash-stoles. By the banks great cow-parsnips or “ gix ” have opened their broad heads of white flowers; teazles have lifted themselves into view, every opening is occupied. There is a scent of elder flowers, the meadow-sweet is pushing up, and will soon be out, and an odour of new-mown hay floats on the breeze. From the oak green caterpillars slide down threads of their own making to the bushes below, but they are running terrible risk. For a pah* of white-throats or “ nettle-creepers ” are on the watch, and seize the green creeping things crossways in their beaks. Then, they perch on a branch three or four yards only from where I stand, silent and motionless, and glance first at me and next at a bush of bramble which projects out to the edge of the footpath. So long as my eyes are turned aside, or half closed, the bird perches on the branch, gaining confidence every moment. The instant I open my eyes, or move them, or glance towards him, without either movement of head, hand, or foot, he is off to the oak. His tiny eyes are intent on mine; the moment he catches my glance he retires. But in half a minute affection brings him back, still with the caterpillar in his beak, to the same branch. Whilst I have patience to look the other way there he stays, but again a glance sends him awray. This is repeated four or five times, till, finally, convinced that I mean no harm, and yet timorous and fearful of betrayal even in the act, he dives down into the bramble bush. After a brief interval he reappears on the other side
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