nature study in literature

"By this time, the nature walk had left the village, and had taken a steep muddy track uphill. On our right a flock of Mr. Robert's sheep grazed on the close-bitten grass. Above us the skylarks vied with each other, pouring down their lively trickle of song, as they pushed higher and higher towards the blue sky.
We sat down on a bank to get our breath. Most of the children were content, as I was, to sit in silence, studying the village spread out below us like a pictorial map." ~ Mrs. Pringle of Fairacre, Miss Read

I love how she describes the children, content... to sit in silence, studying the village spread out below. Not that nature study must be done in quiet, but that the children could be content to study it quietly for a few moments.