THIRD DAY.] SUNSHINE. 81 



does not permit us to make good carmine." " Stay/' 

 says the Frenchman, " do not deceive yourself : what 

 kind of weather is it now ?" "A bright sunny day/' 

 said the Englishman. " And such are the days/' said 

 the Frenchman, "on which I make mv colour. 

 "Were I to attempt to manufacture it on a dark 

 or cloudy day, my result would be the same as yours. 

 Let me advise you, my friend, always to make carmine 

 on bright and sunny days." "I will," says the 

 Englishman; "but I fear I shall make very little 

 in London." 



POIET. — Your anecdote is as much to the purpose 

 as that of Physicus ; yet I am much obliged to you 

 for the hint respecting the effect of shadow, for I have 

 several times in May and June had to complain of too 

 clear a sky, and wished, with Cotton, for 



A day with not too bright a beam ; 

 A warm, but not a scorching, sun. 



HAL. — Whilst we have been conversing, the May- 

 flies, which were in such quantities, have become much 

 fewer; and I believe the reason is, that they have 

 been greatly diminished by the flocks of swallows, 

 which everywhere pursue them : I have seen a single 

 swallow take four, in less than a quarter of a minute, 

 that were descending to the water. 



POIET. — I delight in this living landscape ! The 



