118 JULY. 



the chalk-cliffs and the marsh to shine like polished 

 silver in the effulgence of his rays. 



The noise of the humble bee, which in the early 

 morning might be heard beside every hedge-row and 

 on every weedy bank, along which the black and 

 yellow-coated gentry winged their way, has ceased, the 

 Bombi having retired into their holes until the heat of 

 the day has past ; while, on the contrary, the pretty 

 little Cicindela campestris is in full activity, running 

 swiftly along the sandy bank, or making short excur- 

 sive flights along the hedge-row. The corn just 

 coming into ear stands almost erect, gracefully bending 

 to the soft zephyr-like wind, that comes in little gusts 

 from the south-west, while the gaudy poppy and the 

 scarlet pimpernel (its brilliant blossoms fully ex- 

 panded to Sol's refulgent beams) beautify the ground. 



But let us leave the fields and retire within the 

 leafy expanse of the woods, beneath the verdant shade 

 of which the heat has driven the birds to take shelter. 

 And let us rest awhile our languid limbs beside the 

 cool margin of the brook, over the surface of which 

 those tyrants of the insect world, the Libellulce or 

 dragon flies, dart with the rapidity of arrows, and into 

 which the kingfisher (Alcedo ixpicla) plunges, looking 

 as cool, and comfortable, and unconcerned as if it 

 were anything but a baking July day, and provoking 

 us to emulate him in his refreshing ablutions. 



But what is this ? The dragon flies have ceased 

 hawking and have retired among, or are hanging to, 

 the sedge and rushes on the brook side ; the kingfisher 

 has disappeared ; the wind no longer comes in slight 

 gusts, but " soughs" among the trees, making the 



