JUNE. 185 



rural parts of England, the ancient glory of 

 sheep- shearing has not entirely departed. And, 

 indeed, its picturesqueness can never depart, 

 however its jollity may. The sheep- washing, 

 however, which precedes the shearing, has 

 more of rural beauty about it. As we stroll 

 over some sunny heath, or descend into some 

 sylvan valley in this sweet month, we are apt to 

 come upon such scenes. We hear afar off the 

 bleating of flocks ; as we approach some clear 

 stream, we behold the sheep penned on its 

 banks ; in mid-stream stand sturdy hinds ready 

 to receive them as they are plunged in, one by 

 one, and after squeezing their saturated fleeces 

 well between their hands, and giving them one 

 good submersion, guide them to the opposite 

 bank. The clear running waters, the quiet 

 fields, the whispering fresh boughs that thicken 

 around, and the poor dripping creatures them- 

 selves, that, after giving themselves a stagger- 

 ing shake, go off gladly to their pasture, form 

 to the eye an animated and pleasant tout en- 

 semble. 



WILD FLOWERS AND THEIR ANCIENT NAMES. 

 Amongst the most interesting wild flowers now 

 in full bloom, are the dog-rose, the pimpernel, 



