184 Haunt of the Butterflies. 



their backs. These are locally called sunbeetles, 

 because they appear when the sun is brightest. Be 

 careful not to step on or kill one ; for if you do it will 

 certainly rain, according to the old superstition. The 

 blackbird, when he picks up one of the larger beetles, 

 holds it with its back towards him in his bill, so that 

 the legs claw helplessly at the air, and thus carries it 

 to a spot where he can pick it to pieces at his leisure. 



The ha-ha wall of the orchard is the favorite haunt 

 of butterflies ; they seem to love its sunny aspect, 

 and often cling to the loose stones like ornaments 

 attached by some cunning artist. Sulphur butter- 

 flies hover here early in the spring, and later on 

 white and brown and tiny blue butterflies pass this 

 way, calling en route. Sometimes a great noble of 

 the butterfly world comes in all the glory of his wide 

 velvety wings, and deigns to pause awhile that his 

 beauty may be seen. 



Somewhere within doors, in the huge beams or 

 woodwork, the death-tick is sure to be heard in the 

 silence of the night : even now the old folk listen with 

 a lingering dread. Give the woodwork a smart tap, 

 and the insect stops a few moments, but it rapidly 

 gets accustomed to such taps, and after a few ceases 

 to take notice of them. This manner of building 

 houses with great beams visibly supporting the ceil- 

 ing, passing across the room underneath it, had one 

 advantage. On a rainy day the children could go 

 into the garrets or the cheese-loft and there form a 

 swing, attaching the ropes to the hooks in the beam 

 across the ceiling. 



The brewhouse, humble though its object may be, 

 is not without its claim to admiration. It is open 



