150 WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



He knows when it is ready for the scythe without 

 reference to the almanac, because of the brown tint 

 which spreads over it from the ripening seeds, some- 

 times tinged with a dull red, when the stems of the 

 sorrel are plentiful. At first the aftermath has a trace 

 of yellow, as if it were fading ; but a shower falls, and 

 fresh green blades shoot up. Or passing from the 

 hollow meads up on the rising slopes where the plough 

 rules the earth, what so beautiful to watch as the 

 wheat through its various phases of colour ? 



First green and succulent ; then, presently, see a 

 modest ear comes forth with promise of the future. 

 By-and-by, when every stalk is tipped like a sceptre, 

 the lower stalk leaves are still green, but the stems 

 have a faint bluish tinge, and the ears are paling into 

 yellow. Next the white pollen the bloom shows 

 under the warm sunshine, and then the birds begin 

 to grow busy among it. They perch on the stalk 

 itself it is at that time strong and stiff enough to 

 uphold their weight, one on a stem but not now for 

 mischief. You may see the sparrow carry away with 

 him caterpillars for his young upon the housetop hard 

 by ; later on, it is true, he will revel on the ripe grains. 



Yesterday you came to the wheat, and found it pale 

 like this (it seems but twenty-four hours ago it is 

 really only a little longer) ; to-day, when you look 

 again, lo ! there is a fleeting yellow already on the 

 ears. They have so quickly caught the hue of the 

 bright sunshine pouring on them. Yet another day 

 or two, and the faint fleeting yellow has become fixed 



