WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 203 



stoat-fly, which latter is the most bloodthirsty wretch 

 imaginable. 



With a low hissing buzz, a long, narrow, and brownish- 

 gray insect settles on your hand as you walk among 

 the hay, and presently you feel a tingling sensation, 

 and may watch (if you have the patience to endure 

 the irritation) its body gradually dilate and grow 

 darker in colour as it absorbs the blood. When once 

 thoroughly engaged, nothing will frighten this fly 

 away : you may crush him, but he will not move from 

 fear ; he will remain till, replete with blood, he falls 

 off helpless into the grass. 



The horses in the wagons have at this season to be 

 watched by a boy armed with a spray of ash, with 

 which he flicks off the stoats that would otherwise 

 drive the animals frantic. A green spray is a great 

 protection against flies ; if you carry a bough in your 

 hand as you walk among the meadows, they will not 

 annoy you half so much. Such a bough is very neces- 

 sary when lying perdu in a dry ditch in summer to 

 shoot a young rabbit, and when it is essential to keep 

 quiet and still. Without it it is difficult to avoid 

 lifting the hand to knock the flies away which motion 

 is sure to alarm the rabbit that may at that very mo- 

 ment be peeping out preparatory to issuing from his 

 hole. It is impossible not to pity the horses in the 

 hayfields on a sultry day ; despite all the care taken, 

 their nostrils are literally black with crowds of flies, 

 which constantly endeavour to crawl over the eyeball. 

 Sunshine itself does not appear so potent in bringing 



