WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 321 



meadows that follow the course of the rivers there, and 

 which are cut very early. Next, they return down 

 into the vale, where the haymaking has then com- 

 menced. Just before it begins the Irish arrive in 

 small parties, coming all the way from their native 

 land to gather the high wages paid during the English 

 harvest-time. They show a pleasing attachment to the 

 employer who has once given them work and treated 

 them with a little kindness. To him they go first ; 

 and thus it often happens that the same band of Irish 

 return to the same farm year after year as regularly 

 as the cuckoo. They lodge in an open shed, making 

 a fire in the corner of the hedge where it is sheltered. 

 They are industrious, work well, drink little, and 

 bear generally a good character. 



After the haymaking in the vale is finished the 

 itinerant families turn towards the lighter soils, where 

 the corn crops are fast ripening, and soon leave the 

 scene of their former labours fifty miles behind them. 

 A few perhaps straggle back in tune to assist in the 

 latter part of the corn harvest on the heavy lands, 

 if it has been delayed by the weather. The physi- 

 cians say that change of air is essential to health : 

 the migration of birds may not be without its effect 

 upon their lives, quite apart from the search for food 

 alone. 



The dry walls which sometimes enclose cornfields 

 (built of flat stones) are favourite places with many 

 birds. The yellowhammers often alight on them, so 

 do the finches and larks ; for the coarse mortar laid on 



ii 



