A PIG BATH 



be able to find a reddock root that would be good for 

 her blood, but I doubt if there was anything else 

 available. She didn't stick to the job long, prob- 

 ably coming to the conclusion that it is more profit- 

 able to stick around the granary door. A while 

 later I saw her sunning herself on the south side of 

 the strawstack, where the mud could dry on her 

 sides. Now that she has had her bath she looks sur- 

 prisingly fresh and clean. The mud must have 

 scaled off as soon as it was dry, and when it crum- 

 bled away it took with it all the winter's accumula- 

 tions. She may have done some rubbing against 

 the gate post or other convenient object, but I did 

 not see her at it. Anyway her mud bath has left 

 her whiter than she has been all winter, with a tinge 

 of pink showing that suggests a proper tubbing. 

 The spring seems to have an improving effect on 

 her temper. Of course she is always hungry, but 

 she is not so clamorous about it. 



131 



