IN PRAISE OF RAIN 7 



so often out in rain for long together short sweet pastures they were 



that I can speak with entire confidence climbing up all long stalks even to the 



on this point ; but if it be so, the very top, as if from a desire to get 



reason probably is that the insect- right into the full favour of the rain, 



eaters like the sun best, the grub- Indeed all creeping things, except per- 



eaters the rain. haps the viper, enjoy the moisture, 



But it is not only the song and the which rids them of dust and all the 

 food of our native birds that is affected grittiness that comes of drought, 

 by the rain supply ; some of them Lately in period of east winds and 

 need it for their masonry as well, frost it was pitiable to see worms 

 In a very dry spring neither thrush covered with grit and gravel wriggling 

 nor blackbird can line his nest with on the path, plagued no doubt with 

 mud, and I have heard of cases in parasites, loathsome even to the birds, 

 which they had for once in a way which never seem to touch them in 

 to do without it. Swallows too, and this state ; now if I see a worm on 

 housemartins, must have mud for the road, and after rain they are 

 the structure of their nests, and their out all night on the roads, and even 

 nesting operations may be delayed longer they are clean and whole- 

 for weeks by dry east wind and hot some, without a particle of gravel 

 sun ; in such a year we may look out sticking to them. In the garden the 

 for young martins still in the nests frogs and toads, as well as snails, come 

 well into October. If the spell of out and revel in the dampness, and 

 drought is broken by a thunder shower, the tortoise, if you have one, knows 

 it is pleasant to see the swallow tribe that he will find his food succulent, 

 instantly busy on the roads or by the The most wonderful exhibition of rep- 

 pond side but a single shower too tile life that I have ever seen was 

 often only raises false hopes of pro- not in England, but on a Swiss Alp, 

 gress. which became alive after rain with fat, 



In the rain of yesterday the grass jolly little salamanders, all crowding 



in the hedgerows was adorned not only and tumbling upon each other, and 



by the watery gems, but also by the with their jet-black skins shining with 



many varieties of the common little moisture. 



snail which we all know so well (Helix One kind of living creature does 



nemoralis) on the downs, and in all not relish rain I mean the fully 



