78 Wild Life in a Southern County 



smockfrock, crossed with white ' facings ' like coarse lace ; 

 but the rising generation use the greatcoat of modern 

 make, at which their forefathers would have laughed as 

 utterly useless in the rain-storms that blow across the 

 open hills. Among the elder men, too, may be found a 

 few of the huge umbrellas of a former age, which when 

 spread give as much shelter as a small tent. It is curious 

 that they rarely use an umbrella in the field, even when 

 simply standing about ; but if they go a short journey 

 along the highway, then they take it with them. The 

 aged men sling these great umbrellas over the shoulder 

 with a piece of tar cord, just as a soldier slings his musket, 

 and so have both hands free one to stump along with a 

 stout stick, and the other to carry a flag basket. The 

 stick is always too lengthy to walk with as men use it in 

 cities, carrying it by the knob or handle ; it is a staff 

 rather than a stick, the upper end projecting six or eight 

 inches above the hand. 



If any labourers deserve to be paid well, it is the shep- 

 herds : upon their knowledge and fidelity the principal 

 profit of a whole season depends on so many farms. On 

 the bleak hills in lambing time the greatest care is neces- 

 sary ; and the fold, situated in a hollow if possible, with 

 the down rising on the east or north, is built as it were of 

 straw walls, thick and warm, which the sheep soon make 

 hollow inside, and thus have a cave in which to nestle. 



The shepherd has a distinct individuality, and is 

 generally a much more observant man in his own sphere 

 than the ordinary labourer. He knows every single field 

 in the whole parish, what kind of weather best suits its 

 soil, and can tell you without going within sight of a 

 given farm pretty much what condition it will be found in. 

 Knowledge of this character may seem trivial to those 



