Moths and Sun-beetles 167 



sometimes gathered to fill pillow-cases, and a pillow so 

 filled is exquisitely soft. There is not a nook or corner of 

 the old place where something interesting may not be 

 found. Even the slates on a modern addition to the 

 homestead are each bordered with yellow lichen perhaps 

 because they adjoin thatch, for slates do not seem generally 

 to encourage the growth of lichen. It appears to prefer 

 tiles, which therefore sooner assume an antique tint. 



To the geraniums in the bow-window the humming- 

 bird moth comes now and then, hovering over the scarlet 

 petals. Out of the high elms drops a huge grey moth, so 

 exactly the colour of grey lichen that it might be passed 

 for it pursued, of course, as it clumsily falls, by two or 

 more birds eager for the spoil. It is feast-time with them 

 when the cockchafers come : they leave nothing but wing- 

 cases scattered on the garden paths, like the shields of 

 slain men-at-arms. 



In the bright sunshine, when there is not a cloud in 

 the sky, slender beetles come forth from the cracks of the 

 earth and run swiftly across the paths, glittering green and 

 gold, iridescent colours glistening on their backs. These 

 are locally called sun-beetles, because they appear when the 

 sun is brightest. Be careful not to step on or kill one ; for 

 if you do it will certainly rain, according to the old super- 

 stition. The blackbird, when he picks up one of the larger 

 beetles, holds it with its back towards him in his bill, so 

 that the legs claw helplessly at the air, and thus carries 

 it to a spot where he can pick it to pieces at his leisure. 



The ha-ha wall of the orchard is the favourite haunt of 

 butterflies ; they seem to love its sunny aspect, and often 

 cling to the loose stones like ornaments attached by some 

 cunning artist. Sulphur butterflies hover here early in 

 the spring, and later on white and brown and tiny blue 



