246 NATURAL APPEARANCES 



wheat, rye, barley, and oats ; in Asia, rice ; in Af- 

 rica, maize, or Indian corn. 



The latter part of June is the beginning of hay- 

 harvest for the southern and middle parts of the king- 

 dom. This is one of the most busy and agreeable 

 of rural occupations. 



" Now swarms the village o'er the jovial mead." 



Both sexes and all ages are engaged in it. 



The fragrance of the new-mown hay, the gayety 

 of all surrounding objects, and the genial warmth of 

 the weather, conspire to render this a season of plea- 

 sure and delight 



" Ee'n stooping age is here ; and infant hands 

 Trail the long rake, or, with the fragrant load 

 O'ercharg'd, amid the kind oppression roll ; 



. While, heard from dale to dale, 



Waking the breeze, resounds the blended voice 

 of happy labour, love, and social glee." 



In this month appear the grasshopper, green bee* 

 tie, angler's May-fly, the formidable gad fly, &c 

 The angler's May fly is most short lived ; emerging 

 from the water in its aurelia state at six in the even- 

 ing, and dying at eleven : they appear about the 

 fourth of this month and continue a fortnight. , 



Now gooseberries, currants, and strawberries, 

 begin to ripen Birds cease their notes, except the 

 stone curlew, yellow hammer, goldfinch, and gol- 

 den crested wren, now and then chirping. The 



