A COTTESWOLD SUMMER BREEZE 189 



north-west, could probably enjoy much more than 

 the mere view, and fully appreciate the hill airs. 



Yet even we can distinguish and enjoy some of 

 the subtle flavours of the summer breezes. We 

 can detect the perfume of the thyme, yellow lady's 

 slipper, and many other summer flowers. These 

 make the air almost as richly sweet as that stealing 

 over the sea from sub-tropical Madeira, and tell- 

 ing expectant voyagers (more surely than the 

 guide books) that they are approaching a flowery 

 land. On the ramparts of our western hills the 

 turf is then starred with blossom. Some, like the 

 spotted orchis, stand boldly against the weather. 

 Others, shrinking close to mother earth, seem to 

 open timorously, as though pleading to be spared 

 the disaster of a careless tread. And some, again, 

 raise a slender stem only strong enough to support 

 the black and brown humble-bees whose ceaseless 

 hum fills the air, as though it were all Nature's 

 murmur of content. Many of the busy insects 

 have to ascend a long slope to gain the high 

 grounds ; but the breeze may help them, and 

 others have a habitation at the summit. In the 

 little hollows with a mound at one side, where the 



