162 THE DAILY LIFE OF OUR FARM. 



cular corner of the sloping lawn, just where it joins 

 on to a wild piece of the hill. All nature seems to 

 appreciate the difference in the day. The whole air 

 is so still and warm, and the tints upon the western 

 sky are so delicious. 



The swallows skim fearlessly and frequent in the 

 upper cloud region. A bright brown hawk slips idly 

 across. Abundant turtle-doves croon amidst the elm- 

 trees. The wild pigeons are cooing through the wood. 

 The incessant rooks are so busy on their tree -tops. An 

 occasional pheasant steps gallantly out from the covert 

 shelter, occasionally escorting a timid hen who has been 

 up to feed, and seems fearful of returning alone ; while 

 a brace of partridges advance, pecking up to the very 

 verge of our feet, where we lie unseen, young and ojd, 

 holding our very breath, le&t we should disturb the 

 elements of our enjoyment. 



We have had a good deal of trouble with the short- 

 horns of late. " Well ! and what is it has happened to 

 your fascinating stock 1" some may ask. Why, in the 

 first place, the grand cavalier, the monarch Buttei*fly, 

 having managed by dint of his great weight, and his 

 being tied up, to establish a housemaid's knee, it 

 was judged expedient to remove him into a loose box. 

 As it happened, fortunately, the place selected was the 

 bay of a disused barn, where he was strongly walled 

 in on every side, excepting the door, which he makes 

 to creak and shake every time he touches it with neck 

 or flank, ' Precautions had been taken in the fitting of 

 it, that he should not be able to introduce his horn 

 anywhere. As his temper is not of the best, and his 

 eye-balls glare out exactly like those of his grandsire 

 the Towneley Frederic, I judged it expedient to attach 



