52 ANIMAL ARTISANS 



Possibly the tropical winter rains of the central zones 

 are less injurious to life than the cold rains and low 

 temperature of temperate countries. In the Indian 

 plains spring is dusty and barren. The sun brings 

 heat, but only a life in death, for there is no water 

 in the ground. The monsoon, when the Indian sky 

 is filled with welcome clouds, brings freshness and life. 

 The opening of the rains is the real beginning of spring. 

 The plants grow so fast that you can almost see them, 

 forced by the hot, almost fermenting earth. There is 

 a prodigious birth of insects, followed by the destroy- 

 ing hosts of the carnivorous insects which feed upon 

 them. "Eha," the Indian field-naturalist, considers 

 that the first few days of the rains are the Indian 

 counterpart of our opening spring days, so far as 

 anything in England can find a parallel there. " Even 

 the roadside rivulets are full of little fishes, come 

 from I know not where, to grow fat on the worms 

 and mole crickets borne helplessly along by the flood ; 

 and the fireflies light their lamps and hold their 

 silent concerts, the occupants of each tree flashing in 

 unison and making sheet lightning in the woods." 



The rain cannot put out the fireflies' lamps ; but 

 after a few days of this intermittent downpour it is evi- 

 dent that the animals are feeling the effects of cold and 

 damp, even in India. All creatures, from men to the 

 white ants, begin in some way to show that it incon- 

 veniences them. " The fear of getting wet is universal. 

 The gentleman runs because the rain will spoil his 

 clothes. The coolie runs because he has none. When 

 you realise that at this time all kinds of birds and 



