THE WONDERS OF THE SUMMER. 95 



what animation and excitement ! Singing and 

 love-making, bathing and feeding, fill the early 

 hours of day. Everywhere among the trees, and 

 in the hedgerows, and amongst the herbage, 

 crowded nests of young birds are clamouring for 

 sustenance, and brooding birds are being fed by 

 their faithful mates. The woods, and groves, and 

 the wide expanse of deep blue sky resound with 

 song, each bird apparently striving to out-sing all 

 others within hearing. One by one the tuneful 

 Skylarks flutter from the dripping clover, and rise 

 in spiral course, bursting with song. Birds are 

 everywhere ; they sing the time of Summer's 

 triumph, and fill each hour of morning with their 

 revelry and joy. 



But as the day advances and the brilliant sun 

 rises higher and higher in the heavens the heat 

 increases, and gradually a lull and languor creeps 

 over most living things. Songster after songster 

 ceases its lay and finds a refuge among the cool 

 green leaves and in the shady nooks ; the Larks 

 drop down again into the tall and juicy aftermath, 

 and quietness almost reigns supreme. This still- 

 ness is even more intense as the noonday heat 

 becomes more and more oppressive. Now is the 

 time that insect life is most astir. From the 

 fragrant lime trees spreads a dreamy hum of 

 sound as the bees garner the plenteous feast ; 

 gay painted butterflies dance among the flowers 

 in the open ; they love the sunshine, disappear- 

 ing when the clouds obscure his rays, flitting out 



