IN SUMMER HEAT. 65 



by them, for they climb like squirrels. A number 

 of square holes, just large enough to get your hand 

 in comfortably, let the air through the grating into 

 the cool-houses on the other side, where plums are 

 grown. From certain signs I thought that those 

 very pretty and innocent -looking, full -eyed, long- 

 tailed creatures were the robbers. A short ladder 

 was brought and the holes examined, and from each 

 of them a handful of the ripest and finest cherries 

 gave a convincing proof of their refined taste. They 

 had been cut off as close to the stalks as if they had 

 been snipped with thumb and finger-nail. Some 

 were half-eaten, others had their skins broken, and a 

 lot were perfect ; you could just see where the teeth 

 had pressed, and that was all. When I showed the 

 fruit to the owner of those trees, he expressed wishes 

 towards the mice that need not be mentioned here. 



The landrails have not been heard in this district : 

 their crake, crake, crake has not sounded even in 

 the most favoured parts, let alone those that have 

 been parched up. This bird requires thick pasture- 

 cover; fields laid down for hay will in ordinary 

 seasons be sure to have one pair at least nesting 

 in them. The size of the field has nothing to do 



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