n8 Wild Life in a Southern County 



there is a fleeting yellow already on the ears. They have 

 so quickly caught the hue of the bright sunshine pouring 

 on them. Yet another day or two, and the faint fleeting 

 yellow has become fixed and certain, as the colours are 

 deepened by the great artist. Only when the wind blows 

 and the ears bend in those places where the breeze takes 

 most, it looks paler because the under part of the ear is 

 shown and part of the stalk. Finally comes that rich hue 

 for which no exact similitude exists. In it there is some- 

 what of the red of the orange, somewhat of the tint of 

 bronze, and somewhat of the hue of maize ; but these are 

 poor words wherewith to render fixed a colour that plays 

 over the surface of this yellow sea, for if you take one, two, 

 or a dozen ears you shall not find it, but must look abroad, 

 and let your gaze travel to and fro. Nor is every field 

 alike ; here are acres and acres more yellow, yonder a 

 space whiter, beyond that a slope richly ruddy, according 

 to the kind of seed that was sown. 



Out of the depths of what to it must seem an impene- 

 trable jungle, from visiting a flower hidden below, a 

 humble-bee climbs rapidly up a stalk a yard or two away 

 while you look, and mounting to the top of the ear, as a 

 post of vantage clear of obstructions, sails away upon the 

 wind. 



' We be all jolly vellers what vollers th' plough ! ' — 

 but not to listen to, and take literally according to the 

 letter of the discourse. It runs something like this the 

 seasons through as the weather changes : ' Terrible dry 

 weather this here to be sure ; we got so much work to do 

 uz can't get drough it. The fly be swarming in the 

 turmots — the smut be on the wheat — the wuts be amazing 

 weak in the straw. Got a fine crop of wheat this year, 

 and prices be low, so uz had better drow it to th' pigs. 



