St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-04-29

The writer has sometimes seen larcs
not lying in their form, but sitting ur
In such places. just as laborer shell
tiers behind a havstacls. Where there
are no woodlands they creep under the
irregular overhangiug cornice made by
the crnmbling away of the IN Id be-
meath the roots in the hedge banks and
there scratch out q snug and dry re
treat
Rabbits usually keep under ground
In their burrows, only coming out to
feed, unless their holes are flooded, as
often happens after a long course OF
wet They then leave the warren alto
gethcr, and lie out among the turnips,
or even on the open stubbles, huddled
up into the smallest possible space. as
II they had lost all faith in the posi-
bility of finding further shelter Rats
have the strongest possible dislike to
damp. and on the first approach of
settled wet swarm into the stacks and
farm buildings Those which spend
their lives along the banks of rivers
and brooks semi-aquatic breed Of
| sAA1u AotS WHICH LeScuOlc JOc
true water ra's in all but
their vegetarian diet-have a SIM
pie and clever resource for wet
weather. They leave their holes in the
banks, and go up into the crowns of
| the pollard willows which hinge the
streams and line the hedges; in these
they find warm, dry, and weli-drained
| winter lodgings, safe even in flood time;
for their powers Of swimming enable
them to shift from tree to tree, and tho
swarms of snails and insects which
shelter in the hollow trunks provide
them with food for a rainy day."
Foxes often lie in these large hollow
pollards during very wet weather; and
the writer has seen an otter slip from
the crown of one Of them into the Cher.
well during an autumn food But
foxes more often prefer to lie still for
hours curled up in the high grass and
brambles in some thick double-feuce,
or dry furze-brakc. Sometimes, in
heavy rain, they are SO reluctant to
leave their dry quarters. that they do
not move until their disturber is close
upon them; and the comical. half-re-
luctant, and wholly sulky look of an
old dOg-fox. as he stands hesitatiag be.
tween prudence and comfort. should ap-
peal to the most unsympathetic sports.
man.
Horses and cattle never look SO mis-.
cradle as when standing exposed to
cold and driving rain. Every field in
which cattle are turned loose should
have some rude shelter provided. how.
ever rough and hardy the stock If left
to themselves in a state of nature, they
would travel miles to some bank or
thicket, which would at least give cover
against the wind Shut up between
four hedges. they are denied alike the
aid of human forethought and of their |
own instinct Bewick's vigncttes of old |
horses or unhappy donkeys. huddled
in driving showers on some |
bleak common, express a vast amount |
Of animal misery in an inch of woOdcut
1t seems strange that no animal, unless
it be the squirrel, seems to build itself |
. shelter with the express object OF
keeping off the rain, which they all SO
much dislike. Monkeys arc miserable
in wet, and could easily build shelters,
II they had the sense to do So ''As tho
creatures hop disconsolatcly along in
the rain" writes Mr.. Kip'ing, in his
Beast and Man in India" ''or crouch
On branches, with dripping bacxs set
against the tree-trunk rs shelter from
! driving storm. they have the air of
being very sorry for themselves" But
.vcn the Orrang-outang, which builds
small platform in the trees on which to
:leep at night, never seems to think of
! roof, though the Dyaks say that when
{ is very wet it covers itself with tho
caves of the pandanus, a large fern.
Birds, some of which carefully
'oof in the nests in which they
ear their young. and even, as
n the case of the swallow, choose
ome existing roof, such as the caves of
! house or projecting cliff, to cover
he nest, when built Of materials which
vet would destroy, seem incapable Of
making a waterproof house for them
elves Grouse and all the fowls of the ,
pen moorlands go to the most open
md exposed spots, in rain avoiding tho
hick heather and even the "peat.
'ags," in whose hollows they might
ind shelter. Partridges huddic under
he fences, or lie on the dricst and ;
'arcst places on the fallows, apparent
Y caring less for shelter above than for !
ry soil beneath them. Rocks often -,
ock into thick fir-trees. or in summer
AXE refuge in the old and closc.grow- :
ng oaks which line the roadsideS But
he small and helpless birds, yellow. |;
ammers, buntingS chaffinches and |;
nnets seem quite bewildcred by the i
eating storms They creep into cart
nts or behind tufts of grass: often they h
AXE refuge under the big Swede tur. 4
ips round the edges of the fields. Q
here they are so numbed and crampcd =
y cold and wet that they may be 4
aught by the hand. or arc picked up /.
Y stoats and rats, humble and uncon- 4
idered victims of the plague Of rain A
md waters London Spectator g
a Mos,,sh Material. '
For tho best dresses that women OF
loderate means keep for special occa- :, :,
ons there are various inexpensive =,
ltin fabrics that wear and look much =
etter than silks of similar low price. J"
or the present season the satin surahs =
re not heavy enough. and real satin"
too costly, hence the careful shopper
nys the satin duchess or mcrveilleux,
ecause its surface is closely woven in c,
cad of showing q broad serge-likc Il
will that cheapens the effect at once. d
hese come in olive and moss green, cl
,ppcr red, maroon and golden brown al
lades, as well as in black, at prices "