MOTH HUNTING. 105 



the better at least to secure one if not more, for I confess I had an eye 

 to two. Some will no doubt smile at this my dog-like premeditated mode 

 of procedure, and call it the very height of foolishness; whilst not a few 

 may say, or rather think, "Surely the fellow has been mad, or something 

 worse, or such a project would never have entered his head," "Well, per- 

 haps I am a little crazy. Naturalists, however, are a strange and singular 

 class of beings, often laughed at, and often spoken lightly of. Well, .never 

 mind, I don't cave, say and think as you will, I have been at the trade 

 before, and know something of the matter. I remember on one occasion 

 in particular, and when other four, like myself, being at the time but a 

 bo}'', took to their heels and ran for it, mastering and securing a very 

 large litter in this self-same way, and was only bit once in doing so. 



My whole object being now to obtain one of these, I prepared accord- 

 ingly; but unfortunately having, unthinkingly, moved rather much, my 

 presence became known sooner than I wished or intended, so that I had 

 the mortification and disappointment of seeing all three wheel right round, 

 and commence a retrograde movement, at full speed, back the road they 

 came. I saw my misfortune at once, and deplored it, too. However, and 

 as I thought a chance might yet remain, down went my hat, not wishing 

 to be encumbered with it, my coat buttoned to the chin, and a napkin 

 tied round my left hand, by way of a shield, whilst my other grasped my 

 collecting box, intending to use it by way of a hammer, if needs were 

 — having in the spur of the moment entirely forgot its valuable and pre- 

 cious contents — and off I bolted, nay, rather flew like a race-horse. My 

 intention still being, as it was at first, as soon as I made up to them, which 

 I knew I should if they kept the path for any length of time, stretch 

 myself on all three, if possible, so that I might secure one. 



What a scene for any one to have been an eye-witness of. The 

 three Badgers hobbling away at the very hardest, and their pursuer flying 

 like one totally deranged or bewitched, at the full top of his speed. No, 

 I am sure, there is not, nor ever was, nor in all probability ever will 

 be, such a picture in all the National Gallery, nor in any other Gallery, 

 or place of exhibition, open to public gaze. 



It so happened, however, that the ground beyond and next to the side 

 of the path at which the Badgers were running, was in many places remark- 

 ably steep and rugged, and at the bottom flowed the river already spoken of. 

 Now my fears were that they would turn off in that direction before I could 

 get up to them, as there were plenty of rabbit-burrows, in which they would 

 have found both safety and shelter, and to have followed, or made an 

 attempt to have followed them there, would have been worse than sheer 

 madness, as, doubtless, the river or its bed would have been the first landing. 

 But what will not wild enthusiasts do, or dare to do? We shall see. 



VOL. VI. p 



