

THE NATURALIST ABROAD. 65 



arms, and which some future flood must overwhelm in the waters. As we 

 return up the weir, the Sandpiper ( Tringa hypoleucos) circles over the water, 

 uttering his shrill cry, and returning ever and anon on rapid wing ; while 

 around that herd of cattle silently standing near the plashy marsh, a friendly 

 party of Swallows are chasing the winged swarms that annoy the poor animals, 

 and rapidly clearing their vicinity of the nuisance. Conscious of the benefits 

 conferred upon them, the Cows move not their heads, though the birds dash 

 before their faces as closely as it is possible to do without touching them ; and 

 below, a band of Pied Wagtails [MotacUla maculosa) are as busily engaged 

 with the ground insects beneath their feet. 



We have penetrated into the grove, and the trees shroud us in their shade, 

 while before us, with shrill cry, the Spotted Woodpecker darts away, just show- 

 ing his crimson crest, and the Squirrel stops, inquiringly, covered with his 

 bushy tail. The hum of noon now resounds, even amidst the shade, through 

 every part of the wood. Wherever a vagrant ray of light can pierce, a thou- 

 sand insects attend it, and dance incessantly in its radiance. It creeps on 

 and quivers beneath that thicket of blooming wild Roses, overhanging a deep, 

 dark, glassy reach of the rivulet, — in a moment a joyous band of Gyrinidce, as 

 if called up into electric existence by its presence, whirl about and dodge each 

 other with unceasing celerity upon the radiant chrystal. A sullen Bombus 

 muscorum murmurs as he slowly enters, and is half buried in a white archangel 

 blossom, while troops of bright dipterous insects poise on humming wing, over 

 the brilliant golden St. John's Worts, the green Musca Ccesar, and his con- 

 geners hurry briskly, buzzing as they go, and a troop of Wasps, angrily threat- 

 ening, occupy every flower of the red, open-mouthed Scrophularia aquatica. 

 But around that flowering Lime-tree ( Tilia parvifolia) the combined insect 

 concert is at its height. There hundreds of Bees, coming and going, raise a 

 murmur of sounds heard far over the landscape, while the delicious fragrance, 

 scented out from afar, causes, so long as day-light lasts, a continued thorough- 

 fare through the air to the tree. 



By degrees the glen assumes a gloomier aspect, the light breaks in only at 

 intervals, the plash of water sounds among the nodding pendulous Carices 

 ( C. pendula) the hum has become fainter, and we are in the thickest and 

 deepest part of the wood ; — here, emulating the description of Thomson — 

 " Still let me pierce into the midnight depth 



Of yonder grove, of wildest largest growth, 



That forming high in air a woodland quire 



Nods o'er the mount beneath." 

 It is one of the felicities of the botanist and entomologist to be led, by his 

 ardent devotion to his favourite pursuit, into scenes like these. Who comes 

 here P none else, unless it be the unobservant woodman, with his vulgar axe 

 No. 8, Vol. II. K 



