400 A NATURAL HISTORY TOUR IN NORTH AMERICA. 



We had much thunder yesterday, which continued most of the night ; such 

 thunder and lightning I never witnessed : the lightning was rose-coloured. The 

 rain has caused the woods to put on rather a greener hue ; but, save the Willows, 

 not a leaf of any deciduous tree is out ; one or two Cherry blossoms, and a 

 Peach blossom, are nearly out, and the Apple-trees are budding a little. Besides 

 the plants I have mentioned, I have only seen a Viola, an Anemone, and a 

 Saxifraga, which I do not know ; also a Gnapkalium and a Taraxacum. The 

 Sallows are in bbom partially, and yesterday I saw some Vireos* (V. olivaceus, 

 I think) catching Flies off them. The wild Vines in the woods have stems as 

 large as my arm. 



Of insects few are out yet : of Lepidoptera none, save Antiopa j another 

 Vanessa, resembling Urticce, which I could not catch ; we found also one crushed 

 specimen of Arctia fuliginosa ; one Noctua, and two or three Tinea. Of Cole- 

 optera we have taken many ; Cicindela, two species ; Carabus, 1; Brachinus 1 ; 

 Lebia 1 ; Cymindis, 1 ,• Chloznius, several ; Bmcilus, 1 ,• Harpalus, several ; 

 Anchomenus, Agonum, and Bembidium, several ; and one beautiful thing allied 

 to Carabus. I have also a Byrrhus ; one or two Aphodii ; three or four 

 Melolont/ice ; several Elateres, one allied to E. kcemorrhoidalis, by dozens; 

 Nitidula, one species ; Meligethes, 1 ; Altica, several ; and among these are 

 several large and beautiful species, one the form of A. nemorum, but much 

 larger; it has a red thorax, and black elytra; each elytron having a white 

 longitudinal line. The most extraordinary Coleopterous insect I have seen is a 

 thing somewhat like Sepidium, but shorter ; it is heteromerous, covered with 

 tubercles, and the male has two horns on the thorax ; it is rather longer than our 

 biggest Trox, which it a little resembles ; I found one male and two females 

 of this insect on a Fungus. I have also got a most beautiful Chrysomela, as 

 large as C. polita, of a pale cream-colour with a green suture, and several green 

 liturse on the elytra ; the thorax is also green. I have likewise taken a Thana- 

 simus, an Onthophagus, a beautiful creature allied to Ips, and many others ; but 

 as they are still in their winter-quarters, it requires good hunting to find them. 

 The old rotten stump swarms with Ants, some species an inch long ; also a small 

 species of white Ant (Termes); these are at present in the pupa state. The 

 Bombi, Andrence, and Osmice are just coming out. I have taken a very beauti- 

 ful Abia or Zarcea, with clouded wings ; a species of Dosytkeus, just like D. 

 Junci, is abundant. 



I noticed another bird this morning, a Sylvia striata; it has been running up 

 and down the stem of a Cherry-tree, about eight feet from the window, like a 



* We believe Swainson terms these birds " Greenlcts."— Ed, 



