HOUSEKEEPING IN A BASKET. =579 



and thoughts of Inisiuess affairs. Change and rest 

 gradually wrought their helpful mission, and healthful 

 days and sleepful nights slowly returned to me. 



To be sure, as the winter advanced, I lost the ad- 

 vantage of field studies, with the open air exercise 

 which they involved. There was, indeed, opportunity 

 for looking into the winter habits of my insect friends 

 which was improved with good results ; but for the 

 most part we fell back upon the information gathered 

 during summer and autumn. This was little detriment 

 to our studies, as I had anticipated the difficulty, and 

 assisted by my willing and active aids, had made large 

 collections which could always be supplemented from 

 the city museum. 



" What is the fun ?" asked the Mistress as 1 came in 

 on one of these collecting days, bringing a handful of 

 basket-worms. 



" Only another example of Dan's ' curus ' ways," I 

 replied. " He has proved a real god-send to me, for I 

 think it would be well nigh impossible in a month's 

 journey to strike so rich a vein of superstition as lies 

 under his black skin. He has given me a new insight 

 of the strange relations between my entomological pets 

 and my fellows, and shown me how deeply and strangely 

 the world of men has been impressed by the insect 

 world." 



"Well, and what new discover}^ have you made this 

 morning?" 



" Something about these basket-worms. You know 

 tiie large arlior vita' tree in the back yard has beei> 



