THE GEODEPHAGA. 65 



into life^ woods and hedges showing their first tint 

 of green^ the birds making their little matrimonial 

 arrangements^ and singing notes of triumph over 

 their completion, and with a freshness and life in the 

 air that make even poor devils_, half worn out by the 

 high pressure of London existence, feel as if ten or a 

 dozen years had been at once knocked off their ac- 

 count. As we go on, we see the early Bees visiting 

 the humble spring flowers which are struggling into 

 light amongst the herbage; here and there a white 

 Butterfly may be seen flitting along the hedgerow, or 

 our eyes may be gladdened by the sight of a Brim- 

 stone Butterfly {Gonepterysc Rhamni) crossing our 

 path. 



If we turn on to this sandy heath where the furze 

 is just beginning to glow with the promise of those 

 golden blossoms which will render it such a splendid 

 object through the whole summer, we shall still meet 

 with the same indications of renewed youth and 

 activity in nature : the Bees are again humming 

 amongst the flowers, the Birds flitting from bush to 

 bush, and here and there a slender Lizard may be 

 seen basking in the sun under the shelter of a furze- 

 bush, into which he quickly retreats if the intruders 

 approach too near, perhaps leaving his tail wriggling 

 in your hand if, in your attempt to catch him, you are 

 quick enough to gain even this poor reward. 



But what is that little emerald spot on the sandy 

 path ? One of the most beautiful of British beetles, 

 the Tiger Beetle {Cicindela campestris), and well 

 worthy of a closer inspection. But if we go to catch 

 him for this purpose the greatest caution is necessary, 

 — he is as wary and active as old Izaak Walton^ s 

 Trout^ spies the approach of danger in a moment, and 



