30 NATURAL HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICA, 



obtaining knowledge, never from idle curiosity. I have never 

 been troubled by them, and had rather carry my net on my 

 arm through Trenton, than Harlow or Loughton. I have, 

 indeed, been once or twice questioned, but always in a plea- 

 sant way. 



June \Oth. — After a deal of consultation thereon, R. Foster 

 and I have resolved that he shall proceed, and I remain here. 

 I am to meet him at Mount Pleasant, in the Ohio, where he 

 will wait for me, and continue to collect until my arrival : this 

 plan will considerably increase our number of species. I 

 do not regret being left here, but in the south I know we 

 shall not like to part. Every body in the house is enlisted in 

 my service, and 1 have employed this morning, from six 

 o'clock till twelve, in spreading the captures of last evening. 

 Every night brings more than the preceding. The w^eather is 

 very hot; the thermometer has been above 80°, with a cloudy 

 sky. 



June \9.th. — R. Foster has started, and I shall miss him 

 much, but less here than at any other place. Butterflies are 

 fast increasing in number. Turnus is not now uncommon ; 

 four or five specimens come together to the lilac ; I catch 

 them in my fingers, but they are very frequently imperfect, 

 having their tails broken off, but are not rubbed. Colias 

 Palceno, or C. Europome, is very common, but is difficult to 

 catch ; Mr. Goodhere says he has seen hundreds of them 

 sitting together on the mud, during the heat of the day. The 

 Toads here bask in the sun. The Musquitos are very trouble- 

 some, as is also a minute insect, allied to, but not a Simulium; 

 it is about half a line in length ; its bite is very sharp, and 

 causes a good sized bump. I have just caught a Sesia and a 

 Macro(]losmm, on the lilacs. I saw another Sesia, but could 

 not catch him, he was so swift ; to use a common phrase of this 

 country, " a streak of lightning is a fool to one." 



June \bth. — I am quite puzzled to account for the small 

 number of Coleoptera — a good many species, but so ^ew speci- 

 mens of each : there are thousands of Wood-borers, as every 

 stump testifies. There are now fewer birds than there were 

 three weeks ago ; many of the SylmtB are gone northwards, 

 I suppose. Fire-flies are getting common, but I cannot catch 

 them, owing to their flying so high, and they only emit light by 

 momentary flashes. I have been with a lantern to the flowers 



