146 



THE YOUXG NATURALIST. 



firm and active step, if they would enjoy the blessings of robust health, 

 sound sleep, and the full command of their waking energies. The 

 prosecution of the study of Natural History by our College students, 

 will almost inevitably secure these and various other important objects. 

 Let them form a taste for Botany, for Mineralogy, for Zoology, or En- 

 tomology, or almost any branch of Natural Science, and it will take 

 them forth into the open air — it will give them an object for taking ex- 

 ercise, and will react most favorably upon all their habits, both intellec- 

 tual and moral. Such exercise is greatly superior to that of the ball- 

 alley or gymnastics, (though we do not object to these if taken in mod- 

 eration, which, however, is not a characteristic of youth,) and most ef- 

 fectually weans from the haunts of idleness, from trifling company, and 

 from unprofitable pursuits. 



Now, in the opening spring, is the time for our naturalists to prose- 

 cute their field labors with the greatest vigor. The birds are fast re- 

 turning from their sojourn in the sunny south ; the smaller quadrupeds 

 that had lain dormant, or shut themselves up in their nests and burrows, 

 now come forth ; the opening earth sends up its many-hued flowers to 

 the brighter light and the warmer suns of summer; and the myriad 

 swarms of the insect tribes now begin to pour forth and to take posses- 

 sion of the place assigned them in the economy of nature. 



It is to these last, especially, that we wish to direct the attention of 

 our young friends. If in their excursions through the woods or fields 

 they chance to espy a chrysalis, or cocoon, let them notice the place 

 where it has been deposited, or the shrub or tree upon which it hangs, 

 and bear it off to their cabinet, and put it in a place favorable to its de- 

 velopement, for this is the way in which the finest specimens of insects 

 may be obtained. Let them also put their nets in order and capture 

 every butterfly, or other insect that they have not yet secured for their 

 cabinet. It will also be well for them to secure duplicates of fine spe- 

 cimens that they may be able to exchange with naturalists either of this 

 country or Europe. No time is now to be lost, and every fine day that 

 he has at his command, should be improved by the enterprising natu- 

 ralist. This season has opened remarkably early. During a ride which 

 I took over the South-mountain in the beginning of March, I observed 

 several species of butterflies already upon the wing; one of them was 

 the Vanessa ^nfiopa, to which Harris says that Wilson alludes in his 

 beautiful lines on the blue-bird : 



" When first the lone butterfly flits on the wing;" 



but it was not at this time '-lone," for I saw near the same place (on the 

 side of the mountain,) several other PajriUos of a species unknown to 



