A TRADITION OF WYOMING. 147 



me, which, however I could not obtain, as ihey were very active, and I 

 had no apparatus for seizing them, along with me. I may also observe 

 here, that the Vanessa which 1 saw had not that "ragged and faded" 

 appearance, which Harris, in the passage above quoted attributes to it. 



But now whilst I write (April 23d,j the lields are becoming alive 

 with these wonderful and beautiful creatures, and soon every flower, 

 and shrub, and tree, and almost every leaf and each blade of grass will 

 have its visitors and destroyers. The Clytus Pictus makes its appear- 

 ance here (in Gettysburg,) in the beginning of April. The splendid 

 Attacus Polyjihevius which has been sheltered in some warm place, will 

 burst from its large, silky cocoon even in February, if it has been kept 

 in the house, and now makes its appearance in the open air. On the 

 17th inst. I captured a most beautiful specimen of the queenly Attacus 

 Luna, and on the 22d saw the superb Papilio Ajax and various other 

 diurnal Lepidopters sporting in the warm sunshine of the South-moun- 

 tain, between Gettysburg and Hagerstown, Md. I mention these facts 

 merely to show our young friends that it is now high time to bestir 

 themselves if they intend to be very active in this department of Na- 

 tural History during the present season. R. 



A TRADITION OF "WYOMING. 



BY THE AUTHOR OF "FOOT-PRINTS, OR FUGITIVE POEMS. 



When paler suns began to gleam 



On every shortening day, 

 And cool winds stirred the yellow leaves 



That in the forest lay, 

 Young Albert went, his parent's pride, 



With faithful hound and gun. 

 Out in the green-wood wide, to hunt, 



From morn till set of sun. 



His rifle woke the echoing hills 



For many a league around. 

 And Albert's aged parents smiled 



Right joyful at the sound ; 

 For well they knew his practiced hand 



And quick-discerning eye. 

 At each sure aim brought down a buck, 



Or bird that soars on high. 



The shots have ceased ; — the sun-set sky 



In gorgeous hues is drest, 

 And soon the lingering steps of day 



Have faded from the west. 



k 



