AUGUST. 147 



Peronea larvae, opening every leaf to look for its 

 tenant ?" " Yes, certainly," said I, " how would you 

 know whether you had a larva or a leaf unless you 

 did?" " Well," returned my companion, " come with 

 me, and I'll show you how to collect Peronea larvae." 

 So accordingly I followed him, and he soon taught me 

 how to improve upon the Irishman's instructions to 

 his friend, whom he was initiating into the mysteries 

 of Donny brook fair— " Wherever you see a head," 

 said he, " hit it !" " Wherever you see a twisted leaf, 

 or one or more leaves, affixed close to the stem or the 

 top of a shoot twisted or agglutinated, pick it, cut it 

 off with your knife, and transfer it to your bag or 

 box without examination." I followed his advice, and 

 soon not only filled my box, but was compelled to con- 

 vert my pocket-handkerchief into a temporary bag, 

 which was soon filled. Here then was the solution of 

 the difficulty which had perplexed me — collecting them 

 by the bushel— i. e. leaves and all, many of them being 

 untenanted. 



In another week I again visited the common, and, 

 having walked there and started early, I had been at 

 work some time, and, having now procured a good 

 sized bag, I was well up to my work, when I was 

 again saluted by " Hilloa, what brought you here ?" 

 and, turning round, I beheld my " unprofitable com- 

 panion," who had not deigned to give me the slightest 

 information, although he was taking them by bushels. 

 Not being particularly good-tempered with him, I an- 

 swered, " My legs ; what else do you think brought 

 me here? no thanks to you that I am here at all." 

 " True," he said ; " it would have been a long while 

 h2 



