CHAPTER III. 
A WAVE OF LIFE. 
For many years, while living in my own home on 
the pampas, I kept a journal, in which all my daily 
observations on the habits of animals and kindred 
matters were carefully noted. Turning back to 
1872-3, I find my jottings for that season contain a 
history of one of those waves of life—for I can think 
of no better name for the phenomenon in question 
—that are of such frequent occurrence in thinly- 
settled regions, though in countries like England, 
seen very rarely, and on a very limited scale. An 
exceptionally bounteous season, the accidental miti- 
gation of a check, or other favourable circumstance, 
often causes an increase so sudden and inordinate 
of small prolific species, that when we actually 
witness it we are no longer surprised at the notion 
prevalent amongst the common people that mice, 
frogs, crickets, &c., are occasionally rained down 
from the clouds. 
In the summer of 1872-3 we had plenty of sun- 
shine, with frequent showers; so that the hot 
months brought no dearth of wild flowers, as in 
most years. The abundance of flowers resulted in 
a wonderful increase of humble bees. I have never 
known them so plentiful before; in and about the 
