48 RAMBLES OF 



city readily exciting a recollection of one of these animals, 

 and the poor worms writhing and twining about his jaws 

 answering for the snakes. It would be tedious were I to 

 relate all my rambles undertaken with a view to gain a 

 proper acquaintance with this creature, at all hours of 

 the day, and late in the evening, before daylight, 

 &c. &c. 



Among other objects which served as an unfailing 

 source of amusement, when resting from the fatigue of 

 my walks, was the little inhabitant of the brook, called 

 the gyrinus natator. These merry swimmers occupied 

 every little sunny pool in the stream, apparently alto- 

 gether engaged in sport. A circumstance connected 

 with these insects, gives them additional interest to a 

 close observer; they are allied by their structure and 

 nature to those nauseous vermin, the cimices (or bed- 

 bugs.) All of which, whether found infesting fruits or 

 our dormitories, are distinguished by their disgusting 

 odour. But their distant relatives, called by the boys 

 the water-witches and apple smellers, the gyrinus natator 

 above alluded to, has a delightful smell, exactly similar 

 to that of the richest, mellowest apple. This peculiarly 

 pleasant smell frequently causes the idler many unavail- 

 ing efforts to secure some of these creatures, whose ac- 

 tivity in water renders their pursuit very difficult, though 

 by no means so much so as that of some of the long 

 legged water spiders which walk the waters dry shod, 

 and evade the grasp with surprising ease and celerity. 



