JULY 



OVA] 



Now that the heat of summer is really making itself felt, a slumbrous calm 

 seems to hang over the landscape, " half drowned in sleepy peace," 



"As satiate with the boundless play 

 Of sunshine on its green array." 



And the Collector, yielding to the soothing influences around him, may 

 perhaps be seen 



' ' beneath an ancient shade, 

 Or on the matted grass supinely laid." 



But he should remember that he must work, often very hard, to obtain what 

 he may be specially in search of, and that very few, if any, prizes will come 

 to his hand unless they are thoughtfully sought for. 



This may be a convenient time to note that the pursuit of Entomology 

 is liable to be attended with some inconvenience, and, it may be, risk, 

 which, however, may be minimized by a little pre-consideration. Marshes, 

 and other disagreeable places, although "farthest from them is best," 

 have occasionally to be visited, and the Collector would do well to be 

 as expeditious as possible over his work in these localities, and he 

 should be careful to keep as much as possible to the ' ' windward " of 

 the rotten carcases, and worst spots he may think it desirable to explore, 

 for the treasures to be found at them. When heated, he should be 

 especially careful how he allows himself to "cool down," and not be tempted 

 to sit, or lie down in damp or miasmatic places, because the shade may be 

 grateful, as cold, fever, rheumatism, or worse, may result. In very hot 

 weather drink of any kind should not be too freely indulged in, as its ten- 

 dency is to unduly promote perspiration. If the journey on foot is a long one, 

 or the time out in the blazing sun is prolonged, an occasional small "drink" 

 of some acidulated preparation, in which is a "touch" of brandy or whiskey, 

 with the partaking of solid food at short intervals, will prevent that ex- 

 haustion which sometimes culminates in sunstroke. Completeness of pre- 

 arrangement in these cases, generally means efficiency of work, besides the 

 absence of bad after-results. Midges, flies, &c., are often a source of annoy- 

 ance on a hot day, particularly if the Collector is corpulent, and perspires 

 freely. Stings may, however, be generally avoided by anointing the face, 

 head, and hands with fluid camphor, or some other strong-smelling insect 

 bane. Washing the head, &c., just before starting in a strong solution of 

 borax, or of alum, both said to be particularly distasteful to insects, might 

 be tried with advantage. Alcoholic emanations are great attractions to most 

 insects, and therefore teetotallers are least liable to annoyance from this 

 source. The Author remembers once collecting with a young wine and spirit 

 merchant, who had hastily left his cellar for "a day out," and the attention 

 which was paid him by hundreds of flying "cusses" was, to use another 

 Americanism, "a caution." Adders may be often met with, but they never 

 bite unless attacked, or accidentally trodden upon, and they are generally too 



