xiv A NATURALIST'S BOYHOOD 
Insects," I never tired of. I studied that over and 
over again. It was the illustrations of Marsh which fas- 
cinated me. I never found a bug, caterpillar, or butter- 
fly that I did not compare my specimens with the 
Marsh pictures. I learned this way much which I have 
never forgotten." 
" Had you any particular advantages ?" 
"Yes; my brother was a doctor, and he let me use 
his microscope, and so I acquired a knowledge of the 
details of flowers and insects that escape the naked eye. 
I pulled flowers to pieces, but not in the spirit of de- 
struction, but so that I might better understand their 
structure. When I was ten I had a long illness. When 
I was getting better I was permitted to take an hour's 
or so turn in the garden. That hour I devoted to col- 
lecting insects and flowers. On my return to my room, 
what I had collected amused me until I could get out 
again next day or the day after." 
" It was pleasure and study combined," I said. 
" I was not conscious that I was studying. Then in 
my sick-room I began to draw and paint the insects. 
I think I was conscientious about it, and careful per- 
haps minutely so. I tried to put on paper exactly what 
I saw, and nothing else. You say you like ' Professor 
Wriggler.' I drew him when I was ten or eleven, and I 
could not make him any more accurate to-day than I 
did thirty years ago." 
" Were you encouraged at your work?" I inquired. 
" Yes ; once I was much pleased. I came across a 
curious insect. I could not find it in the books. I 
made a drawing of it and sent it to a professor of the 
Smithsonian, asking him to give me its scientific name. 
Back came by return mail my sketch, and under it the 
