UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 147 



while they are sporting about, and clustering 

 and hovering round every building in the neigh- 

 bourhood, the mother repairs the nest for a se- 

 cond brood. 



21th. The spring is now rapidly changing 

 to summer, and the opening buds and unfold- 

 ing leaves have been succeeded by a profusion of 

 young branches, and flowers. It is, indeed, 

 very different from the rich luxuriant spring of 

 your Brazilian climate, but on the other hand, 

 we have not here the perpetual rain, and the 

 oppressive closeness of that season. The fresh- 

 ness of the air, the fragrance of the flowers, and 

 the sweet song of the birds are all delightful ; 

 and every day I see some new and pretty insects. 

 Though these insects are not quite in such num- 

 bers as, Humboldt says, appeared by turns, each 

 at their different hours, 011 the Amazon river, 

 still one may say 



Ten thousand insects in the air abound, 



Flitting on glancing wings that yield a summer sound. 



Just as we were looking at an uncommo 

 butterfly to-day, Mr. Maucle paid us a visit, and 

 seeing how we were occupied, he told us that 

 when travelling in Switzerland last June, he wit- 

 nessed a very curious circumstance, in the Can- 

 ton de Vaud ; an emigration of butterflies. He 

 happened to perceive something flying past the 

 windows, and on looking out he discovered an 



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