94 HIS EQUIPMENT. CHAP. vi. 



pipe. His shot was contained in a brown paper bag. 

 A few insect bottles of middling size, some boxes 

 for containing moths and butterflies, and a botanical 

 book for putting his plants in, constituted his equip- 

 ment. 



As he did not cease shoemaking until nine at night, 

 nearly all his researches were made after that hour. 

 He had to be back to his work in the morning at six. 

 His wages were so small, that he could not venture to 

 abridge his working hours. It was indispensably 

 necessary for him to husband carefully both his time 

 and his money, so as to make the most of the one and 

 the best of the other. And in order the better to 

 accomplish this, he resolved never to spend a moment 

 idly, nor a penny uselessly. 



On returning home from his work at night, his 

 usual course was to equip himself with his insect 

 boxes and bottles, his botanical book and his gun ; 

 and to set out with his supper in his hand or 

 stowed away in his pocket. The nearest spring fur- 

 nished him with sufficient drink. So long as it was 

 light, he scoured the country, looking for moths, or 

 beetles, or plants, or birds, or any living thing that 

 came in his way. 



When it became so dark that he could no longer 

 observe, he dropped down by the side of a bank, 

 or a bush, or a tree, whichever came handiest, and 

 there he dozed or slept until the light returned. 

 Then he got up, and again began his observations, 



