So LETTERS TO MARCO vui 



it up I only secured the head and part of 

 the body ; this remained luminous in my hand, 

 and when smashed and rubbed on my finger 

 the finger became luminous. It had a small 

 yellowish-brown head with slender antennae, 

 as the myriapods usually have. There are 

 a great many pear and apple trees in the 

 shrubbery where I saw these creatures. 



Two sparrows have been most persistent 

 in building their nest behind the wheel and 

 chain that raises the portcullis of my boat- 

 house ; I have done all I could to frighten 

 them away, but in vain. I found out where 

 the nest was, though I could not see or get at 

 it, so I stuffed the aperture up with paper 

 and watched through the crack of the door 

 to see what would happen. After a bit the 

 cock appeared ; at first sight of the obstruc- 

 tion he flew away, but afterwards grew bold, 

 and tried in every way to effect an entry. 

 I saw he had something in his beak, a small 

 grub it was, and as I then felt sure the young 

 must be already hatched I removed the 



