191 



XIII. 



JUNE 10th. 



Beauty of Summer. American Pearl-border Fritillary. Yellow- 

 spotted Skipper. Natural affinities of Insects. Tiger Swallowtail. 

 Moths. Sembling. Star Cranefly. Other Insects. Tabani 

 structure of their Mouth appetite for Blood Distension. Chi- 

 goe. Termites. Ticks. Pearlfly. White-bodied Cimbex. 

 Passenger Pigeon its immense Hosts Beauty of Plumage. Tur- 

 tle-dove its Notes. Quivering of the Air. River. Evening 

 Scenery contrasted with Morning. Sleep of cold-blooded Animals. 

 Barred Owl. Firefly. Use of its Light unknown. Luminous 

 Appearance of the Ocean. Bottom of the Sea. Singular Light 

 once seen by the Author. 



FATHER. We may now say that summer is here in all 

 its rich and gorgeous beauty : " the glorious summer time ;" 

 a time which, to the naturalist, is like the opening of the 

 gates of Eden. It is indeed delightful to walk forth and 

 behold Nature in her majesty and loveliness ; the glorious 

 sunshine, the verdant field, the glittering insects ; to feel 

 the balmy and fragrant breeze j to hear the melody of the 

 birds, as they glide among the leafy shades of the forest ; to 

 see the trees with their weight of massy foliage, fragrant with 

 blossoms ; to observe the profusion, the almost excess of life 

 and gladness, which pervades the vast temple of nature. 

 Look at yonder maple woods: how rich an effect is pro- 

 duced by the contrast of light and shade ! masses of the 

 most soft and refreshing green, prominent in the bright sun- 

 shine, relieved by the dark sombre recesses which the eye 



