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 



