VII 



AN AX IMPER<ATOR 



" He dried his wings ; like gauze they grew. 

 A living flash of light he flew." 



LORD TENNYSON. 



THE peopling with wild life of woods and waters formed 

 artificially is to me often a mysterious work. Flowers, 

 insects, sometimes even fishes, will appear on the 

 scene though hitherto they have been unknown in the 

 district. Make a pond or lake, using for your water 

 supply only the hidden springs that make the ground 

 round about soppy ; even confine your efforts to catch- 

 ing the moisture in the air by means of straw and 

 clay and a shallow basin scooped out on some common 

 or among the hills ; and before long Nature will give 

 it forms of life strange to the place insect life especi- 

 ally, above water and below. 



There is a shallow artificial pond, a few acres in 

 extent, among the pine and birch woods, which is good 

 to visit in July. It does not offer the refreshment of 



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