JULY. 183 



surrounded by sights, as well as sounds, of life and beauty, 

 even when we are generally unconscious of their presence. 

 Surely this thought adds its mite to the testimony of an 

 over-watchful Providence, who peoples even darkness itself 

 with brilliant colours, and elegant forms ; and animates 

 the period of sleep, the emblem of death, with sounds 

 which are but another name for melody, as if to reassure 

 our waking moments with a consciousness of His presence, 

 who " never slumbereth nor sleepeth." 



The smaller species of Moth are so very numerous that 

 but a very disproportionate number can be mentioned in 

 this little work ; a full account must be sought for elsewhere. 

 There are supposed to be not less than 2,000 species, many 

 of very minute size ; and it has been truly said, that the 

 study of the minute Lepidoptera is yet in its infancy; 

 the time of their flight, too, is an obstacle in the way of 

 all but very zealous entomologists, though it must not be 

 imagined that their appearance is entirely confined to the 

 night or twilight : this is the more appropriate, but not the 

 sole period of their activity, and many species may be seen 

 flitting in the sunshine with the diurnal Lepidoptera, and 

 other warmth-loving insects. Mr. Bird gives an account, 

 in the " Entomological Magazine/' of the plan he adopted 





