CONTENTS AND DESCRIPTION OF 

 VIGNETTES. 



JANUARY. 



1. THE CRICKET. INTRODUCTORY . . . ^ . . ] 



" Episodes, then, they shall be called." Symbolic portrait of the 

 author in his character of the Cricket, Acheta domestica, selecting 

 a title for his lucubrations . . . . . - . ; '. - 7 



2. THE POINTS OF OUR HOBBY . . . . . . 8 



" To the end of time this will carry us." Emblems of riches, 

 rank, and the pomps and vanities of life outweighed in the balance 

 by the author's hobby of Entomology under the figure of a May- 

 Fly 15 



3. FLIES IN WINTER, AND A FLY LEAF .... 16 



" Try Lightness, friend Poet." A leaf of the Poet's epic failure, 

 exposed to the critical scrutiny of a fly on its return to the author 

 from a butter-shop '."''.. . ,23 



4. THE GNAT. A LIFE-OF BUOYANCY . . . .24 



" Let us strive to keep up our buoyancy" The buoyant Gnat 

 Pupa, and the winged Gnat, which half flies, half walks upon the 

 water, figuring the light spirits which dance upon the stream of 

 life, and are unsubmerged by the missiles of care . . .29 



5. THE WOOD- ANT AND THE APHIDES . . . . 30 



" No one took notice of our poor dripping traveller." The 

 luxuriant and well-fed Aphis, in fashionable attire and sheltered 

 from the storm by her acorn-cup parasol, passes disdainfully by 

 the starving but industrious Ant, seated unsheltered, naked, and 

 solitary, on a toad-stool . 35 



