TIMES AND SEASONS. 



this is secured. And now comes a dazzling thing. 

 the ' 'burnished brass," its wings gleaming with 

 metallic refulgence in the lamp-light; but (O in- 

 fortunate puer!) a nimble bat is beforehand with 

 you, and snaps up the glittering prize before your 

 eyes, dropping the brilliant wings on the ground 

 for your especial tantalisation. Well, never mind I 

 the bat is an entomologist, too, and he is out 

 mothing as well as you ; therefore allow him his 

 chance. Here is the "copper underwing," that 

 seems so unsuspicious that nothing appears easier 

 than to box it ; but, lo ! just when the trap is over 

 it, it glides slily to one side, and leaves you in the 

 lurch. But what is this moth of commanding 

 size and splendid beauty, its hind wings of the 

 most glowing crimson, like a fiery coal, bordered 

 with black? Hal the lovely "bride T If you can 

 net her, you have a beauty. A steady hand! a 

 sure eye I Yes 1— fairly bagged! And now you 

 may contentedly go home through the dewy 

 lanes, inhaling the perfume of the thorn and clem- 

 atis, watching the twinkle of the lowly glow- 

 worms, and listening to the melody of the wakeful 

 nightingales. 



It is always interesting to compare with our 

 own experience pictures of parallel scenes and sea- 

 sons in other and diverse lands, drawn by those 

 who had an open eye for the poetical and beauti- 

 ful in nature, though not in all cases strictly 

 naturalists. Here is a night scene from the sum- 

 mit of the Niesen, a peak of the Central Alps, 

 nearly 8000 feet above the sea level:— 



"I would gladly give my reader an idea of the 

 solemn scenery of these elevated regions, during 

 the calm hours of a summer night. As to sounds 

 they are but few; at least, when the air is still. 

 The vicinity of man, productive in general of any- 

 3 33 



