50 A NATURE WOOING. 



As with the winds, or waves of air, so with the 

 drifting tides of a man's life. A year ago I was 

 happy and contented with those I love in the far 

 north. To-day 'tis Florida's sky, bright and beauti- 

 ful, above me. Next year, it may be Greenland's; 

 cold, cheerless and forbidding. What matters it 

 the world wags on. The memory of happier days 

 will cling can not be shaken off. Then 



" Here's a sigh to those who love me, 



And a smile to those who hate ; 

 And whatever sky's above me, 

 Here's a heart for every fate." 



To-day the sand burs stick closer than a brother ; 

 likewise the wood ticks. I distribute both from one 

 field to another. 



The first tiger-beetle which I have seen flits from 

 point to point before me on the sandy woodland path. 

 I finally succeed in casting my net over it before it 

 can arise, and find it to be a male of Cidndela uni- 

 color Dej., two-fifths of an inch in length and a uni- 

 form dark blue in color, with the exception of the 

 labrum and base of mandibles, which are ivory white. 

 The female, taken at a later date, is dark green in 

 hue, with the mandibles wholly black. Beetles of all 

 kinds seem scarce here at this season. It appears 

 that, notwithstanding the quite uniform temperature 

 which prevails, for the most part, throughout the 

 year, the dry season, which corresponds to the win- 



