Burnside. 113 



nan Gramhna, at one time wading waist-deep through the 

 heather, at another, tramping over the springy Potentilla- 

 carpeted turf, until at last we reach a narrow pathway, 

 which leads to the village below. This pathway is rocky 

 and steep, here crossed by a marshy rill, there descending 

 rapidly into a hollow leading to a tiring climb up the oppo- 

 site side. Our feet often wander. Here we watch the 

 clouds of little TORTRIX moths flying over the heather, there 

 we see a rich red-brown "plume" moth, with long spiny 

 legs, sipping the nectar that the bees love. Then the rapid- 

 flying grass moth, called the Antler on account of the 

 strongly-pectinated antennae of the males, is seen scattering 

 its eggs far and near, whilst a newly emerged female moth 

 attracts her lovers in shoals. Quite amusing is the flight 

 of these gentlemen moths who are seeking the lady's favour, 

 but her choice is soon made, and in a few minutes the re- 

 jected suitors have disappeared from view. 



From the large scattered boulders moths fly off as we 

 approach, and these we inspect carefully. All are of the 

 same blackish hue, all have the wings covered with paler 

 transverse lines ; thus they assimilate, not only to the dark 

 coloration of the rocks, but also to the wavy pattern with 

 which the rock is marked. These moths are of many 

 different kinds, although all have the same general habit, 

 and we are sure that the Great Mother has been at work, 

 and that this resemblance is the result of a long, long 

 period of selection carried on by her. 



The sun has now sunk to rest beyond the mountains. 

 Everything seems still and silent, but for the far-off bleat of 

 a sheep or the whistle of the plover. No, as we pause for a 

 moment, we can hear a steady hum that tells of insects' 



