208 FIELD-NOTES FOR THE YEAR. CH. XIX. 



insect. You may, year after year, find a certain 

 kind in great numbers within a space of a hundred 

 yards, but you may search in vain for a single 

 specimen over the whole surrounding country ; 

 although both as to plants and soil it may seem as 

 favourable for their production as the spot to which 

 they confine themselves. I was told by a clever 

 entomologist that I should find any number of 

 specimens of a particular butterfly, which I wanted 

 to procure, in a certain stone quarry, or rather 

 where a quarry had once been, during tlic first and 

 second week in August, but at no other time and in 

 no other situation. My friend was perfectly right. 

 Then and there, and then and there only, could I 

 find this particular butterfly. There are few dis- 

 tricts of the kingdom where a man of leisure would 

 not find plenty to interest and amuse him were he 

 to direct his attention to the peculiar habits and 

 instincts of living animals from the highest to the 

 lowest, from the eagle to the insect which he 

 treads unconsciously under his feet every step he 

 takes. People little know by how many natural 

 objects of beauty and interest they are everywhere 

 surrounded. How true is a French saying that 

 " L'oisivete est la mere de toutes les vices ;" and 

 how many cares and troubles would thousands avoid 

 did they employ their leisure houi'S in such pursuits 



