PRIVATE LIVES OF INSECTS. 505 



collecting never rose above the many obstacles that came in 

 my way, and consequently I have done but little : the chief 

 reason is, that the middle of the day has been wholly occupied 

 by business, and, except in the sunshine, I could never find 

 many specimens. As for birds, I believe there is a consider- 

 able variety in the interior, but in this neighbourhood there 

 are hardly any." 



" All our trees are more or less punctured by small insects, 

 which cause upon the leaves and branches the most extraordi- 

 nary deformities that I ever saw ; — are such formations worth 

 collecting, or of any use to naturalists? Although I at present 

 feel disposed to make botany my principal study, I shall by no 

 means neglect zoology, when 1 have opportunity of prosecut- 

 ing that study ; for I am fully aware that no one branch of 

 Natural History can be followed up closely without bringing 

 the observer continually in the way of kindred sciences." 



Art. XLVII. — Private Lives of Insects. By Rusticus, 

 of Godalming. 



'* Once more upon the waters." — Byron. 



Sir, — Here I am, safe and sound, scribbling away in the 

 sanctum, and " once more upon the waters " of public opinion, 

 far more dangerous and deceptive than those of the Mediterra- 

 nean — your readers don't see the gist of the comparison, and 

 it's quite as well. Dear, delightful readers, how do you all 

 do ? In this table-drawer is a packet ; ah ! there it is. This 

 packet contains eleven newspapers, all folded up so as to ex- 

 hibit — ah ! it is not worth mentioning, only it makes one feel 

 a little somebodyish, that's all ; for one of them, three months 

 old, I gave eighteenpence, because the man said it broke a file : 



I don't believe it could, for it's as soft as a rag. So you would 

 not have my log? and in lieu thereof, you bestow upon your 

 readers some abominable Sapphics of your own, and try to 

 palm them off on me : it's all very well ! About the turnip 

 fly : — the farmers here have tried salt with great success this 

 year, but I believe the crop has failed nowhere, so we must 

 not make too sure. So the Entomological Society is going to 



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