OF AN INSECT HUNTER. 21 



golden wasps were eagerly running over the whole surface 

 of the bank, going in and out of the various holes in search 

 of some occupants by which they might insidiously deposit 

 their eggs. 



After surveying this lively scene for some time, making 

 an occasional capture of a brilliant Chrysis, I turned round, 

 and saw three of that elegant butterfly, Paphia, sailing round 

 in circles beneath me, their spotted wings shone on, and 

 brightened by, a most glowing sun. I thought I had never 

 seen any thing more lovely. They were beautifully fresh, 

 and perhaps had that very morning burst from the chrysalis, 

 and were for the first time essaying their powers of flight. 

 By patient waiting, and much labour, I made them all my 

 own, and then regretted my success ; they did not appear 

 half so beautiful when pinned in a collecting box as when 

 sailing on sunshine in the full enjoyment of their liberty. 

 Well does Crabbe call this butterfly a " silvery queen ;" he 

 surely was an entomologist. 



Leaving this bank, the heat of which began to be almost 

 unbearable, I struck more deeply into the wood, delighted 

 beyond measure at the infinite diversity of insect forms which 

 filled my boxes ; at last, after the lapse of many hours spent 

 in racing after every insect I saw on the wing, I found 

 myself completely tired out; I was in a heat approaching 

 to fever ; hungry and thirsty to an extreme ; and, last and 

 not least, I had no knowledge whatever of the way, nor 

 knew I by which path I came into the wood, or by which 

 path I could get out. I sat down and pondered. What, 

 thought I, is the most rational course I can pursue? it is 

 three o'clock, the sun must be getting south-west ; there must 

 be the north, and if I march through the wood northward, 

 without turning right or left, I must, before long, reach the 

 Dover road; the river cannot be many miles to the north 

 of me, and the Dover road must be between me and the 

 river. Keeping this arrangement, of localities constantly in 

 view saved me from a hungry night in the woods, which, 

 had there been no sun, I should probably have endured. 

 I proceeded till the country opened before me; a corn-field 

 appeared on the right, and a-head of me were fields and 

 woods, and the placid Thames, speckled with vessels. Cross- 

 ing a lane, in which I took some half-dozen of the beautiful 



