360 Canadian Record of Science. 



able to profit by the records of the researches of others. 



His business duties were uninteresting, the comparatively 

 minute and inconspicuous character of the insects of New- 

 foundland failed to satisfy him, and his discontent was 

 further increased by the social gloom that darkened the life 

 of the colony. Little, therefore, was needed to make him 

 sever his connection with Carbonear. Many circumstances 

 combined to turn his thoughts towards Canada. It had the 

 fascination of the unknown, the romance of the " forest 

 primeval," its riches were described iu glowing terms by 

 emigration agents, its insect life was glorified in a popular 

 work which fell into his hands. He felt destined for a suc- 

 cessful farmer, skill being of secondary consideration in a 

 land so wonderfully rich. Confident of success, he wrote to 

 his brother asking him to join him in an Arcadian life, say- 

 ing: "We would have all things in common: we could 

 entomologize together in the noble forest, and, in the peace- 

 ful and happy pursuits of agriculture, forget the toils and 

 anxieties of commerce. Not that our lives will be idle, for 

 we shall have to work with our own hands, but there will 

 be the pleasing and stirring consciousness that our labor is 

 for ourselves, and not for an unkind, ungrateful master. 

 The land where I go is exceedingly fertile and productive. 

 and, with little more than half the toil necessary on an 

 English fax*m it will yield not only the necessaries, but even 

 the luxuries of life." At first, he intended to go to the 

 chores of Lake Huron, but acquaintances in Quebec dis- 

 suaded him, and he made an excursion to Compton where 

 he finally decided to buy a partially cleared farm ; doubt- 

 less induced by the profusion of butterflies. Long after- 

 wards, he wrote in regard to his settlement at Compton, " I 

 felt and acted as if butterfly-catching had been the one great 

 business of life." 



Ploughing and sowing, teaching in the district schools, 

 failing in all his attempts, he nevertheless managed to 

 retain his rosy dreams for many months. Eejoicing in the 

 beautiful scenery, revelling in the novel riches of the 

 animal life, he forgot his troubles and enthusiastically 



