CHAP. VI. | Terrible Encounter. 107 
corn hawk-moth, the cream-spot tiger-moth, the angle- 
shades, the beautiful China-mark, the green silver-line, and 
various other specimens. He hoped to secure more; but 
in the midst of his operations he was interrupted by the 
approach of an extraordinary-looking creature. 
He was stepping slowly and watchfully along his beat, 
crooning to himself, -“‘ There’s nae luck aboot the house,” 
when, looking along the narrow footpath, he observed some- 
thing very large, and tremendously long, coming toward 
him. He suddenly stopped his crooning, and came to a 
standstill. What could the hideous-looking monster be ? 
He could not see it clearly, for it had become dark, and the 
moon was not yet up. Yet there it was, drawing slowly 
toward him. He was totally unarmed. He had neither 
his gun nor even Itis gully knife with him. Fear whisper- 
ed, “Fly! fly for your life!” but courage shouted, “No! 
no! stand like a man and a true naturalist, and see the 
worst and the best of it!” So he stood his ground. 
At length the animal gradually approached him. He 
now observed that it consisted of three large and full- 
grown badgers, each a short distance behind the other, the 
foremost being only about sixteen yards from where he 
stood. He had for some time been on the lookout for a 
badger to add to his collection, and now he hoped to be 
able to secure one. He rushed forward; the badgers sud- 
denly turned and made for the river along-side of which his 
beat had extended. He wrapped a handkerchief round his 
hand to prevent the animals biting him, threw off his hat, 
and bolted after the badgers. He was gaining on them 
rapidly, and as he came up with the last, which was bolting 
down into the river, he gave it a tremendous kick; but, in 
doing so, he fell suddenly flat on his back in the midst of 
the path. When he came to himself, he began to feel if 
his legs were broken, or if his head were still on. Yes, all 
was right; but, on searching, he found a tremendous bump 
upon the back of his head as big as a turkey’s egg. 
