Insects fyc. 707 



ed, and received the same answer, — " Sar ? — Tss, Sar ! " At last, 

 after much exercise of patience, the old woman got up, and went to 

 another house, and began to call " Mas' James ! Mas' James ! " — but 

 Master James was still less inclined to turn out than the sable lady 

 herself had been, and for a long time either could not or would not un- 

 derstand what was desired of him. All this, everything being so per- 

 fectly new to me, was more amusing than vexatious ; it was not at all 

 cold, and no inconvenience arose from remaining in the balmy air. 

 When Master James tardily opened his castle-door, rubbing his eyes, 

 yet not half awake, I found that this lad, a boy of twelve years, son of 

 the manager, and the negro maid, were the only persons on the premi- 

 ses. He tumbled into bed again, while she raked among the ashes and 

 got me some breakfast, by which time it was daylight. My luggage 

 remained all this time on the steps at the river's marge, perfectly free 

 from risk, so lonely was the spot, until at daylight, Master James blew 

 his conch long and loudly, to call the people ; and soon a dozen 

 "black fellers" appeared, with their mules, to whom having given or- 

 ders about my trunks, I set out for the country. 



In the yard were some towering oaks, on which several fox squirrels 

 (Sciurus capistratus) were frisking and leaping from bough to bough 

 with great animation. A pair of the beautiful summer red-bird (Ta- 

 nagra astiva), were also chasing each other about the same trees. 

 Though this is a gaily dressed little fellow, I don't think him so hand- 

 some as his congener, the scarlet tanager [Tanagra rubra) ; the fine 

 contrast between the vermilion body and the jet-black wings and tail 

 of the latter, pleases me more than the uniform scarlet coat of the for- 

 mer. Both, however, look very beautiful, as they play in the sun, 

 among the quivering green leaves. With the day before me, I was 

 not disposed to hurry on my journey, especially as so many charming- 

 things were every instant catching my attention and enchaining my 

 observation. Butterflies became abundant; especially the very beau- 

 tiful little hairstreaks {Thecla), species of great delicacy and beauty, 

 whose hind wings end in. one or two lengthened tags. They are 

 frisky little creatures, very fond of chasing each other through the air, 

 and tumbling about with surprising quickness of evolution. When 

 at rest, they often rub the surfaces of the hind wings upon each other, 

 up and down alternately, and after a flight often return, like the fly- 

 catchers among birds, to the same spot from whence they departed ; 

 a projecting twig, or the topmost leaf of a bush. They were chiefly 

 of one species, Thecla falacer, (Boisd.), accompanied by several 



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