298 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



ATJTO-BIOGBAPHY OF A DOG— NO. XIII. 



WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. 



{Continued from Page 235.) 



The snowy weather we have had so very 

 recently, Mr. Editor, — (it is now March 18th) — 

 reminds me of the same period of the year in my 

 own country ; and induces me to write a little 

 entomologically. You will, I am sure, excuse this, 

 when you consider that I have not trespassed much 

 in that way lately. 



A great deal of sncw used to fall in the month 

 of January, more particularly towards the latter 

 end of the month, and the beginning of February. 

 The Bise also is very severe, and pretty frequent. 

 The old saying runs, that the Bise lasts three 

 days ; but if it should continue longer, and very 

 sharp, the old market-girls will call out — "Eh, 

 ma foi ! c'est furieusement froid. Cest une 

 Bise de neuf jours." 



Now at the commencement of February, in some 

 parts, there would be from four to six feet of snow ; 

 and generally, at the lower parts, near the lake, 

 about one or two feet. I do not, of course, speak 

 of any exposed situation, or where the snow had 

 drifted. There you might reckon from eight to 

 fourteen feet. But I talk of a fair general level, 

 and on such it would top the hedges on our high- 

 ways. I need hardly say that, at such a period 

 .of the year, everything travels on sledges. A 

 delightful and amusing way of travelling, that is ; 

 as I shall soon take occasion to show you. 



My object in sending you this, is to give you a 

 little description of one of our snowy entomological 

 rambles. We would start as usual, at this season 

 of the year, after a capital breakfast, and did not 

 forget two or three tea-spoonsful of Kirschen- 

 wasser in our coffee. Myself and brother, however, 

 preferred the coffee without the Kirschenwasser. 

 Walking fast was out of the question, in con- 

 sequence of the snow ; but by the time we reached 

 the Chalet of Montmeilan (already noticed in a 

 former communication), we were as warm as we 

 could wish to be, and right glad to rest half- 

 an-hour. This gave us time to dispose of some 

 bread and cheese, and a glass of old wine ; and, 

 as we always contrived to enjoy ourselves 

 thoroughly, we used, with the greatest delight, to 

 hear the old Bombyx call for mine hostess, and 

 order dinner for three o'clock. This consisted of a 

 hot sausage, some nice macaroni soup, a hot ham, 

 or any other piquant morceaux that the larder 

 afforded. Then would we start forwards, and up- 

 wards too, Mr. Editor ; for smooth travelling, even 

 for pedestrians, is not much known in my country. 

 Sauvabelin used indeed to wear a very winterish 

 garment at this time ; and even we, who knew 

 every corner of it, were sometimes singularly out 

 in our movements. 



From six to eight feet of snow generally lay 

 underneath our shoes. This was frozen so hard that 

 our passage made little or no impression — but sin- 

 gular indeed was the appearance of just the summits 

 of the young trees projecting from about eight to 

 twelve inches above the snow — and more par- 

 ticularly the " Sapins," one of which that we knew 

 to be about eight feet in height, caused us much 

 amusement, as it had still attached to it, at about 

 six inches from the top, the skin of a serpent. 



This we had killed the previous spring, and tied 

 there. Serpents, and some of these not of the 

 most innoxious description, are not uncommon in 

 parts of this forest, and it is very imprudent to 

 venture there without strong and high boots. 



Well ; after we had strolled about a short time, 

 Polychroros was seen tripping from tree to tree, 

 accompanied by his cousin Urticce ; and occasion- 

 ally beautiful Rhamni, with his lovely though 

 faded wings (just the color of the early common 

 primrose), was seen skipping before our eyes ; and 

 this used to rejoice the heart of old Bombyx. But 

 list ! What's the matter ? Jean is calling out 

 lustily, " A beautiful moth ! " " Another ! " " They 

 are very good," quoth Bombyx; "take all you 

 can. After one o'clock you'll lose sight of them " 

 Before that hour, however, at least a dozen Par- 

 thenias, for such they were, helped to fill our 

 hunting box. 



This, Mr. Editor, allow me to tell you, is about 

 the earliest of our entomological friends that pro- 

 ceeds ex pupa. Sometimes also during February, 

 if the weather be open, Puella and Notha, which, 

 although very similar to. Pdrthenias, are very 

 much rarer, and generally appear about a fortnight 

 after, — at least so I have heard my old master 

 say. Instabilis will also occasionally come forth, 

 as well as Lanestris. Stabilis also appears. Re- 

 tusa, Rubricosa, and Libatrix, too, rarely fail. 

 The pretty little Depressaria Applaud is also now 

 to be met with. C. album and Rapce, too, make 

 their appearance towards the end of the month. 

 The former, half dreaming that he is still in his 

 winter slumber ; the latter quite fresh out of his 

 chrysalis. 



At one o'clock, Bombyx and his party used to 

 move their quarters and go to a particular corner, 

 of the forest, best known to themselves (or, I 

 ought rather to say, ourselves), and hunt under- 

 neath the snow for the caterpillars of Dominula. 

 This spot was not more than about forty feet long 

 by twenty broad, and has most assuredly been 

 inhabited by the family of Dominula for a vast 

 many years. This is a very singular and well 

 ascertained fact. I have often spoken to my old 

 master upon this point ; and if I could get the old 

 boy to tell me how he honestly can account for it, 

 I would inform you. I'll worm it out of him 

 one of these days, and then you shall know all 

 about it. 



This colony of Dominula was so bedecked by 

 the intermingling of the branches of " Sapin," 

 that a vast quantity of snow could not accumulate 

 immediately under the branches. The Rubus, 

 too, curled about in beautiful arches ; and where 

 the Rubus was not, a few inches under the snow 

 was fouud the common wood-strawberry — both 

 favorite articles of food with Dominula, and (I 

 blush not to say it, Mr. Editor,) favorite food of 

 mine also. I do not care for the cream, mind ; 

 but I am uncommonly fond of poking my nose 

 into a patch of wood-strawberries. Let me not, 

 however, confess all my faults, else the old Bombyx 

 might hear of them. But let us return to Dominula. 

 Going quietly to work, my old master would pick 

 up some forty caterpillars in one day. I know this 

 is a very difficult caterpillar to rear ; and if you 

 succeed in bringing up one-third of your number, 

 you may consider it very fair. 



Whilst Bombyx was hunting Dommulas, I and 



