THE FOXING NATURALIST. 



! when looking over a bridge, under which ran 

 a stream as clear as crystal, they perceived 

 some yellow water lilies (Napha htteum,) 

 throwing their golden crowns out of the water. 

 A little further on they turned through a gate 

 on their left which let into the enclosure. 



Before they had taken many steps Sun- 

 shixe shouted •■ The net, the net," and right 

 before them was a White Admiral butterfly, 

 one of the most graceful of flyers, sailing on 

 motionless outstretched wings, and coming 

 right towards them ; in a moment it was 

 within the net, and the captor's heart throbbed 

 with joy as she beheld it struggling within. 

 The anxiety was increased, for before the first 

 could be secured, a second, and a third, 

 came sailing by ; within reach, or towering 

 up into the trees, just before it came near 

 enough for netting. Then a Silver-washed 

 Fritillary, or a High Brown, would give them 



I a chance to strike at him, or a little Skipper, 

 a copper, or a blue would dance among the 

 grass beneath. An umbrella was now brought 



I into use, inverted under some of the bushes, 

 and the latter beaten with a stick, a lot of 

 caterpillars, beetles, bugs, and other insects 

 were thus obtained. The paths were f« dlowed, 

 first taking one tiii ing, and then another, 

 until they again came upon the same stream 

 in which they had seen the lilies, and such a 

 sight. It was widened out to a large pool, 

 the surface of water being carpeted with 

 broad Hat leaves ; between which sprung up 

 the large wax like flowers of the white pond 

 lily (Nvmphcea alba ) ; over the lilies flirted 

 gorgeous dragon-flies, with metallic green 

 bodies, and blue or amber wings. Around 

 the rocky brim grew various flowering plants 

 and ferns, while there, on a dead twig sat a 

 solitary King-fisher, its bright blue back 

 glittering in the sun. The party stood for 

 some moments admiring the little paradise, 

 until at length John, after various attempts 

 to reach the dragon-flies, took off his shoes 

 and stockings, and rolling up his trousers as 

 high as he could, went in after them, and as 

 he caught one handed it to Mrs. Summer on 



shore, while Sunshine supplied him with an || 

 empty net. This kind of sport was continued 

 until all their boxes were full, and the day |||| 

 being far advanced they returned to their 



j apartments. 



• Well " said Mrs. Rooks " did you catch 

 any insects— any quantity about here, all the 1 

 great fl\ -catchers come here. Where have 

 you been ? you should go to Stubby Copse, 

 that's where all the fly-catchers go." 



As soon as John could get in a word he If! 

 enquired where Stubby Copse was. 



" You go along this road nearly a mile, then 

 turn on the bye-road to the right and follow 

 it to the top of the hill ; that's Stubby Copse, 

 lots of insects there, any quantitv." 



Stubby Copse was jotted down for the next 

 day's ramble. In the morning Mil. and Mrs. § 

 Summer were up by four o'clock to pin and 

 set the captures of the previous day, and by 



j ten they had breakfasted and arrived at the I 

 promised land, and the promises were not in 

 vain, for Stubby Copse fairly swarmed with 

 insects— three or four kinds of J Yitillaries, 

 White Admirals in abundance, Skippers and 

 Blues, a straggling W ood White, or a rare 

 Burnet, while now and then would be seen 

 the Purple Emperor, the monarch of the 

 forest, tow ering high above the trees. Smaller 1 

 insects were in abundance, while now and 



: then a very big two-winged fly ( Thamis bovinus) 



Thanhs Bovixiis. 

 ' would come with a fearful and somewhat un- 

 j pleasant buzz abotit their heads, a large 

 ] dragon-fly would sail along the drive and 



shatter an unwary butterfly, or the tail end 

 ' of an adder would be seen just retreating 



into the grass. 



( T» be continued. ) 



