GREAT CAPTURE. 
257 
filled with the clearest water, pure as crystal. The 
rocks were wced-grow’ii with feathery dulse and 
broad-leaved tangle, and abounded in large-eared 
sea-hares and dclicatc-tiiited sea-slugs. 
I had the good fortune, on this occasion, to make 
what I considered a great capture, that namely of 
a Damaster ! But what is a Damaster, my readers 
may impure. It is Fortunes beetle — an insect 
much desired by^ entomologists. I was walking 
alone at the. time, for all hands had gone on 
board to dinner, along the shell-strewn strand of 
Tabu-Sima, a charming little island not far from 
the shores of Niphon. I was in a brown study, 
smoking a little clay pipe, and thinking chiefiy of 
.the contempt in which I should be held if some of 
my “ very respectable friends saw me in my disre- 
putable “ rig,’' for my neck was bare, my coat was 
an old blue serge, and as for my hat it was brown 
felt, and I must say ‘‘ a shocking bad one.” How- 
ever, the sun was bright, the clear blue rippling sea 
was calm, the little island was new and verdurous, 
and I smoked serenely. On a sudden my abstract 
s 
