262 
LETTERS FROM ALABAMA. 
protnTberance^ several yards in circumference^ from 
the summit of which the trunk springs. These 
protuberances^ which are commonly known as cy- 
press-knees, are hollow in the interior^ and covered 
with a crimson bark like that of the exterior. 
On our return we found the family yet up and 
abroad; though it was past the usual hour for 
retiring to rest, the balmy warmth of the evening 
had tempted them to remain at the doors, in the 
light of the yard-fire. It is customary here to 
have a sort of tripod in the yard, on which a fire 
is lighted at dusk, and kept up until the household 
have gone to bed. It is the duty of a negro boy to 
keep this fire constantly bright with splints of pine, 
so as to maintain a perpetual blaze, as the object is 
to illuminate the yard and its contiguous offices. It 
is pleasant to watch the effects of the light either 
transmitted through or reflected from the quivering 
leaves of the surrounding trees, the flame now 
rising brightly and playing in tongue-like flickering 
spires, now sinking and dying to a ruddy glow, 
then suddenly reviving under the watchful charge 
of the sable minister who plays the part of vestal 
virgin at this altar. 
Insects often play around the fire. Beetles 
wheel their drony flight in buzzing circles 
round for a few turns and are gone ; and moths 
come fluttering about, and often scorch their plumy 
wings. A few evenings ago I took at the light- 
stand a specimen of a very handsome Sphinx, the 
Blind Hawk [Smerinthus excmcatus)^ the front 
wings of which are of a rich brown dashed and 
clouded with black, and the hinder pair crimson, 
with a large black eye-spot on each, having an azure 
pupil. It was an unusually large specimen, and 
