The Collector at Work 
plant until they arrive at the first or second axil (that is, 
where a leaf breaks off from the main stem) ; here they, 
bore a hole into the hollow stalk, and, climbing up a 
good way from the entrance, spin a few threads and 
await their change. Their fellows follow the same 
route, and in many instances utilize the same entrance, 
so that, on splitting the stalk, I have often founda long 
row of pupz and only one entrance hole. ‘These little 
holes prove useful later on in quite another way. In 
the depth of winter one may find these large hollow — 
stems of the Umbelliferae standing, bleached, dry, and 
hard, stoutly defying the winter’s blast. If they are 
carefully cut and carried home, and there split over a 
sheet of white paper or linen, we can realize what a 
world of creatures find a safe retreat in these friendly 
tubes. Earwigs, ichneumon and other flies, hiber- 
nating larve, spiders, small snails, beetles, are there 
discovered in a dormant or semi-dormant state. 
A small weeding fork is a very handy tool for pupa- 
digging in the spring or winter months, 
CHAPTER II 
THE COLLECTOR AT WORK 
“The midges dance abune the burn, 
The dew begins tae fa’ ; 
The patricks doon the rushy holm 
7 33 
Set up their e’enin’ ca’. 
On a June evening, long before sundown, we are foot- 
ing it along a dusty highway. After some miles of 
1s 
