to live at Ryde almost as well as in London. She was also very much delighted with a stroll on the beach, where she picked up some shells, carefully rejecting, however, the cockles and the whelks now that she found they were so common. At last she

found a mussel-shell that she was sure was not common, as it was quite different from anything she had ever seen before; and, on showing it to her mother, she was delighted to find that it was indeed very rare.

Fig. 29.

RIBBED MUSSEL (Myrtilus Crenulatus).

"It is a native of the West Indies," said Mrs. Merton; "and must have adhered to some ship

from that country, which has chanced to come to Portsmouth."

Agnes now admired her treasure more than ever, for, like many persons much older than herself, she valued things by their rarity rather than their beauty.

The party did not leave Ryde till rather a later hour than usual, and when they did they took the road to Newport, as Mr. Merton thought it necessary to return to that town for his letters. The first place that attracted their attention on their road, was Binstead, where they bestowed a passing glance on a lovely little thatched cottage which stood embosomed in a wood, and nestling in the hollow formed by an old stone quarry, from which, it is said, the stone used in building Winchester Cathedral was taken. The church at Binstead is very pretty, but they did not stop to visit it; and they passed also, without stopping, the turn which led to the ruins of Quarr Abbey, once the richest and largest monastery in the island, its walls having enclosed a space of thirty acres in extent. They now saw at a distance what appeared to be a very large lake, or rather inland sea, which, when they approached, they found

was crossed by a bridge along which lay their road. The lower part of this noble sheet of water forms a broad estuary, called Fishbourne Creek, which spreads out from the bridge, gradually widening till it reaches the sea; but the part above the bridge, which is known by the name of the Wootton river, looked like a vast mirror set in a verdant frame. Nothing could be more calm and still than this broad expanse of water, reflecting in its glassy bosom the sloping banks which rose on each side; here covered with a carpet of smooth turf, and there sprinkled with trees with spreading branches, hanging down to the water's edge. The rich verdure of this part of the Isle of Wight, affords a striking contrast to the naked and barren rocks at the back of the island; and Agnes gazed at the present scene with the more pleasure, as she liked naturally the luxuriant and beautiful, better than the wild and grand.

They had scarcely crossed the bridge when one of the traces broke which fastened the horse to the carriage. The accident was of no great consequence, as the driver had some string with him, with which he told them he could easily contrive to tie the

broken parts together; but as they found the operation would take some time, Mrs. Merton and Agnes agreed to walk on. The country they were now passing through looked somewhat barren, as, in fact, it formed part of Wootton Common; but Agnes did not dislike this, notwithstanding her love for verdant scenery, as it reminded her of the moors of Scotland and their fragrant heather; and though she was an English girl (having been born at Bayswater) she loved everything Scotch, as she had many dear friends in that country. She therefore ran gaily to and fro, gathering wild flowers and bringing them to her mother, who walked more steadily and slowly along the regular path. In one place Agnes had made rather a longer excursion than usual, and she returned slowly, holding something carefully between her two hands.

"What have you there?" asked her mother, when she approached near enough to be heard.

"Oh! mamma," cried Agnes, "I have found some of the most beautiful Beetles I ever saw in my life. Do look how brilliantly they are marked with scarlet and white! They must be something very rare and curious, I should think."

66

No, they are by no means uncommon; and they are called Tiger Beetles, from their savage nature;

Fig. 30.

for they are carnivorous, and devour all the weaker insects that fall in their way."

"How sorry I am to hear that! Who could have thought that such beautiful creatures could be cruel? But may I put them in a piece of paper, mamma, and take them home?"

"I am afraid you would then be as cruel as the

Beetles, and with less ex

TIGER BEETLES (Cicendela). cuse; as they devour other insects for food, and you

would torture them for no purpose, but to gratify a passing wish."

"But, mamma, Aunt Jane and Aunt Mary both have collections of insects; and I am sure they are not cruel; and you know I have some Moths and Butterflies at home that Aunt Mary gave me.

"Your aunts are both entomologists, and have