made collections of insects for scientific purposes; besides, they know how to kill the insects they take without giving them much pain; but you would only torture these poor Beetles by keeping them alive a day or two without food, or, at any rate, in a miserable place of confinement.”

، If you

"Very well, mamma," cried Agnes; "then I will set them free, and take them back to where I found them;" and she ran off as fast as possible. When she returned, almost out of breath, her mamma laughed at her for taking so much trouble. had put the Beetles down here," said she, "they would soon have found their way back, if they had wished to do so; for they are remarkably active, and their legs are so long, in proportion to their bodies, that, I think, they can run even faster than you can. So you have given yourself quite unnecessary trouble."

"Oh! I don't mind that," cried Agnes; "I like running."

"So I perceive," said Mrs. Merton, smiling; “for you are like a little spaniel, you run two or three times over the same ground."

Mrs. Merton had scarcely finished speaking when

Agnes darted off again, like lightning, and soon came back, bringing with her some shells. "Now, mamma," said she, "I think I have really found something that is rare: you always say the things I find are so common; but I am sure these Snails different from any I ever saw before."

are very

"I am sorry to say, however, that they are found, in great abundance, in many places; and sometimes they appear so suddenly, and in such immense quantities, as to give rise to the idea that they must have fallen from the clouds. I do not know their popular name, but naturalists call them Helix Virgata. They are remarkable for the thinness of their shells, and they are so small that two or three have been found adhering to a single blade of grass."

"Ah! mamma,' ‚" cried Agnes, laughing, "one might almost fancy you saw me pick up these very shells; for I found them both sticking to one blade of grass, and I was quite delighted with their thin, delicate shells. I am only sorry they are so common.

"To console you, I must add that they are only common in the South of England, in warm, open situations; and they are generally found in company with the other little shell you have in your hand. That

is called Bulimus Articulatus: and both kinds are found in such quantities on the downs in the South of England, that they are said to give the sheep that

feed on the downs their peculiar flavour; as the sheep eat them with every blade of grass they take."

"I remember the name of Bulimus," said Agnes. "I think we saw some shells called by that name in the splendid collection of Mr. Cumming, that you told me laid eggs as large as a pigeon's; and, indeed, we saw some of the eggs."

"That was a species of Bulimus only found in the torrid zone; but the genus is a very extensive one, and, I believe, contains nearly a hundred and fifty species."

They now heard the wheels of the carriage, and

;

stood still till it overtook them. They were soon seated, and advanced rapidly over a very fertile country, till they came in sight of the Medina which looked like a silver riband, winding through the country in a broad line of shining light. Agnes was delighted to see this river again, as it appeared to her like an old friend. "I am quite satisfied, now," said she, "that we have been all round the island; for here, I find, we have arrived at the same point from which we set out."

"The Medina," said Mr. Merton, "rises at the foot of St. Catherine's Down, near Black Gang Chine; and it divides the island so nearly into two equal parts that it is said to derive its name from the Latin word media, which signifies the middle."

"And it is very singular," observed Mrs. Merton, "that, as the Medina forms a central line of division across the island from north to south, so there is a central chain of hills which stretches across it from east to west, and cuts off what is called the back of the island from the northern part. Newport is the capital of the whole, and is now the only place in the island which returns members to Parliament; though formerly Newtown, which is a hamlet, and

Yarmouth, which, you know, is only a very small town, returned also two members each."

They now arrived at Newport, and while Mr. Merton was enquiring for his letters, Mrs. Merton informed Agnes that in the school-room of the Free Grammar School of this town, the conferences were held between Charles I. and the Commissioners appointed by Parliament, which lasted forty days, and ended in the determination of the Commissioners to bring that unhappy King to the scaffold.

"Did the Isle of Wight suffer much during the civil war?" asked Agnes.

66

No," replied Mrs. Merton, "but it was remarkable at this period for the heroism displayed by the Countess of Portland, whose husband had been Governor of the Island, and who defended the Castle at Carisbrook against the militia of Newport, who were directed by the Parliament to assail it."

As soon as Mr. Merton had finished his business at Newport, they took the road to East Cowes, following the course of the Medina, and passing by East Cowes Castle on their route. As soon as they arrived at the ferry at East Cowes, the driver hailed the horseferry boat, and Agnes had an opportunity of

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