a
small spring at the root of the tree."

"Perhaps there is," said I, searching carefully round the spot in all
directions; but I found nothing to indicate the presence of a spring--
and, indeed, when I came to think of it, if there had been a spring
there would also certainly have been a water-course leading from it.
But such was not the case. Presently I observed a drop of water fall
into the pool, and looking up, discovered that it fell from a cluster of
insects that clung to a branch close over our heads.

I at once recognised this water-distilling insect as an old
acquaintance. I had seen it before in England, although of a
considerably smaller size than this African one. My companion also
seemed to be acquainted with it, for he exclaimed--

"Ho! I know the fellow. He's what we used at home to call a
`frog-hopper' after he got his wings, and a `cuckoo-spit' before that
time; but these ones are six times the size of ours."

I was aware that there was some doubt among naturalists as to whence
these insects procured the water they distilled. My own opinion,
founded on observations made at this time, led me to think the greater
part of the moisture is derived from the atmosphere, though, possibly,
some of it may be procured by suction from the trees. I afterwards paid
several visits to this tree, and found, by placing a vessel beneath
them, that these insects distilled during a single night as much as
three or four pints of water!

Turning from this interesting discovery, we were about to continue our
walk, when we observed a buffalo bull feeding in the open plain, not
more than five or six hundred yards off from us.

"Ha! Ralph, my boy," cried Peterkin enthusiastically, "here is metal
more attractive! Follow me; we must make a detour in order to get to
leeward of him."

We set off at a brisk pace, and I freely confess that, although the
contemplation of the curious processes of the water-distilling insect
afforded me deeper and more lasting enjoyment, the gush of excitement
and eagerness that instantly followed the discovery of the wild buffalo
bull enabled me thoroughly to understand the feeling that leads men--
especially the less contemplative among them--infinitely to prefer the
pleasures of the chase to the calmer joys attendant upon the study of
natural history.

At a later period that evening I had a discussion with my companions on
that subject, when I stood up for the pursuit of scientific