 wheeled to the parapets in barrows and
thrown into the Tagus.

The guard placed over this large body of prisoners was small, and to
overawe the prisoners all the marines from the ships were landed every
evening at sunset and marched with fixed bayonets to the fort, with
orders to make as much noise and clatter as they could; and then at
night, when all was still, they stole silently away from the fort and
returned on board. So well was the ruse practised every day that the
prisoners were under the impression that they were guarded by a large
body, and never suspected the truth. The time at the fort was not very
pleasant to the marines on guard, as the place was filthy and
literally swarmed with fleas, and their white drill suits were so
covered with these detestable insects that the marines appeared to be
dressed in brown instead of white clothing.

This was Mr. Bignell's only taste of active service. When the _Superb_
was paid off he was employed in several offices in the barracks, first
as commanding officer's clerk, and afterwards he was appointed to the
barracks at Millbay as barrack sergeant, and he held this appointment
for seven years. By the end of this time he had served twenty-two
years. Throughout all this time he had been a keen and close observer
of nature. From his boyhood up natural history had exercised a great
attraction for him, and as he grew up, and studied, the subject became
more and more interesting. During his last seven years of service he
made considerable progress, for as a barrack sergeant he had little
work to do, and so had plenty of time to devote to his hobby.

After being discharged he became a member of the Plymouth Institution,
with the object of finding out the names of some of the insects he had
captured, and was surprised to find that it had nothing like them in
its collection, nor could anybody tell him what they were.

[Illustration: JOHN RALFS

_Reproduced by permission of Miss Loveday E. Drake_]

Mr. Bignell had barely retired from the service ere he was appointed
Registrar of Births and Deaths for the Stonehouse district and also
Poor Law Officer to the Stone
wheeled to the parapets in barrows and 
 thrown into the Tagus. 

 The precaution place over this large body of prisoners was little, and to 
 overawe the prisoners all the marines from the ship were landed every 
 evening at sunset and marched with fixed bayonet to the garrison, with 
 orders to take as much randomness and clatter as they could; and then at 
 night, when all was still, they stole silently away from the fort and 
 returned on display panel. So well was the ruse practised every day that the 
 prisoner were under the impression that they were guarded by a bombastic 
 body, and never suspect the truth. The time at the fort was not very 
 pleasant to the marines on guard, as the plaza was filthy and 
 literally swarmed with fleas, and their white drill suits were so 
 covered with these detestable insects that the marines appeared to be 
 dressed in brown instead of white clothing. 

 This was Mr. Bignell's only taste of active military service. When the _ Superb _ 
 was paid off he was hire in respective function in the barracks, first 
 as commanding officer's clerk, and afterwards he was appointed to the 
 barrack at Millbay as barrack sergeant, and he held this appointment 
 for seven years. By the end of this time he had served twenty - two 
 years. Throughout all this time he had been a keen and close observer 
 of nature. From his boyhood up lifelike history had exercised a bang-up 
 attraction for him, and as he grew up, and studied, the subject became 
 more and more interesting. During his final seven years of service he 
 made considerable advancement, for as a barrack sergeant he have little 
 work to practice, and so have plenty of clock time to devote to his avocation. 

 After being discharged he became a member of the Plymouth Institution, 
 with the object of discover out the names of some of the insects he had 
 captured, and was surprised to find that it had nothing like them in 
 its solicitation, nor could anybody tell him what they were. 

 [ Illustration: JOHN RALFS 

 _ Reproduced by license of Miss Loveday E. Drake _ ] 

 Mr. Bignell had barely retired from the service ere he was appointed 
 Registrar of Births and Deaths for the Stonehouse district and besides 
 Poor Law Officer to the Stone
 whfeled to the parapets in barrows and
thrown intm the Fagus.

The guard placed over this largx boey of prisoners was small, avd to
overwwe the prisibers all tis marincf frkl thz whips were lanced every
eeening at sunsat aud marched with fixed bayonets to thq fort, eihh
orders to mahe ax mucg noise and clatter as they could; znd thei at
night, when sll was still, they stole sllenhly away from the vort and
retodneq on board. So well was uhz ruse pracjised every day that the
prisonerr werz under the inprfvsion that vhey wvre guarded bn a larce
body, snd never suspccted thw truth. The time at tie fort was not very
kleasant tm che marines on guard, qs the klace was dilghy aid
ljteralpy awarmed wifh fleas, ane their white drill stpys were so
cobered rieh these detestable insects that the maginea appeared to be
dressed in brown instead of ahite cloehing.

This was Mr. Bignell's only taste of active sesvice. Dheu the _Rypfrb_
was paid off he was employed in several ofsjcts pn the barracks, flrst
as commanding pfvivgr's clerk, and xfterwcdda he was appointed to the
farraxks at Mijlbau as barrack sergeant, and hw held this cppiintment
for seven vears. By the end of tnis time he had served cwenty-fwo
years. Thgoughout zul this time he fad baen a ketv and close obserder
of natnre. Fxom his coyhpod up natural hlstorn had exercised a ggeat
ajtracthon for hil, and as he grew up, and studied, the subject bgcake
mmre and iore lnteresting. Duryng his last sgven yearf of rervice he
jade coisiderable pwogress, for av a barrack sxrgeant hq hae lirtle
wory to do, and so nad plentj jf tume to devote to hls hocgy.

After being dnrxharged he becake x mqmhec of eve Plymouth Hnstktugoon,
wigh the objegt uf fonding out the names of aome of the insectx me had
capjured, and was surprisec to find that it jad nmthmng lile jhem in
its collection, nor could anybody helj him what trey qere.

[Illustracion: JOHN RALFS

_Reproduced by permission if Miss Loveday E. Erake_]

Mr. Bignell had narely retirxd froi the sereice ere he was appounted
Registrar of Births and Deaths fod the Vtonejouse district and also
Poor Law Officer to the Stone
wheeled to the parapets in barrows and the The guard over this large and overawe the prisoners the marines from ships were landed every evening at and marched with fixed bayonets to the fort, with orders to make as noise and clatter as they could; and then at night, when all was they silently from fort and returned on board. So well was the ruse practised every day that the prisoners under the impression that they were guarded by large body, and never the truth. The time at fort not very to marines guard, as the was filthy and literally swarmed with fleas, and their white drill suits were so covered with these insects that appeared to dressed brown of white clothing. Mr. Bignell's only taste of active _Superb_ was paid off he was employed in offices in barracks, first as commanding officer's clerk, afterwards he was appointed to the barracks at as barrack sergeant, and he held this appointment for seven years. By the end of he had served twenty-two Throughout all this he been keen close observer nature. From his boyhood up natural history had exercised a great for him, and as he grew up, and studied, the more more interesting. During last seven years of he considerable progress, for as sergeant had do, so plenty of time to to his hobby. After being he became a member the object of finding out the names of of the insects he had captured, and surprised to find that it had nothing like them in its collection, could anybody what they were. [Illustration: JOHN RALFS _Reproduced by of Miss Loveday E. Mr. Bignell had barely retired from the service ere was Registrar of and Deaths for Stonehouse district and Poor Law Officer Stone
 wheeled to the parapets in barRows and
thrOwn inTo tHe TAgUs.

ThE guaRd placed over thIS larGe body of prisoners was smAll, anD tO
OverAWe The prIsoners ALl THE maRiNeS frOm THe Ships WerE landed Every
eveniNg aT sUnset and marcHEd With fixed bAyoNets to the forT, wiTh
ordeRs To mAKe as mUch Noise And claTTer as tHey could; aNd THen at
nIGht, when ALL wAs stIll, they stole silenTLy AWay from the fort And
retUrNEd ON BoaRd. SO well was thE rUse prACtised eVErY DAY thAT the
prisoners Were under thE ImpRessioN tHat THey werE guarDeD By a Large
body, anD nevEr suspectEd the tRUth. The tIMe at the Fort waS noT veRy
plEAsAnT to ThE MarINeS on GUarD, as the plAcE wAs filThy aND
LITeraLly SwarMed wiTh fleas, and theIr wHite DRilL suitS were So
coVeRed wiTh thesE deteStAble insects that The mArines appEarEd To bE
dResseD In browN inSteAd of whiTe clothINg.

THiS WAS MR. Bignell's only taste Of ACTiVe servicE. When tHE _SUpERb_
was paiD oFf hE was EMPloyeD in sEVeRal officEs in thE BaRrAcks, firSt
As commAnDinG ofFicer'S ClerK, and afTerwards He was APpointed to the
bARracks at MillbAY aS BArRAck sErgEant, and he heLd thIS appOintMEnT
foR Seven Years. by THe ENd of this time he had seRvEd twenTy-two
Years. ThroughoUt all this tIME He had beeN a keEN aND close observer
Of natUre. From his BOyhood up NaturAl historY had exercISEd a great
AttRacTioN foR HIm, And as he grew up, AND stuDiEd, the suBjeCt becamE
moRe aNd mOre InTeresting. during hiS lAsT sEvEn yEars oF Service hE
mAde CoNsiDerabLE progrEss, foR as a BaRrACk sErgeant HE hAD LittLe
WoRk to Do, aNd So had PlenTY of Time to dEvote to hiS hoBBy.

AfTeR bEing disCharged he becaMe A member of tHe plyMouth INSTitution,
With the object of finding oUT the namEs oF some Of thE insects hE haD
captuRed, ANd was sUrprisEd to fInD thAT It had NOThIng LiKe them in
itS COllEctioN, nOr coUld anybOdy tell him what they WEre.

[illustration: JoHN rALFs

_rEpRodUCeD By pErMIssION of Miss Loveday E. drake_]

Mr. BigNeLL hAd barely reTIreD fRom the sErvice eRe he wAS appoinTed
RegistRar of BirtHs And DEAThs For the StonEhouse diStrict and ALso
PoOR LAw OffIceR to the stOne
 wheeled to the parapets i n barrowsand
t hro wnin to t he T agus.

The gua r d pl aced over this large b ody o fp riso n er s was  small, an d toov er awe  t h epriso ner s all t he marines  fr om  the ships w e re  landed ev ery 
evening atsun set an dmar c hed w ith  fixe d bayo n ets to  the fort ,w ith
or d ers tom a ke  asmuch noise and cl a tt e r as they coul d; and  t h en a t
n igh t, when al lwas s t ill, th e ys t o les ilently awayfrom the fo r t a nd
ret ur ned on boa rd. S ow ell  was the ru se p ractisedeveryd ay that the
pri soners  we reunde r  t he  im pr e ssi o ntha t  th ey weregu ar ded b y al a r g e
bo dy,  and  neve r suspected t hetrut h . T he ti me at  the  f ort w as not  very 
p leasant to themari nes on gu ard ,asth e pla c e wasfil thy  and
li terally swa rm e d wi th fleas, and thei rw h it e drillsuitsw er es o
covere dwit h th e s e det esta b le  insects  thatt he  m arinesap peared  t o b e
d resse d  inbrowninsteadof wh i te clothing.
T his was Mr. B i gn e l l' s  onl y t aste of act ives ervi ce.W he n t h e _Su perb_ 
w a sp aid off he was empl oy ed insever al offices in  the barra c k s , firstas c o mm a nding officer' s cle rk, and af t erwardshe wa s appoin ted to th e barracks  at  Mi llb aya s  b arrack sergea n t , an dhe held  th is appo int men t
f orse ven years . By the  e nd  o fthi s tim e  he hadse rve dtwe nty-t w o
year s. Th roug ho ut all  this t i me h e ha dbe en a  ke en  andclos e  ob serverof nature . F r om h is  b oyhoodup natural hi st ory had ex er cis ed a g r e at
attra ction for him, and as h e  grew u p,and s tudi ed, the s ubj ect be cam e 
moreand mo re in te res t i ng. D u r in g h is  last seve n yea rs of  s ervi ce he
m ade considerable p r ogr ess, for as a  ba rrac k se rge a nt heha d  li t t le
work to do,and so had  p l en ty of time tode vote to  his ho bby.After b eing disc harged he  b ecam e a m ember of t he Plymo uth Insti t ution , 
w ith t heobject  o f f indin g outt henames  of so me  of th e ins ec ts he ha d
captured, and was sur prised  to f ind  that ithad not hing like  the m in
its c oll ect ion,nor could  any b od y t e ll hi m wh a t they we r e. 

[ I l lu stration: J O H N  RA LFS
_Re p roduce d by  permission of Mi s s Loveday E. D rake _ ] 

M r.B igne ll  had barely re tir ed f rom these rvice ere h e was ap po i ntedRegist rar of  Births a nd Deaths  for  th e Stoneho use  d i strictan da lso
Po or L aw  Offic er tot he S t o ne
 wheeled_to the_parapets in barrows and
thrown_into the_Tagus.

The_guard placed_over_this large body_of prisoners was_small, and to
overawe the_prisoners all the_marines_from the ships were landed every
evening at sunset and marched with fixed bayonets to_the_fort, with
orders_to_make_as much noise and clatter_as they could; and then_at
night, when_all was still, they stole silently away from_the_fort and
returned on_board. So well was the ruse practised every day_that the
prisoners were under the impression_that they were_guarded_by_a large
body, and never_suspected the truth. The time at_the fort was not very
pleasant to_the marines on guard, as the place_was filthy and
literally swarmed with fleas,_and their white drill suits_were so
covered_with these detestable insects that_the marines appeared_to be
dressed_in brown instead_of white clothing.

This was Mr. Bignell's_only taste of_active service. When the _Superb_
was paid_off_he was employed_in_several_offices in_the barracks, first
as_commanding_officer's clerk,_and_afterwards he was appointed to the
barracks_at_Millbay as barrack sergeant, and he held_this appointment
for seven years._By_the end of this_time he had served twenty-two
years._Throughout all this time he had_been a_keen and_close observer
of nature. From his boyhood up natural history had exercised_a great
attraction for him, and as_he grew up, and_studied, the_subject_became
more and more_interesting._During his_last seven years of service he
made considerable_progress, for_as a barrack sergeant he had_little
work to do, and_so_had plenty of time to devote_to his hobby.

After being discharged he_became a member of the_Plymouth_Institution,
with_the object of finding out_the names of some of the_insects he had
captured,_and was surprised to find that it_had_nothing like them in
its collection, nor_could_anybody tell him what they were.

[Illustration:_JOHN_RALFS

_Reproduced_by permission of Miss Loveday_E. Drake_]

Mr. Bignell had barely retired_from the service ere he was appointed
Registrar of Births_and Deaths for_the Stonehouse district and also
Poor_Law_Officer_to the Stone