32 The Book of Bugs. 



She tries this paper that you soak in a saucer of water 

 and sweeten to taste. The saucers ornament the parlor 

 center table, the sewing- machine, and the shelf over the 

 sink. Total mortality for the week, eight flies. 



She tries sticky fly-paper. That catches a great many 

 at first. It is really good sport to watch, if you are fond 

 of tying firecrackers to dogs and doing up the cat's feet 

 in paper. When the lure is first spread out a fly sees its 

 moist glitter and says to itself: "Taffy! Me for that! 

 I could just live on taffy." He alights. It does not taste 

 as good as it looks. No flavor to it. He thinks he might 

 as well go somewhere else. 



' Oh, stay awhile! " says the fly-paper. 

 " No," says the fly. " I got a date with a feller. Let 

 go." 



'Oh, what's your hurry?" coaxes the fly-paper. 



' Quit your foolin'," commands the fly. ' I gotta go. 

 Let go now ! ' The fly is getting angry, but the paper 

 preserves its temper. 



' Oh, I wouldn't be in a rush ! You got all the time 

 they is." 



1 Leggo now ! Leggo o' me ! Leggo ! Teacher ! 

 Make him let me be ! ' And then it begins to scream and 

 fight. It is most entertaining to watch the tragedy, if you 

 are of a vindictive and revengeful spirit. The poor 

 creature struggles and struggles, each effort bringing 

 nearer the moment when it shall sink to rise no more. 

 The humans giggle greedily. " Christians to the lions ! ' 

 cried the mob in Nero's day. ' Flies to the sticky 

 paper ! " cry the moderns. One poor fellow near the edge 

 with supermuscan strength drags himself free to the plain 

 paper, and as he pauses for breath ere he can plume his 

 gummy wings for flight, Kenneth catches him and thrusts 

 him back into his doom. 



