INSECT EGGS. 29 



of Insect eggs destined to emerge into life, almost simulta- 

 neously with the opening of the adjacent leaves sure to be in 

 readiness for the infant Caterpillars. In this, who can say that 

 Insect eggs are objects too small for admiration, whilst they 

 are, besides, both curious and pretty on account of their variety 

 of arrangement, shape, colour and sculpture, yes, for the 

 design of their sculptured patterns. We do not magnify, as you 

 may prove by placing the next you find beneath a magnifier. 



Now, all ye idle dwellers in pleasant places (for to you 

 especially we address ourselves), what say you to our hobby ? 

 Our Horse of Enchantment, which, like the Brazen one of 

 Fairy Tale, and unlike most other hobbies of real life, has yet 

 the further merit of costing nothing for its keep. " Why, 

 master Cricket, ' responds perhaps one of our pursuitless 

 plodders, or a busy wight among the already mounted ; " we 

 have yawned over the catalogue of thy favourite's excellencies, 

 and after all, the most we can admit in favour of thy hack 

 is, simply, that it seems to suit its rider. Thou hast painted 

 it indeed with prodigious pinions, and dost prate finely of 

 being carried up and down, and hither and thither, on thy 

 boasted Bucephalus ; yet do we still set it down, even on thy 

 own showing, as of all steeds most mincing, tame, and quiet, 

 fit only for the riding of a child or of a sexagenarian ; just the 

 thing, therefore, for a man such as thou, master Cricket, hast 

 figured thyself to be, a retired gentleman of exceeding light 

 weight (except in the scale of entomological society), thy winter 



