162 STUBBORN TENANCY. 



sun at its highest, life on the earth, life in the waters, life 

 in the air, busy and joyous ; and for every single tale of life 

 told by other things, a million are being repeated in the world 

 of insects. 



This is also a season of leases, just expired or just renewed. 

 Some, a week ago, were leaving willingly, some reluctantly, 

 their old abodes, while others (contumacious tenants) are still 

 holding fast upon their roof-trees, laughing at notice, landlord, 

 writ, and bailiff. Now of insects in general, save the bee 

 and the silk-worm, it may certainly be said, according to 

 our motto, that 



" He's his own landlord, his own tenant ; stay 

 Long as he will he dreads no quarter day." 



This, as respects his local habitation ; but if we consider the 

 principle of life as the tenant the outward form the residence 

 held at will of the indulgent landlord the Great Creator of 

 us all, then the tiniest of midges holds, as the greatest of men, 

 a given lease. Regarded thus, the vital spark, or tenant, 

 whose assigned abode is an insect tabernacle, is oftentimes a 

 most difficult spark to put out, a lease-holder as troublesome 

 to eject (we mean, of course, at the bidding of subordinate 

 agents) as the most determined house-clinger that ever baffled 

 bailiff ingenuity. 



It is a fact, proved by observation and experiment, that 

 caterpillars will retain their vitality, and pass through their 

 usual changes, after the congealment of their juices by intense 



