PLANTS WITH MAN AND ANIMALS. 21 



thpir thighs, others are cutting the rose-leaves or poppy petals* to line their curi- 

 ous habitations, and a strange, yet harmonious, amalgamation of sounds meets 

 the ear. If we look a little closer upon the plants, we shall see sentinels, with red 

 abdomens and quivering antennae, guarding apparently the avenues to the leaves ; 

 these are the ichneumonidte, who are preparing to deposit their parasitical offspring 

 upon the various unfortunate caterpillars their different species assail. Here and 

 there the curious white froth of ihe cicada spumaria appears shrouding the naked 

 insect below. The ants are also upon the alert on the raspberry trees, bearing 

 thence the aphides, that they may i-egale themselves at home on the honey dew 

 these omnivorous feeders supply. All are active and awake ; even the spider 

 bustles about to add new meshes to his web, which the breeze or some rude 

 humble-bee has broken from its hold upon the laburnum tree, and the swift dragon- 

 fly takes a passing glance at the scene as he hurries on to dash around the rushes 

 and purple arrow-heads of his native pond. (P. 101.) 



In parting, we may suggest to Mr. Lees in any future essay of his pen, 

 to adopt less metaphor, and indulge, at all times, very cautiously in its 

 admission ; he will thus secure a still further hold on the reader of taste, 

 and we are persuaded that he will finally admit the truth of our 

 assertion, that his simplest passages are invariably his best. 



STANZAS. 



" The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit : a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou 

 wilt not despise." Psalm li. v. 17. 



"A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench." 



Isaiah xlii. v. 3. 



Deep in my heart — my trembling heart, 



A sacred shrine that none may see. 

 Is rear'd with sweet mysterious art ; 

 And there, when dreams of earth depart, 



My soul bows fervently. 



On that pure shrine is grav'd a name " 



At which the host of darkness flees ; 

 Bright Seraphim its might proclaim, 

 Yet lowly babes lisp forth the same 



At eve on bended knees. 



A broken, contrite heart that woe 



Has stricken and has sorely blench'd, 

 A bruised reed, tost to and fro. 

 And smoking flax whose hidden glow 



Shall not be quench'd. 



These oflf'rings undespis'd I lay 



Upon that shrine of many fears, 

 And He whose mercy and whose sway 

 Are not the shadows of a day, 



** Will dry the Mourner's tears." 



C. 



* "The apis papaveris, or drapery-bee, hangs her apartment with the splendid petals of the 

 poppy, which she cuts out from the half-expanded flowers, and carefully fits them around 

 the walls of her cell ; here she deposits honey and pollen for her young brood, who thus 

 awake to life inabeauteous apartment, surrounded with comforts, when the tender mother 

 who provided it for them is no more." 



