142 NORTH AMERICAN INSECTS. 



where myriads of Grasshoppers dwell in the height of 

 their glory, and nothing green is spared their rapa- 

 cious jaws. 



It is a matter of congratulation, therefore, and an 

 evidence of the wisdom of that gracious rule of com- 

 pensation, that our gardens, fields, meadows and woods 

 are peopled with snakes and other reptiles which feed 

 mostly upon these destructive insects. When there- 

 for we look with terror on the crawling serpents and 

 the croaking frogs, and are tempted to wish their 

 number less, it is because in their hideous forms we 

 lose sight of their benevolent use ; we forget the in- 

 exorable decree that has fixed the circle of dependence 

 as the order of all created things ; we forget that all 

 must die that others may live ; we think not of the 

 hosts of Birds' such as Heron, Bittern &c, who feed most- 

 ly upon reptiles and thereby render a superabundance 

 of the latter impossible ; we consider not that these 

 very birds must yield themselves up as food for man, 

 and last of all, that man in his turn must die and also 

 be devoured by insects ! Aye ! and still more we for- 

 get what the open page of nature clearly shows us, 

 that the moment we begin to live, we also begin to 

 die, and that even while we live in all the pride of 

 health we are the constant, daily food of the most 

 despised insects ! 



But, ( the Grasshopper, although neither large nor 

 terrific in its appearance, has a curious and a wonder- 



