52 IN THE DAYS OF AUDUBON 



was in on hearing it, and leaning his basket on an old 

 trunk, listened with all the enthusiasm of rapture. He 

 then, at our request, presented us with a sight of the herbs 

 he had been collecting, and entertained us with a narrative 

 of the discoveries he had made in his frequent researches 

 through the vale, ' which,' said he, ' contains treasures that 

 few know the value of.' 



" Seeing us pleased with this discourse, he launched forth 

 into a more particular account of the vegetables, reptiles, 

 wild beasts, and insects that frequented the place, and with 

 much judgment explained their various properties. ' Were 

 it not/ says he, ' for the innumerable millions of insects, 

 I believe dead carcasses and other putrid substances might 

 have dreadful effects; but no sooner does a carcass begin to 

 grow putrid than these insects, led by the smell, flock to the 

 place, and there deposit their eggs, which in a few days pro- 

 duce such a number of maggots that the carcass is soon 

 consumed. While they are thus employed below, the 

 parent flies are no less busy in devouring the noxious 

 vapors that incessantly ascend; thus the air by these insects 

 is kept sweet and pure, till the storms of winter render their 

 existence unnecessary, and at once destroy them. And 

 Heaven, that has formed nothing in vain, exhibits these 

 things for our contemplation, that we may adore that all- 

 bounteous Creator who makes even the most minute and 

 seemingly destructive creatures subservient to the good 

 of man.' 



