2 INSECTS ABUOAI). 



evident reason. They have more work to do. By dint of daily 

 increasing and improving agriculture, and by the rapid growth 

 of population, we have so completely altered the surface of our 

 land, that many species which were formerly abundant have 

 utterly perished, and many others are becoming scarcer 3'ear Ijy 

 year. Insects do not now play nearly so conspicuous a part as 

 they used to do, and in consequence they do not attract the 

 notice of persons unaccustomed to observe. It is otherwise in 

 many other parts of the world, especially those which lie be- 

 tween the tropics; and the natural consequence is, that when 

 inhabitants of more temperate climates travel in hot countries, 

 the insects force themselves upon their attention. 



Unfortunately for science, however, the average traveller never 

 thinks of observing insects for their own sakes, and only takes 

 notice of those which annoy him. Unless they bite him, sting 

 him, spoil his clothes, attack his cattle, or eat his provisions, 

 he passes them by with utter indifference, and seems not to be 

 aware that such creatures as insects exist. As to searching for 

 the work which they, like all created beings have to do in the 

 world, such an idea never enters his mind, and he seems to look 

 upon insects merely as if they were made for the especial pur- 

 pose of being either avoided or destroyed. 



Yet, taking even the many insects which are most trouble- 

 some to travellers, we can see how important are the tasks which 

 they have to perform, and how great is their influence upon the 

 face of Nature. 



Take the first insect of which travellers unite in complaining, 

 the hated and dreaded Mosquito. In its perfect, or winged state, 

 it is about as annoying a creature as can be, but then it must be 

 remembered that the traveller is but a casual intruder in the 

 natural domain of the mosquito, and must expect the conse- 

 quences of his intrusion. Devouring travellers is not the 

 normal occupation of the mosquito, for hundreds of successive 

 generations may live and die, and not one of them ever see a 

 human being. Their real object is a beneficent one. In their 

 larval state they live in the water, and feed upon the tiny 

 particles of decaying matter that are too small to be appreciated 

 by the larger aquatic beings, and, by devouring them, purify the 

 water and convert death into life. Even in our ponds at home, 

 we are much indebted to the gnat larvae for saving us from 



