CHAPTER XXII. 



NEW TENANTS AND OLD FRIENDS. 



As I close these reminiscences I find myself wonder- 

 ing on what principle the subjects here presented have 

 been selected ? Somewhat at haphazard, no doubt. 

 I am sure, at least, that the Conversations which 

 I have written out by no means embrace the most 

 interesting material. But where all is so full of in- 

 terest, who will criticise my choice or censure my 

 omissions ? When I look over my notes I see among 

 the themes which engaged us such as these: "The 

 Carpenter's Company " — relating to wood-working in- 

 sects, as the Carpenter ants and bees ; " The Venerable 

 Order of Undertakers," relating to the burrowing 

 beetles and necrophagous insects ; " The Ancient 

 Mariners," who gave us a pleasant evening with water 

 insects; "Living Lamps," such as the lightnhig-bug 

 and glow-worm ; " Insect Pets and Domestic Herds ;" 

 "Kidnappers and Slaves," a story of the slave-mak- 

 ing ants ; " Squatter Sovereignty," the mysterious 

 history of insect parasitism ; " The Tyrant of Two 

 Elements," a history of dragon-flies; "The Summer 

 Tourist's Pest," an account of the musquito and its 

 allies; "The Evolution of a Silk Gown," which can- 

 vassed the life of the silk-worm. These are a few of 

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