UPHOLSTERER-BEES. 63 



Insects, indeed, are not easily forced to abandon any 

 work which they may have begun. 



The monkish legends tell us that St Francis 

 Xavier, walking one day in a garden, and seeing an 

 insect of the Mantis genus, moving along in its 

 solemn way, holding up its two fore legs as in the 

 act of devotion, desired it to sing the praises of God. 

 The legend adds that the saint immediately heard 

 the insect carol a fine canticle with a loud emphasis. 

 We want no miraculous voice to record the wonders 

 of the Almighty hand, when we regard the insect 

 world. The little rose-leaf cutter, pursuing her work 

 with the nicest mathematical art — using no artificial 

 instruments to form her ovals and her circles — know- 

 ing that the elastic property of the leaves will retain 

 them in their position — making her nest of equal 

 strength throughout, by the most rational adjustment 

 of each distinct part — demands from us something 

 more than mere wonder; for such an exercise of 

 instinctive ingenuity at once directs our admiration 

 to the great Contriver, who has so admirably pro 

 portioned her knowledge to her necessities. 



