UPHOLSTERER-BEES. 53 



exactly circular, that a pair of compasses could not define 

 their margin with more accuracy. In this manner the 

 industrious and ingenious upholsterer proceeds till the 

 whole gallery is filled, the convex extremity of the one 

 fitting into the open end of the next, and serving both as a 

 basis and as the means of strengthening it. If, by any 

 accident, the labour of these insects is interrupted or the 

 edifice deranged, they exhibit astonishing perseverance in 

 setting it again to rights. 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 imme- 

 diately 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 — knowing 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 proportioned 

 her knowledoie to her necessities. 



