Thrijjs Ulicis (magnified). 



CHAPTER IX. 



PHYSOPODA. 



In examining attentively the flowers of the common 

 Furze^ from their first appearance in early spring 

 until the last of these golden ornaments is fading 

 from our heaths and commons^ we are sure to see 

 some little black lines^ measuring about a twelfth of 

 an inch in lengthy scattered in greater or less pro- 

 fusion upon the bright yellow petals. These, how- 

 ever, constitute no part of the flower, as we soon 

 perceive by their active movements ; and on picking 

 one or two of the ]}lossoms we find that the little 

 moving lines are small black insects, of a delicate 

 and slender form, which run very quickly, and not 

 unfrequently escape from our examination by a sudden 

 spring. These minute insects may serve us as exam- 



f 



