NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



persecutes, and in the front rank of which are the 

 birds. Yet, strange to say, Man, who claims by reason 

 of his mental superiority to be the Lord of the earth, 

 is either directly or indirectly destroying the creatures 

 which the all-wise Creator has provided to help him 

 in his struggle for food and life against the most 

 formidable of his enemies — the insects and their near 

 relations, which, although not true insects in a scientific 

 sense, are popularly grouped as such. 



" What ! would you rather see the incessant stir 

 Of insects in the windrows of the hay, 

 And hear the locust and the grasshopper 



Their melancholy hurdy-gurdies play ? 

 Is this more pleasant to you than the whirr 



Of meadow lark and her sweet roundelay, 

 Or twitter of little field-fares, as you take 



Your nooning in the shade of bush and brake ? " 



Longfellow. 



Man, who claims to be guided by an educated 

 intellect, deliberately attacks his allies instead of acting 

 in co-operation with and safeguarding them in every 

 way in his power. Lack of the right kind of knowledge 

 is undoubtedly the tap root of the evil. Boys and 

 girls leave school knowing little or nothing at all about 

 the Natural History of the country in which they 

 dwell. A few pick up some knowledge of the ways 

 and habits of the lower forms of life, but the vast 

 majority go forth to persecute and slay the creatures 

 which are striving to make the lot of man a brighter 

 and happier one. Nay, more ! they are making it 



