An Unknown Sense 



Ing of a balsam-border from danger. But 

 there is need here for recommendations. 

 None would dream of destroying the pretty 

 Wasp who goes fluttering nimbly from one 

 path to the other, who visits this corner of 

 the garden, then that, then the next, then the 

 one over there; none dreams either — and 

 none, unfortunately, can dream — of assist- 

 ing her to multiply. 



In the immense majority of cases, the in- 

 sect evades our influence : to exterminate it, 

 if it be harmful, to propagate it, if it be use- 

 ful, are impracticable undertakings for us. 

 By a singular contrast of strength and weak- 

 ness, man cuts through the neck of continents 

 to join two seas, he pierces the Alps, he 

 weighs the sun; and yet he cannot prevent a 

 wretched maggot from enjoying his cherries 

 before he himself does, nor an odious Louse 

 from destroying his vines ! The Titan is 

 vanquished by the pigmy. 



Now we have here, in this insect-world, an 

 auxiliary of high merit, the supreme foe of 

 our grievous foe the Grey Worm. Can we 

 do anything to stock our fields and gardens 

 with it at will? We cannot; for the first 

 condition of multiplying the Ammophila 

 would be to multiply the Grey Worm, the 

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