266 LASTREA SPINOSA AND L. MULTIFI.ORA. [StptembeVy 



The Umbelliferce, how conveniently designed, so that from the 

 little midge up to the larger Lepidoptera may conveniently come 

 and feed ! Then, aftervi^ards, the various species of Rubi come 

 into flower, an ample supply to all the hymenopterous, coleopte- 

 rous and dipterous insects. The coleopterous feed much upon 

 the pollen. 



It is not the flower that yields all the food for the insect tribes. 

 There is another source from whence they procure an ample 

 supply, provided for them by their benign Creator. I allude to 

 the countless millions of the several species of Aphides, infesting 

 every species of plant during the summer months, converting 

 the crude juices of every species, either malignant or benign, 

 into the melliferous substance honey. This may be called the 

 chemistry of vegetation, — the little Aphides the operators, super- 

 intended by the mighty Alchemist. Those little operators are 

 constantly attended by all the insect tribes, grateful recipients 

 of their bounty, who caress them with affection, particularly the 

 Formica tribes. 



We ought to have more compassion on all those our fellow- 

 tenants of this earth, more particularly when we observe the pro- 

 vident care and kindness of that Being on whose suff'erance all 

 things exist. Therefore the study of natural history would render 

 mankind more amiable and less selfish, and add much to his 

 earthly happiness. 



When man is happy he is amiable. George Jorden. 



Bewdley, July 2Uh, 1859. 



LASTREA SPINOSA AND L. MULTIFLORA, Newm. 

 By A. Jerdon. 



Though tolerably conversant with the Ferns of this district, I 

 was not aware until lately, that Lastrea spinosa, Newm. [L. spi- 

 nulosa, Presl), occurred here. Indeed I was disposed to regard 

 the species as a very doubtful one, supposing it to be a mere va- 

 riety of L. multiflora, Newm. {L. dilatata of authors) . 



About the middle of last month (June), whilst walking in an 

 open, heathy fir-plantation, I observed in several places, inter- 

 mixed with Lastrea multiflora, L. Filix-mas, and Athyrium Filix- 

 fmnina, a Fern which struck me as different from any I had seen 



