70 INSECT LIFE 



astonishment of the naturalist from whatever 

 point of view he has examined this part of 

 their economy whether he considered the 

 perfection of their movements, the wonder- 

 ful minuteness of the parts moved, or the 

 strength, persistence, or velocity of their con- 

 tractions. 



It is true that some insects do a great 

 deal of damage, but there are others that 

 confer additional life, gaiety, and beauty to 

 the landscape. But is it not a wonderful 

 law of Nature that restricts the dimensions 

 of an insect within certain bounds ? The 

 ravages committed by them now are trifling 

 and insignificant in comparison with what 

 they could do if they were allowed to attain 

 to a large growth, and still possessed the 

 extraordinary powers with which they are so 

 conspicuously gifted. They could exterminate 

 all that the earth contains of vegetable and 

 animal life ! 



Kymer Jones tells us that the dragon-fly 

 possesses such indomitable strength of wing 

 that for a day together it will sustain itself 



