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a magnifying glass its body glistens like a precious 

 stone, or like burnished golden-green metal ; although 

 this insect is so common it is well worth examination, 

 for its beauty really baffles descrip- 

 tion. Its many faceted eyes and 

 the formation of its feet should also 

 be observed by the student. 



The larder fly (Sarcophaga car- 

 naria) is the largest of the genus, 

 being half an inch in length ; it 

 differs from the other flies in deposit- 

 ing its young alive upon decaying 

 animal and vegetable matter, and, 

 sad to say, it sometimes places its 

 grubs upon living animals. 



Reaumur calculated the number 

 of young produced by one fly of this 

 species to be about 20,000 ; we may 

 therefore imagine how valuable such 

 an insect is in speedily removing 

 decaying substances which would 

 otherwise tend to pollute the air. 



CANARY GRASS (Phalaris 



Canariensis] 



Although bird-keepers are familiar 

 with the canary-seed with which 

 they feed so many of their pets, 

 yet comparatively few people see 

 the canary-grass growing, or even 

 know that there is such a grass. 



I am apt to have a patch of it sown in some of 

 the garden beds every year, as it is a beautiful sea 

 green colour and makes a charming variety with 



