APPEARANCE OF SPRING. 63 



are unable to clear up the difficulties of a natural 

 history question like this, although we cannot 

 explain, we are not prohibited from admiring, and 

 can clearly perceive, that in thus endowing the 

 eggs of insects with a self-preservative power, 

 God has manifested his wisdom and forethought ; 

 for had it been otherwise, the lapse of a few seasons 

 would have depopulated the insect world, leaving 

 us, it is true, without a gnat or a mosquito to 

 annoy us, but also without a silk-worm, or a bee, 

 to supply us with the precious products of insect 

 industry. 



The frosts have disappeared, the air brightens, 

 the sun loses its pale aspect, and glows with a 

 more golden face. The days lengthen, the breeze 

 has lost its penetrating chilliness, gentle showers 

 descend and water the earth, and there is a general 

 voice heard all over creation, " Spring has come!" 

 The eggs of a thousand insect species have already 

 perceived its presence, and the newly-awakened 

 beings within hasten to welcome it by bursting 

 from the shell, their long occupied, but now for ever 

 forsaken dwelling-place. Sometimes the young 

 larva bursts through the thin walls of the shell 

 by main force, or eats its way through by means 



