" TIGERS TO INSECTS." 409 



which forms a part of their mouth. Need we say 

 these are the butterflies ? The fly loves a grain of 

 sugar, or a savoury joint of meat : and to other 

 insects, to use a quotation of Mr. Spence's, which 

 prefer the paper of our Atlases, or maps, 



" a river and a sea 



Are a dish of tea, 



And a kingdom bread and butter." 



A large number also are carnivorous creatures : 

 need we mention the spider-tribe? a name of terror 

 to myriads of our summer insect-friends. The 

 beautiful cicindelce, called by Linnaeus the " tigers 

 to insects," prey upon the whole insect race, and 

 are endowed with powers of offence and destruc- 

 tion, to a degree sufficient fully to justify this 

 title. In France, we are told, the butchers 

 are very glad to have wasps attend their stalls ; 

 since they drive away, and undoubtedly prey 

 upon, the numerous flies which frequent these 

 places. The larger species of ants are equally 

 ferocious, attacking any small soft-bodied insect 

 they may meet with, and when killed dragging it 

 to their nest. The beautiful lady-birds, which we 

 look upon with so much tenderness, remember- 

 ing the ditty, 



