THE LADYBIRD. 



THE ladybird occupies among insects a position very 

 similar to that held by the robin among birds, and 

 is similarly protected by a feeling akin to superstition. It 

 must be owned that the robin has no peculiar claims upon 

 the affection of man, on the grounds of benefits bestowed. 

 It sings prettily, but there are many birds which surpass it 

 in this respect ; it has a friendly confidence in man, but not 

 more so than has the sparrow ; it can scarcely be considered 

 to hold very high rank among the birds that render man vital 

 services by acting as exterminators of the pests of the fields 

 and gardens, and, indeed, it takes an ample toll of seed 

 and fruit for any service it may do in the way of destroying 

 insects. The jay's bright feathers do not afford it protection 

 from the keeper's gun, and the patch of red on the breast 

 of the robin would scarcely in itself account for the general 

 feeling in its favour. Nor would the pretty markings on 

 the back of the ladybird, for there are many more brilliant 

 and showy insects ; and the affection and kindly treatment 

 which it receives, even from children, can hardly be ex- 

 plained, save as an instinct implanted by nature in the 

 human breast, as a protection for one of his greatest friends 

 and allies. Next, perhaps, to the ichneumon, the ladybird 



