London Insects. 133 



The infant members of colonies of Bees and Ants 

 are, as we all know, fed by their elders. But it is 

 never the actual mother who does the work. With 

 few if any known exceptions, Fleas and Earwigs are 

 the only common English insects which feed their 

 own young themselves, and of the two the smaller 

 is perhaps the more deserving of praise, for she, on 

 her foraging raids, risks her life in a way which an 

 Earwig never needs to do. There are only two 

 allusions in the Bible to Fleas. Both are in David's 

 appeals to Saul, and are suggestive, not of any evil- 

 doing, but only of the miserable hunted life, without 

 a moment's peace and quiet, which the poor things 

 lead. But even with this much to be said in its 

 favour the Flea is an unsavoury subject to write about. 



Of the other prominent division of the wingless 

 insects, one individual has immortalised himself the 

 " u gly> creepin' wonner " which Burns once saw in 

 church, "struntin ower gauze and lace," to 



" The vera tapmost, towrin' height 

 O' Miss's bonnet." 



But with this almost solitary exception, the family, 

 " Detested, shunn'd by saunt and sinner," 



is unmentionable, and, in spite even of Mosquitos and 

 Gnats, it is a relief to pass on to the next order the 

 " two wings." 



Any Londoner who likes may find ample material 

 for a history of one typical family of the two wings 

 the " Daddy Longlegs " without any greater 

 physical exertion than an occasional stroll into any 

 of the parks in the late summer. Once there, he will 

 not have occasion to move his chair many yards. 

 They are, especially in warm sunshiny days, when 



