5 6 LETTERS TO MARCO ix 



growth is very seldom attacked ; when some- 

 thing ails the plant the aphis is sure to be 

 attracted to it. In the same way snails and 

 slugs greatly prefer those parts of a plant 

 that are in semi-decay, thus acting in their 

 legitimate capacity of scavengers, though no 

 doubt at times they will eat healthy growing 

 things, especially in dry weather, just as birds 

 eat fruit in the hot weather when their ordi- 

 nary food is scarce ; but as a general rule 

 the slug and snail live chiefly on decaying 

 vegetation. 



The fact is, the general balance of power 

 is well kept if Nature is not interfered with ; 

 but if once you begin shooting bullfinches, 

 you scare away the robins and tits, thereby 

 allowing the lacquey and ermine moth an 

 undue advantage. 



I confess I do not like to hear of a brother 

 artist who prefers a pint or two more of 

 gooseberries or plums in his inside, or the 

 threepence the fruit would produce in his 

 pocket, to the sweet companionship of the 



