220 NORTH AMERICAN INSECTS. 



open window, and was flying swiftly around the room in 

 search of mosquitoes and other insects. The ladies scream- 

 ed with terror in order to make themselves conspicuous, and 

 the valiant young gentleman, proving himself not only a 

 son of Minerva, but also of Mars, covered his head, and, 

 arming himself with a cane, after some considerable effort 

 succeeded in slaying this monstrum horrendum. He took it 

 up in a paper, and, like Hercules with the lion's skin, car- 

 ried it to his mother as the trophy of his valor and courage. 

 His mamma, of course, with a smile of satisfaction, admired 

 the manly courage of her beloved boy, but at the same time 

 advised him never again to expose his valuable life without 

 the direst necessity. 



How much of useless fear a little knowledge of Natural 

 History would have saved in this case, and how much posi- 

 tive good might be secured to every individual did he but 

 understand the nature and uses of even the insects around 

 him ! In what a different light this same insect appears to 

 one acquainted with its natural history and poetic associa- 

 tions, may be seen from the following extract from a note 

 received from a lady of this country, justly celebrated for 

 her scholastic and dramatic accomplishments, the note be- 

 ing accompanied with a well-preserved and beautiful speci- 

 men of Libellula : " Perhaps he will be nothing new to add 

 to the doctor's collection ; but I had such fine success in 

 putting him into an eternal slumber, by the use of chloro- 

 form, without injury to any of his bodily members, or touch- 

 ing with spoil his delicate implements of locomotion, that I 

 consider him worthy to be handed over as a candidate for 

 immortality by being placed among other monstrosities of 

 the doctor's study. Though called <ye Devil's darning- 

 needle,' I don't really think the devil ever mended with 

 him, for he died a Catholic, as you may perceive if you ex- 

 amine closely. He wears the sign of the cross, enameled 

 in Nature's own handiwork, on his back, just between the 



