MY CORYDALU8. 145 



What is the reason insects care so much for 

 prickly things? To be sure, it is very well for 

 them to do so, as the prickly plants are often 

 those that are called " weeds " by men, and that 

 are considered obnoxious. Surely it is better that 

 caterpillars should feed on them than on culti- 

 vated crops. Still, one cannot but reflect that 

 there are many weeds that do not have spines, 

 and one wishes that caterpillars would be satisfied 

 with them. But the bug-hunter must not capture 

 caterpillars unless he expects to get them their 

 usual food. 



Yet, when one possesses a caterpillar that de- 

 sires to make a repast on spiny thistles, one is apt 

 to have a slight bond of sympathy with that his- 

 toric gentleman mentioned by Mother Goose : 



" Simple Simon went to look 

 If plums grew on a thistle ; 

 He pricked his fingers very much, 

 Which made poor Simon whistle." 



When a person is bringing up a number of cat- 

 erpillars that feed on nettles, with a family of 

 bugs that demand blackberry leaves, that person's 

 fingers are likely to pass into a state of prick al- 

 most unendurable. I know whereof I speak, for 

 have I not gone with blistered finger-ends to feed 

 my unsatiated caterpillars more nettles? It is 

 cheering, when in such a plight, to remember that 

 old writers used to recommend stinging with net- 

 tles " to let out melancholy." 



