FROGS, BOYS, AND OTHER SMALL DEER. 199 



them run over the twigs and leaves of plants 

 safely so as to find the Aphides. In Europe the 

 gardeners hunt for the Giants, or, as they are 

 more usually called the " Aphis-Lions," and put 

 them on trees that are overrun with Aphides. 

 No doubt the Giants are delighted with such at- 

 tention. The trees are soon cleaned if enough of 

 the Aphis-Lions are found. 



It was necessary to paste paper over the top of 

 the jelly -glass in which I kept the Giants, or else 

 their lively food might have run away. But it 

 became quite a task to hunt enough aphides for 

 the GiantSo Their appetites were very good. 

 Rose-bush after rose-bush did I search, and some- 

 times I found what I wanted on wild mallow 

 plants. The Giants grew finely, and each devel- 

 oped a red line on his back. 



One day I gave my Giants an extra good din- 

 ner. I had found a little rose-bush in one corner 

 of the yard that I had forgotten, and it was cov- 

 ered on its fresh ends with hundreds of Aphides. 

 I captured a great number and put them in with 

 the Giants. 



Next day I looked to see if more were needed, 

 but I could see plenty through the glass. The 

 next day things were the same, and the next 

 day after that I began to wonder what was the 

 matter with my Giants' appetites. So I poked a 

 hole in the paper and opened the jelly-glass. The 

 liberated Aphides came out rejoicing, but where 

 were the Giants ? 



