LOVES OF THE INSECTS. 303 



translatcclj revised, and edited the well-known 

 French author, Alphonse Karr's ' Tour round my 

 Garden,' has not taken great liberties with the 

 matter he had in hand, I feel disposed to rebel 

 furiously against the French action as imputed 

 to men in regard to '^ making love." 



But let us quote the exact words, as revised, and, 

 perhaps, altered by the reverend gentleman, Mr. 

 Wood ; and for myself let me, at least, hoj^e that 

 if he (Mr. Wood) is married, he neither forced 

 himself by '^annoyance" into holy matrimony, 

 nor '^ rushed" towards his bride and ^'carried her 

 off by the throat." 



These are his words: — ^^ Their manner (the 

 dragon-flies) of making love is singular for insects, 

 although hi/ no means uncormnon luith men ! It is 

 by perseverance and the annoyance they cause by an 

 almost hostile assiduit}^, that the males succeed in 

 seducing the beauty that has won their hearts, 

 generally from the middle of September till the 

 middle of October." Alphonse Karr, or his 

 translator, then goes on to say, — ^^ The female 

 glitters coquettishly in the sun ; a blue male per- 

 ceives her ; he rushes towards her, seizes her by 

 the throat, and carries her off through the air, and 



