A RARE PICTOGRAPH 



bears a striking resemblance and for which it 

 would make a capital series of illustrations. 



Possibly some of the chronologically nice 

 may object to the interpretation of the pic- 

 ture-writing given, on the ground that part 

 of the etching was done by larvae before they 

 saw the outer world so minutely reproduced 

 in the pictograph. One must admit that this 

 fact does conflict with the theory ad- 

 vanced in the earlier part of this review, and 

 seems to prove that the pictograph is a mere 

 lusus natures, instead of a consciously artis- 

 tic work of a high order. This objection, 

 however, is nothing in comparison with many 

 scientific obstructions, which in other fields 

 have been blown away like thistledown by 

 the method popularly known as "reconcilia- 

 tion." In this case, the reconciliation is 

 simple and convincing in proportion to the 

 mental amenability of the reader. 



It should be remembered that Mrs. Pity- 

 ophthorus has seen the outer world, of moss, 

 leaves, twigs, bugs, and moths before she 

 lays her eggs in the gallery which she makes 

 on the pine bough. Hence the artistic re- 



143 



