222 ANIMAL LIFE 



of the locust, the dragon-fly, the clothes-moth, and 

 certain beetles which represent the fin fleur of insect 

 peerage, then new-comers must command success by 

 other means, and these they employ from the first 

 moment of their children's lives. By giving their 

 young a start in instinct, in position, in surroundings, 

 they do much. But initial advantages such as these 

 are not enough to maintain the struggle, limited as 

 it is to a few months each year. The spurt must 

 be followed up by rapid growth to maturity, and by 

 a succession of broods with powers of securing new 

 stations, and so immolating themselves in the aggrand- 

 isement of the race. 



It is with this hurly-burly in mind that we appreciate 

 the contrast of the fly, which grows up in ten days, 

 with the locust, which leisurely pursues its childhood 

 for a year or more. It is this competition for the 

 success of the family within the limits and by the gifts 

 of summer, that has raised bread-winning to such a 

 high art, so diversely followed, according to the age 

 traditions and genius of the different orders of insects. 



The earliest traditions of insect history, unlike 

 those of most groups of the lower animals, point to a 

 terrestrial, air-breathing, mould-nourished way of life. 

 Between the infantile and adult habits there was 

 no great difference. Lovers of dimness, their favourite 

 resting-place was in the rich earth, where young and 

 old found nourishment in abundance, shelter, and 

 means of escape from animate and inanimate ravages. 

 Their movements consisted in only short runs or sudden 



