THE BALANCE OF INSECT LIFE. 137 



materially in regard to their habits and movements, 

 as they are incessantly hovering over the water, 

 whilst the frog-hopper merely appears accidentally, 

 and, therefore, unintentionally, upon its bosom. It is 

 occasionally to be used with effect. 



The Ants are only occasionally numerous, but in 

 some localities the red species are common in sandy 

 soils and amongst wild, broken ground. The black 

 variety are found only in thickly-wooded districts, 

 where they build their hills to a considerable size of 

 small twigs, leaf stems, &c. In sultry weather these 

 little creatures will migrate to the nearest water to 

 indulge in a cooling bath, and, when this happens to 

 be a trout stream, both fish and fisherman experience 

 lively times. Their eggs are much sought after for 

 angling purposes, being excellent bait for almost 

 every description of fresh-water fish, when prepared 

 and used similar to trout and salmon roe. 



The Grey and Black Gnats, and, indeed, the whole 

 fraternity of " smuts," arise from the soil of sheltered 

 meadow banks ; they are most obnoxious to the fly- 

 fisher when out in any quantity. 



Year after year, and century after century, a 

 curious and interesting equilibrium is maintained by 

 nature, with but few deviations, in regard to insect 

 life in this temperate clime. Whilst various members 

 of the beetle, ant, and other orders increase, at in- 

 tervals, to a really alarming extent in more southern 

 latitudes, in this country a truly marvellous balance of 

 insect existence is preserved by the restraining action 

 of counter influences on the enormous procreative 



