THE BEASON WHY. 325 



' And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, 

 neither any green thing, neither any tree." REVELATION ix. 



germinating powers arc even improved by the warmth and. 

 trituration of the stomach. Indeed, the stomachs of quadrupeds 

 and birds hare been made the vehicles of propagating plants, and 

 distributing them to the widest geographical latitudes. It is even 

 said of some seeds that they will not germinate until they have 

 passed through the digestive ogans of an animal. 



1287. Why do animals that graze, crop the tender Hades 

 of grass, tut avoid the tall stems ? 



Because they are tempted by the greater sweetness and tenderness 

 of the young blades ; and in this temptation a very important end 

 is served ; for, by avoiding the stems that have grown up, the animals 

 spare the matured plant ly which seeds are borne, and by which 

 the supply of food is to be continued. 



1288. Why do the eggs of butterflies lie dormant during 

 the winter? 



Because the coldness of the winter would be fatal to the life of 

 the young insects ; and the absence of vegetation would, leave the 

 caterpillars to perish of starvation, if they were developed during 

 the winter months. 



Pig. 76. CATEEPILLAE FEEDING. 



1289. Why do caterpillars appear in the spring ? 



Because the increasing warmth of the sun developes the living 

 embryo at the same time that it developes the vegetable germ. 

 The warmth, therefore, that calls the caterpillar from its embryo 

 sleep, also kindles the germinating power of the vegetable upon 

 which it is destined to feed. The worm awakes and finds tha 

 bountiful table of nature spread for it. 



