106 CUCKOO SPIT 



Now as to the purpose of a dwelling made of such 

 unlikely material. It serves, primarily, for concealment, 

 the larva being a very toothsome tit-bit for a tomtit, 

 willow warbler, or the like. The froth is an effective 

 bit of camouflage, for, so closely does it resemble saliva, 

 that neither human beings nor other animals care to 

 meddle with it. Secondly, it preserves for the delicate 

 youngster within an even temperature, protecting it 

 alike from excessive heat and cold; for the myriad 

 minute air bubbles act as an excellent non-conducting 

 envelope. 



Thousands of years before Tubal Cain invented 

 bellows or modern man had hit upon the manufacture 

 of aerated waters, baby jack-jumpers had been equipped 

 with apparatus fulfilling the purpose of both. The 

 mature insect possesses rudimentary wings which are 

 functionless, or at least of no use for flight ; neverthe- 

 less, it commands power of locomotion that puts to 

 shame the puny plodding gait of human beings. Our 

 athletes measure their long jumps by feet and inches ; 

 but the jack-jumper by a single stroke of its powerful 

 thighs can cover a space, without a running start, 

 which bears the same proportion to its stature as four 

 hundred yards does to a man's. 



When flogging the Spey the other day in the teeth 

 of a westerly gale, it occurred to me how enviable was 

 the power of a jack-jumper. Possessed of a similar 

 saltatory gift, I might have leapt lightly across the 

 river and fished from the far bank with the wind com- 

 fortably at my back. 



