CONTENTS. ix 



Page 



FEBRUARY. 



6. LIFE IN DEATH ......... 36 



" In the apparent death of winter." The author, Acheta domestica, in 

 his propensity for burrowing among the hidden secrets of nature, 

 explores a catacomb of the chrysalides of Moths and Butterflies, 

 with the view of detecting life amidst frost, and snow, and torpor . 43 



7. A MILITARY EXPEDITION, BATTLE OF THE AMAZONS . 44 



" How flows the tide of battle?" Ant Amazons, chieftains of Rufia, 

 hand to hand with the citizens of Fusca, fighting for the rape and 

 rescue of infant subjects to be converted by the aggressors into 

 slaves . . . . - ''" ' 49 



8. INSECT AERONAUTS, SPIDERS . . ..- ... 50 



"All seem bent upon ascension." A spider aeronaut ascending in 

 his gossamer balloon . . . 55 



9. THE FRESH-WATER SIREN 56 



" Her mail-clad opponent his falchion plied. 1 " The Siren of the 

 Poem, hideous above water, beauteous beneath it, changes under her 

 adversary's thrust into the Water Spider, whose habits the tale is 

 intended to illustrate. Her Knightly foe finds his insect prototype 

 in the Water Beetle 63 



MARCH. 



10. USES OF INSECTS 64 



" The Locust after its kind." A professor of the culinary art, anti- 

 cipating the time when Pats de Sauterelles will be considered as 

 great a luxury among the Epicures of our own country, as the 

 Locust is in the present day among certain inhabitants of Syria, 

 Arabia, Persia, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Barbary . .... . 71 



11. ON APHIDES . ... . . . ; . ,'r -.,.' . 72 



"The Larva wolf in the Aphis flock " The part of a wolf in sheep's 

 clothing performed by the larva of a Lacewing Fly, Chrysopa perla, 

 as it makes havoc among a flock of wool-coated Apple Aphides, 

 Eriosoma lanigerum, under cover of their empty skins . . .79 



12. INSECT SENSES , . .*' .'' .- :/ . '"'; . . 80 



'* TKe passions are expressed by sounds." A sentimental Grasshop- 

 per performing his moonlight serenade, whilst his ladye love directs 

 b 



