78 GENERATION OF APHIDES. 



enigma about which the divers into Nature's secrets long puzzled 

 their heads in vain, until at last a clever, patient Frenchman 1 

 hit upon what is considered its solution. 



Now, when you see in spring or early summer a group of 

 Aphides, a group of leaves covered with them, or even a group 

 of trees which they have made their own, it is certain (at least 

 we can answer for the fact on good authority), that in all the 

 multitude on which you cast your eye, you will be looking on 

 none but Aphides (whether winged or wingless) of the feminine 

 gender. " Where then are the lords of these numerous ladies?" 

 is a question you very naturally ask. Why, they are not in 

 existence and never have been. The ladies may have had 

 fathers, they have children (to be seen like chickens busy with 

 their bills around them), but with perfect truth, and without a 

 shadow of imputation on their spotless characters, they neither 

 have, nor ever have had husbands. 



Now suppose all the elderly matrons presiding over this 

 assembly to have gone the way of all flesh of Aphides, and that 

 you are looking on a similar company composed of their imme- 

 diate descendants. Still presenting the same remarkable defi- 

 ciency (if deficiency it be) of masculine members, this assem- 

 blage will consist entirely of the daughters and granddaughters 

 of the defunct ; and as not one of these, though each in her turn is 

 pretty sure to become a mother, can ever boast a son, so it goes 

 on, even to the tenth generation. 



Suppose, lastly, that in September or October you fall in 

 with another company of Aphides regaling on an autumn rose- 

 branch. If so, prithee, pluck it, and let us scrutinize together 

 the assembly by which it is occupied ; for being probably the 

 tenth or last generation, it is likely to contain, at length, some 

 of the lords of this curious creation. Aye, now we have them ! 

 here, amongst the green " petticoats " are some individuals 

 distinguished by surtouts, some of bright yellow, some of 



1 M. Trembley. 



