THE INSECT MATRON. 219 



by her own voluntary act. Only see, my dear Emily, here is 

 one of her sisters even now employed in the business of dis- 

 robing." 



We both stooped, and watched narrowly the curious opera- 

 tion to which we had directed our young friend's attention. 

 One of the larger insects in question was actively employed in 

 agitating her wings, bringing them before her head, crossing 

 them in every direction, throwing them from side to side, and 

 producing so many singular contortions as to cause them all 

 four to fall off at the same moment, leaving her reduced 

 to the same condition as her wingless sister. Fatigued, ap- 

 parently, by her late efforts, she reposed awhile, after the 

 accomplishment of her purpose, brushed her denuded corslet 

 with her feet, and then proceeding to burrow in the soft earth 

 of the hillock, was speedily lost to our observation. " How 

 very odd!" said Emily; " what can possibly be the meaning 

 of such a strange, unnatural proceeding?" 



" I will tell you," replied we, " that which has been 

 thought fully to explain its intention. This insect female, 

 in common with her sisters, has hitherto been privileged to 

 lead a life of entire indolence and pleasure. A few days since, 

 having risen from her lowly birth-place on those discarded 

 pinions, we might have seen her disporting in the air with 

 some gay and gallant companions, of inferior size, but winged 

 like herself. But now her career of pleasure, though not of 

 happiness, being at an end, her life of usefulness is about to 

 begin, and, in character of a matron, she is called to the 

 performance of such domestic duties as will henceforth con- 

 fine her to the precincts of her home. 



" Of what use now, therefore, are the glittering wings 

 which adorned and became her in her earlier youth ? Their 

 possession might only, perchance, have tempted her to desert 

 the post which Nature, under Divine guidance, has instructed 

 her to fill. Obedient to its teaching, she has thus despoiled 

 herself of the showy pinions which (essential to her enjoy- 



