FOR NORTHERN INDIA 118 



beetles and diptera of all shapes and sizes 

 arise in millions as if spontaneously generated. 

 Many of these are creatures of the night. 

 Although born in darkness all seem to strive 

 after light. Myriads of them collect round 

 every burning lamp in the open air, to the 

 great annoyance of the human being who 

 attempts to read out of doors after dark. 

 The spotted owlets, the toads and the lizards, 

 however, take a different view of the invasion 

 and partake eagerly of the rich feast provided 

 for them. Notwithstanding the existence 

 of chiks, or gauze doors, the hexapods crowd 

 into the lighted bungalow, where every illumi- 

 nation soon becomes the centre of a collection 

 of the bodies of the insects that have been 

 burned by the flame, or scorched by the lamp 

 chimney. Well is it for the rest of creation 

 that most of these insects are short-lived. 

 The span of life of many is but a day : were it 

 much longer human beings could hardly 

 manage to exist during the rains. Equally un- 

 bearable would life be were all the species 

 of monsoon insects to come into being simul- 

 taneously. Fortunately they appear in relays. 

 Every day some new forms enter on the stage 

 of life and several make their exit. The 



