FEATHERED POLICE 35 



fifty square yards of a wind-swept wood, are three 

 distinct species of birds, all in pursuit of the same 

 quarry, namely, insect life in various stages. One 

 might think that neither larva, nor chrysalis, nor 

 creeping creature could escape the diligent search of 

 so many pairs of bright, beady eyes. But insect 

 life is not only gifted with enormous reproductive 

 powers ; it is in itself so admirably contrived for 

 existence, that, were special provision not at hand to 

 keep it in check, it would possess the face of the 

 earth to the exclusion of every other. Mr. David 

 Sharp, who has in charge the insect department of 

 the excellent Cambridge Natural History now being 

 published, observes with professional pride 



'The larger part of the animal matter existing on the 

 whole lands of the globe is, in all probability, locked up in 

 the forms of insects. Taken as a whole, they are the most 

 successful of all the forms of terrestrial animals.' 



Antinous and the Venus de' Medici are not in it, 

 it seems. In fact, mere human beings would be 

 crowded out sooner or later but for one providential 

 circumstance, namely, that this vast populace of six- 

 legged creatures is divided into two hosts, one of 

 which is perpetually destroying the other. Even 

 this were not enough, for the victors would make 



