DO VIPERS SWALLOW THEIR YOUNG? 99 



Now how shall we attempt to account for these 

 and scores of other instances of deliberate deception 1 

 Plants, so far as we are informed, are destitute of 

 will or intelligence ; even if they possessed them, it 

 is not possible to understand how they could modify 

 their own structure. Yet it is almost equally diffi- 

 cult to imagine the Euler of the universe occupying 

 Himself in imitating some of the humblest of His 

 creatures, such as spiders and bees, in order to 

 protect others still more humble, such as orchids. 

 Equally hard to imagine Him directing the concoc- 

 tion of disgusting smells. For some purposes it is 

 to be greatly regretted that we have abandoned our 

 belief in fairies. 



xxxvi 



Talking of poisons reminds one of adders, our 

 only poisonous snake, which, during this 



month and last, may have been seen in swallow 



, ,, , ii- ,,_ . their Young? 



neatny places, basking in the spring 



sunshine ; and the mention of these recalls a vener- 

 able controversy, the flames of which have broken 

 out afresh lately. Seven lustres must have run 

 their course since a good hare, as old and tough as 

 human credulity, was started in the columns of the 

 Field, and, lo ! it is running as stoutly as ever. 



