MALE APHIDES. 187 



deficiency (if deficiency it be) of masculine members, this 

 assemblage will consist entirely of daughters and grand- 

 daughters 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 

 orange, some of sober-brown, colours worn in accordance, it 

 is said, with their youth, middle, or advanced age. All these 

 " Mercuries " wear wings ; but even their pinions assume 

 with equal propriety a corresponding hue, deepening from 

 white to transparent black according to the period of their 

 wearer's standing. Might not our evergreen beaux (for 

 evergreen belles are privileged even by example of feminine 

 Aphides) take a hint from these sensibly clad seniors of the 

 sap-sucking race. Perhaps, however, it is scarcely fair to 

 quote as patterns in anything such out-of-the-way creatures as 

 those we are describing strangest of animals ! but especially 

 in the paternal character. The insect race is celebrated for 

 having numerous progenies, but these, our patriarchal pucerom, 



