AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 593 



sons interested in farming, to know liow to distinguish hurtful 

 from useful insects. They would not then, as now, be hourly- 

 committing violence on the harmonies of nature. The distribu- 

 tion of insect life is in precise proportion to the diffusion of plants. 

 And they form associations for invasion, emigration, defence and 

 pleasure. Caterpillars, when on a march, are guided by a chosen 

 leader. Termites are governed by a queen and king, who have 

 the same lusts for power that human monarchs feel, and like men, 

 they are not born equal, though proceeding from the same descrip- 

 tion of egg; some of them are soldiers, others laborers, others still 

 gentlemen of leisure. The soldiers often engage in fillibustering 

 battles, set sentinels, make marches and countermarches, send for 

 reinforcements, if necessary, and, if any soldier sustains an injury, 

 the most devoted attention is shown to him. I have seen a catter- 

 pillar make a ladder from the top of a cabbage to the ground, and 

 go up and down it. Some insects use a species of stone, and build 

 houses with it; others make a substance similar to pasteboard for 

 the same purpose; some cover the interior of their abodes with a 

 silken fabric, and hang their doors with hinges of silk, so con- 

 structed that their weight will close them, and if attacked barri- 

 cade them within, thus mimicking the arts of man. 



With regard to birds, our Southern cities would not be habita- 

 ble were it not for the vultures that make clean, and purify their 

 streets ; birds of this group are cowardly, and live on dead car- 

 casses, and offal. When gorged a fcetid humor is discharged 

 from their nostrils, and the bird becomes perfectly stupid. 



All warm climates are principally indebted to storks, cranes 

 and other similar birds for their salubrity. Morning and even- 

 ing, at the North, we find the air completely filled with winged 

 insects, and were it not for the arrow darting swallow, they 

 would annoy us exceedingly. What could save our roses but the 

 insect destroying wren ; our grain, the tom-tit and cat bird ; our 

 garden vegetables, the sparrow and yellow bird; our meadows, 

 the bob-o-link and robin ; our trees, the woodpecker and cuckoo. 

 The king bird protects our farm yards from the attacks of hawks, 

 and other birds of prey, such as the eagle, vulture, &c. I have 

 seen him follow a hawk for more than a mile, constantly attack- 

 [Am. Inst.] 38 



