INSECT MUSICIANS 251 



I have these insects in plenty upon my rose 

 trees, but I have never been able to detect any 

 harm perpetrated, nor indeed of what their food 

 consists. The poverty of our knowledge regard- 

 ing some kinds of animals is very marked, and is 

 a direct contradiction to those so-called wiseacres 

 who tell us that all that it is possible to learn of 

 wild Nature's ways has been learned and the book 

 may be sealed. Such people know not Nature, 

 or, knowing, have misinterpreted her. To the 

 young naturalist one may safely say there is not 

 one single animal or plant the full life-history of 

 which is yet known to us, not one which, in the 

 words of Lord Avebury, would not pay, repay, 

 and overpay not merely the study of a day, or a 

 month, or a year, but the devotion of a lifetime. 



The drowsy hum of the Cockchafer; the buzz 

 of the Blow Fly; the delightful monotone of the 

 Honey Bees among the Limes in July as the indus- 

 trious insects are engaged in their pillage among 

 the sweet-scented and honey-laden flowers; the 

 fussy, bustling body and noisy hum of the 

 Humble Bee; the dancing in the Winter air of 

 frail little Gnats, whom one would imagine arctic 

 weather would exterminate; the fluttering flight 

 of Butterflies and hovering of Hawk Moths — 

 these and many other points concerning these 

 humble insect folk might well occupy our atten- 

 tion. If, however, our brief survey of a few 



