LETTER XXXIII. 



THE MANTIS— THE ORCHIS — THE GALL INSECT — COCHINEAL — 

 VALUE OF SCAHLET* 



We have seen an insect, -which we took for a little parcel of 

 dried leaves; it is the mantis, or the leaf insect, which resembles 

 a branch with two green leaves. There is a little plant which 

 springs up in the grass to a height of five or six inches ; 

 its stalk is surmounted by a lilac flower. But what insect is 

 that, with its head buried in the nectary of the flower, and 

 which appears to be feasting with such perseverance that it is 

 quite motionless? 



Don't be afraid of frightening it, it won't fly away; it 

 won't go away, unless it be in a month, in which it fades ; fbr 

 that insect is a flower ; for it is but the under part of these 

 three lilac petals which surmount it. The form, the colour, 

 everything is perfectly imitated, it is the same mixture of 

 yellow and brown. You would not dare to touch it, for fear 

 of being stung by it. 



This flower, which is almost a fly — this insect, which 

 blooms and comes from a seed instead of issuing from an egg 

 — this flower, which we may fancy we hear buzz, and upon 

 which bees will not light, believing it to be occupied by a fly; 

 this fly is called Bee Orchis. 



