ADELA DE GEERELLA 153 



basking in the glaring sunbeams, while its antennae, 

 waving about in graceful curves, are only to be traced 

 by the light that sparkles along them. They are as 

 slender as the gossamer threads floating in the air, 

 and like them only seen as lines of light. They are 

 too delicate even for Mab's chariot traces. The 

 grey-coated gnat might use one of them as his whip : 

 but it would only be for show, as beseemeth the 

 whip of a stage-coach ; for it could not hurt the 

 tiniest atomy ever harnessed. 



And yet the little Adela, for such is her scientific 

 title, flies undauntedly among the trees, threading 

 her way with perfect ease through the thickest foli- 

 age, her wondrous antennae escaping all injury, and 

 gleaming now and then as a stray sunbeam touches 

 them. 



There is nothing very striking in the Adela's ex- 

 ternal appearance ; she is just a pretty, unobtrusive, 

 bronze-coloured little thing, from whom many an 

 eye would turn with indifference, if not with con- 

 tempt. Truly, in vain are there pearls, while the 

 swinish nature prefers dry husks. 



Place this quiet, bronze-coloured little creature 

 under a microscope, and Cinderella herself never ex- 

 hibited such a transformation. The mind of man 

 has never conceived a robe so gorgeous as that which 

 enwraps a small brown moth. Eefulgent golden 

 feathers cover its body and wings, sparkling gem- 

 like points scatter light in all directions, while on 



