162 HUMBLE CEEATURES. 



causes us so much discomfort during a few weeks in 

 the year^ is the beneficent provision made by the Ruler 

 of Nature for their imiversal presence at a season when 

 decomposition proceeds with the greatest activity in 

 every direction ; and wherever there are animal re- 

 mains to be converted into useful food for man or 

 beast, there we wUl guarantee that you may find at 

 least the one fly which (with its progeny) is capable, 

 according to a reflectiag naturalist, of devouring the 

 carcase of an ox in a shorter space of time than a 

 Hon could accomplish the same task. 



And turn we, to the Worm ; that worthless, creepiag 

 abomination to the shallow iateUect. Here we find a 

 creature not only admirably constituted for a special 

 purpose ; but, what is that purpose ? Why, the for- 

 mation of the very soil upon which we move ! of the 

 superficial deposit whence proceeds the nutriment 

 without which neither Fly, Bee, nor we ourselves 

 could maiataia existence ! 



It is indeed a fact which no naturalist will gain- 

 say, that the priaciple here enunciated is not limited 

 to these three forms of life alone, but that as a 

 general rule all the lower animals that we are apt 

 most to undervalue are on due consideration foimd 

 to be of the greatest importance in the economy of 

 Nature. Nor have we found these so-called ignoble 

 creatures to be left unprovided and defenceless to 

 take their chance in the "struggle for existence." 

 Each is endowed by its Creator with bodily and 

 mental attributes the most perfectly adapted to its 



