UPHOLSTERER-BEES. 63 



Insects, indeed, are not easily forced to abandon any 

 work which they may have begun. 



The monkish legends tell us that St. Francis 

 Xavier, walking one day in a garden, and seeing an 

 insect, of the Mantis genus, moving along in its 

 solemn way, holding up its two fore-legs as in the 

 act of devotion, desired it to sing the praises of God. 

 The legend adds that the saint immediately heard 

 the insect carol a fine canticle with a loud emphasis. 

 We want no miraculous voice to record the wonders 

 of the Almighty hand, when we regard the insect 

 world. The little rose-leaf cutter, pursuing her work 

 with the nicest mathematical art — using no artificial 

 instruments to form her ovals and her circles — know- 

 ing that the elastic property of the leaves will retain 

 them in their position — making her nest of equal 

 strength throughout, by the most rational adjustment 

 of each distinct part—demands from us something 

 more than mere wonder ; for such an exercise of 

 instinctive ingenuity at once directs our admiration 

 to the great Contriver, who has so admirably pro- 

 portioned her knowledge to her necessities. 



