PLANTS THEIR NATURE AND PHENOMENA. 43 



and they convey it to the female in devouring the honey 

 with which she attracts them. We may perceive from this 

 how important a part the smallest atom of animal life 

 enacts in the wise and wonderful economy of nature ; and 

 when we feel vexed at insect-annoyances, and are disposed 

 to wonder why Providence permits the existence of such 

 occasional torments to us, it may be as well to remember 

 that without some of them the glorious world of flowers 

 would soon become a desolate waste, and without others 

 to devour these, they would become too numerous for 

 human endurance. 



