THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 
201 
ments they were unsurpassed in beauty and 
brilliancy; and doubtless had it not been for 
the powerful influence of old prejudices against 
the whole insect tribe, the exhibition of this 
splendid collection would have led to their 
general use for purposes of adornment. But 
the sentiment against them was too strong; and 
it is to be regretted that most of that rare ex¬ 
hibit was carried back to the land from whence 
it came, and we can only remember it as a 
bright vision that has passed from our behold¬ 
ing. It is to be feared that the only permanent 
effect of this brilliant display has been to make 
us loath more our own comparatively homely 
native bugs. Let us not, however, be unjust 
even to a bug, much less to those—and we 
have many—that possess worthy claims to our 
admiration. Even the common brown squash- 
bug is not without points of attractiveness. 
Though quite sombre in color, yet its nicely- 
adjusted wing-covers and the gauzy pair so 
deftly folded beneath may challenge admiring 
observation. But, differ as we may about the 
attractions of this bug, there will be no ques¬ 
tion as to the rich arrayal of the well-known 
cabba;ge-bug, as all who are accustomed to raise 
