frost. Numerous insects also lay their eggs in living caterpillars, who die before they change into pupae; so that the very existence, as it is well known, of some insects is perpetuated by the destruction of others. In noticing these facts, it seems impossible to withhold at least that silent admiration, which the ways of Providence in the works of the creation claim from every one, by whom they are properly contemplated. Trifling as the relation may appear to some persons, it ought to carry the conviction with it, that we are under the care and guidance of an all-wise and bountiful Creator. Happy shall we be if this instructive lesson is not lost upon us.-JESSE's Gleanings. GALL-NUTS AND THE GALL INSECT. THE excrescences we so often see on the leaves of different trees, in particular on those of the willow and the oak, are the productions of several species of insects. Some of these excrescences have a single cavity within, in which several insects live together; others have a number of small cells, with communications between them; others again have numerous distinct cavities. These productions are of various sizes, form, and consistence, some being spongy, and others, like the Gall-nut, extremely hard. All these apparently monstrous productions are occasioned by the puncture of insects when depositing their eggs. The ancient opinion concerning animals found in these receptacles was, that they were spontaneously produced from rotten wood. Afterwards it was believed that the roots of plants had the power of sucking up with the sap the eggs of insects, and that these were animated as soon as they arrived in a proper situation. The gall-nuts of commerce are produced from a species of oak (Quercus infectoria), which seldom attains a greater height than four or five feet, with numerous straggling branches; it is a native of Syria and Asia Minor. Gall-nuts are extremely useful in medicine, but the greatest consumption of them is in the manufacture of ink. They are imported from Smyrna and other places in the Levant, especially from Aleppo. The Aleppo nuts are considered the best, and are of two sorts, the white and the blue. The first are gathered after the insect has left its cell, and the blue before the fly has perfected its changes; these last are considered the best, as they contain a greater quantity of astringent matter. For the purpose of making ink, bruised oak-galls are added to a solution of green vitriol, (sulphate of iron,) the astringent principle of the galls separating the iron from the sulphuric acid, and throwing it down in the form of a black powder. If ink was made without gumarabic, or some such material, this black powder would separate from the liquid, and fall to the bottom of the vessel that contained it. THE FLESH-FLY. THE history of the Flesh-fly (musca carnaria) is better known than that of the common one. It deposits its eggs on flesh, and then the latter is said to be fly-blown. It is a law of nature, that the particles which form an organized body, shall, on its dissolution, serve for the sustentation of others; and hence, when an animal dies, it is taken possession of, in one way or another, by those which are living. In hot weather a dead body runs rapidly into putrefaction, and in that state attracts, by its odour, those flies which lay their eggs in flesh, and the carcass is very soon occupied by myriads of maggots, which are hatched from those eggs, and are flies in the larva state. When we think of the horrible odour which a putrefying animal emits, we cannot but admire the wise arrangement by which its very odour is made agreeable to multitudes of living creatures; for, as Paley remarks, maggots revel in putrefaction. We observe, also, that the odour is most powerful at those times when flies are most numerous and active, that is, in hot weather. In the egg itself there is the very wise provision, that it is hatched in a few hours, and the maggot arrives at its full growth in a week; and thus we see how divine wisdom is displayed in every thing, even in what, to ordinary comprehension, is most disagreeable or disgusting. If the fly's egg did not hatch in a very short time, and the larva soon attain its full growth, the object in view would not be gained. In some other species of flies whose larvæ feed on flesh, not a single moment is lost; for, instead of an egg being laid, the larva is deposited in the living state, the egg having been previously hatched within the body of the parent; this, indeed, is stated to occur very often with the common flesh, or blowfly.-Letters to a Young Naturalist. RAVAGES OF GRUBS. THE grub of the large Tipula, sometimes called Tom Taylor, or Tommy Longlegs, says a writer on this subject, commits its ravages chiefly in the first crop, after the breaking up of the grass-land, also after clover and after beans; the fly, from which this insect is produced, having deposited its eggs on the soil amongst the grass, clover, or beans. I endeavoured some few years ago, to acquaint myself with the natural history of this insect, and I was so successful as to ascertain the different stages of existence through which it passes; the fly, the egg, the grub, and the chrysalis; as well as the season of the year when the different changes take place, and some degree of usefulness was the result. I found that it took the fly-state about the beginning of the month of August; I therefore concluded, as we got our clover-hay from the land a little after Midsummer, that if we ploughed the clover-stubble any time after that, and before the month of August, it would be nearly free from the grub, as instinct has directed the fly not to leave its eggs upon the naked soil, where no living vegetable is growing. I know of no application to the land that will in any degree destroy the grub, but we are much indebted to the rook and a variety of other birds for keeping its depredations within limited bounds. A family of rooks would consume 3847 grubs per day; supposing the consumption to be continued throughout the year, it would amount to 1,404,155; and supposing a grub to destroy as many wheat or other plants as might grow on a space of ground equal to nine inches square, a family of rooks would preserve from destruction more than two acres of corn. If we extend our ideas further, and suppose all these grubs to live and propagate their species, it appears to me more than probable, that if this one species of bird alone were extinct, the labour of the husbandman would be nearly, if not altogether, in vain. ANTS. THE different modes in which Ants, when they happen to meet during their excursions, mutually touch one another with their antennæ, appears to constitute a kind of natural language, understood by the whole tribe. This contact of the antennæ evidently admits of a great variety of modifications, and seems capable of supplying all the kinds of information which these insects have occasion to impart. It would seem impossible, indeed, for all the individuals composing these extensive societies, to co-operate effectually in the execution of many works, calculated for the general benefit of the community, unless some such means of communication existed. There is no evidence that sound is the medium of this intercourse; for none, audible to us at least, was ever known to be emitted by these insects. Their mode of communication appears to be simply by touching one another in different ways, with the antennæ. Huber's observations on this subject are exceedingly curious. He remarks that the signal denoting the apprehension of danger, is made by the ant striking its head against the corselet of every ant which it chances to meet. Each ant, on receiving this intimation, immediately sets about repeating the same signal to the next ant which comes in its way; and the alarm is thus disseminated with astonishing rapidity throughout the whole society. Sentinels are at all times stationed on the outside of the nests, for the purpose of apprizing the inhabitants of any danger that may be at hand. On the attack of an enemy, these guardians quickly enter into the nest, and spread the intelligence on every side: the whole swarm is soon in motion, and while the greater number of ants rush forwards with desperate fury to repel the attack, others, who are intrusted with the office of guarding the eggs and the larvae, hasten to remove their charge to places of greater security.-DR ROGET'S Bridgewater Treatise. We remember a circumstance strongly corroborative of Dr Roget's description of the method by which ants hold communications with each other. During the autumn of 1834, the writer, accompanied by a few friends, took an excursion into the country, on the borders of the New Forest, Hampshire, where a few preliminary arrangements seconded by the kindness of a neighbouring cottager, enabled us to partake of a most refreshing meal, scated on the ground, in the centre of a wood of several acres' extent. Our wants being satisfied, the best means of disposing of the fragments next claimed our attention. That duty, as respected our own species, being satisfactorily performed, we began to look about for some deserving objects, on whom to bestow sundry rations of shrimp-shells, crumbs of bread, and of plum-cake. At the edge of a path within the wood, we discovered part of a colony of large, black ants, in full march, chiefly in one direction, but whether the greatest number were going from home, or returning thither, we could not satisfactorily ascertain; both ends of the track in which they were moving terminating among the plants, brushwood, and dead leaves, with which the surrounding space was thickly covered. Our fragments were voted as a fitting largess for these industrious and provident insects; and being deposited at three different places, near to the line in which the ants were moving, we attent ively observed their conduct. The important discovery was soon made, that a supply of food had arrived; but, contrary to our expectations, we noticed that the savoury morsels seemed for a time to attract but very little attention. some new arrangement had taken place among the ants was manifest, by the hurried manner in which they appeared to move. A few lingered near to the food thus placed within their reach, they seemed, however, to perform the duty of sentinels, as we could not observe That that any one individual was engaged in eating. Meanwhile, scouts were evidently busy in communicating intelligence, and there is every reason to believe that it was done in the way mentioned by Dr Roget; namely, by touching those they met with their antennæ, that is, the horns or feclers, projecting from their heads. Some of those to whom, as we supposed, the intelligence was imparted, pursued their journey with increased alacrity; whilst others turned back, and with equal haste seemed to be carrying the good news to head-quarters. The effects of these communications soon became apparent. Reinforcements were momentarily seen making their way with every symptom of haste, towards the spot whither, as we may imagine, they had been directed to repair. Some of these newly-arrived ants stopped at the first heap of food they reached, as if the precise duty allotted to them had been accurately denoted; others, passing on to the next heap, began to work with the same energy as their companions whom they had left a short distance behind them; and it was not long before the ground was literally covered with the hosts which had thus simultaneously assembled to carry off the spoils. The small pieces of food were disposed of without confusion or difficulty; the larger portions required the exercise of strength, combined with considerable skill, to effect their removal. Deeply interested in the proceedings of these little creatures, we continued to watch them until the gathering shadows admonished us to hasten home. We left the ants still at work; storing up against the day of need, the food which had thus so opportunely for them been placed in the vicinity of their abode.-O.N. I HAVE frequently observed two ants meeting on their path across a gravel-walk, one going from, and the other returning to the nest. They will stop, touch each other's antennæ, and appear to hold a conversation; and I could almost fancy that one was communicating to the other the best place for foraging; which Dr Franklin thought they had the power of doing, from the following circumstance: Upon discovering a number of ants, regaling themselves with some treacle, in one of his cupboards, he put them to the rout, and then suspended the pot of treacle by a string, from the ceiling. He imagined that he had put the whole army to flight; but was surprised to see a single ant quit the pot, climb up the string, cross the ceiling, and regain its nest. In less than half an hour, several of its companions sallied forth, traversed the ceiling, and reached the depository, which they constantly revisited until the treacle was consumed.-JESSE. STAPHYLINUS. IT is a curious fact, that by far the greater part of those minute insects which suddenly fly into our eyes when walking or riding, are of the same genus (Staphylinus), if not the same species, (Staphylinus brachypterus, devoured by swallows. Most persons may have noticed, in the Summer season, a disagreeablelooking insect, running rather briskly across a sand or gravel walk, which, if touched or disturbed, immediately throws up its tail, from whence project two formidable-looking spines. It appears to have no wings, but it is provided, nevertheless, with a pair, most beautifully folded up beneath two little short wing-cases; still however, these wings are disproportioned to the size of the insect; and we may, therefore, reasonably conclude, that it is by no means so active on the wing, as others with a larger expansion; and, consequently, unable so adroitly to guide itself, and avoid danger; which may account, at the same time, for its being more readily seized by the swallows, and also for its being carried headlong into the eye, if the eye happens to be in the line of its accidental course. Those who have experienced the annoyance of these minute intruders, will well remember the extreme pain felt, as soon as the eye closes upon its prisoner: this is occasioned by the irritation produced, when the insect, as in the case of its larger representative on the gravel walk, on being caught, instantly darts up its tail, covered with similar sharp and fork-like appendages.-STANLEY'S Familiar History of Birds. THE SPIDER. "THAT man" says the accomplished Cowper, "who can derive no gratification from a view of nature, even under the disadvantage of her most ordinary dress, will have no eyes to admire her in any." This thought arose within me during a late walk in the neighbourhood of my village. The morning was cold and clear, but the sun shone bright, and not a cloud flitted across the heavens. The little river flowed over its rocky bed, and on either side, the spreading branches of the oak, the elm, and birch, had intercepted the flakes of snow, and formed a sparkling arcade. Every twig glittered with hoar-frost; even the coarser herbage, ferns, reeds, and mosses, seemed as if fledged with icy feathers; while here and there the Daphne-laurel, and the holly, firmly grasped the rugged banks. Their dark shining leaves were gemmed and edged with frozen particles, that reflected the colours of the rainbow; and across them innumer able spiders, as if proud to display their skill, had spun and interlaced their glittering webs. It it is very amusing to watch a Spider when thus employed. He first throws out a thread, which becomes attached by its adhesive quality, to some near bough or leaf, tuft of moss or stone. He then turns round, recedes to a distance, attaches another floating thread to some other part, and darts away, doubling and redoubling, so as to form figures the most pleasing and fantastic, spinning a thread at every movement, through the holes of his bag, by an operation similar to the drawing of wire: And thus he works, as if to mock at art, Yet the simple machinery, by which such a process is effected, consists merely of two bags, or reservoirs, filled with gum, or glue, and perforated with small holes. The secretion of the threads is an act too subtile for our discernment, except as we perceive it by the produce. It may, however, be observed, that one thing answers to another, the secretory glands to the quality and consistence required in the secreted substances,-the bags to its reception; that the outlets and orifices are constructed not merely for relieving the reservoirs of their burden, but for manufacturing the contents into a form and texture of great external use to the life and functions of the insect. Two purposes are thus accomplished in the economy of nature. A feeble creature, which it has pleased Omnipotence to call into being, for reasons, though inscrutable to us, yet undoubtedly both wise and good, is put into a condition to provide for its own safety. An exquisite effect is also produced in the winter-land |