twenty thousand have been known to alight on a field at once, and lay the whole waste in a little time, if not disturbed. They are the most destructive birds in North America. Yet they do not extend very far north. There is a singular bird belonging to this species found in Cornwall, in the Hebrides, and in some parts of Wales, called the red-legged crow. It is of an elegant, slender make; active, restless, and, when brought up tame, like the jackdaw, given to thieve. Its general colour is black, beautifully glossed over with blue and purple. The legs are of a bright orange colour, inclining to red. It is very apt to take bits of lighted sticks from the fire. It has been called, on this account, the incendiary crow; as it has been known to set a house on fire.

Indeed; it is a singular bird; but I one, handsome as he is, in our house.

rious thing, Papa.

should not like

Here is a cu

Yes, it is the cicadi spumaria; or the frog-hopper. This frothy matter, called by many people, cuckoo spit, is the abode of an insect.

Yes, I opened it the other day, and out it leaped; so that I did but just see it.

devour it ; or, as a screen It has a beak, and is of

It pours forth this frothy matter to hide itself from other creatures that would from the heat of the sun. the order hemiptera, or half-winged. There are more than fifty species of them. When they reach their perfect state, they leap very nimbly, and sing among the grass in a very lively and pleasing manner, nearly through the whole of the day.

See this finely-shaped tree, Papa; how full it is of blossoms, and how pleasant they are to the smell.

It is the lime-tree. It is a handsome tree, and is used for carving, and making trinkets, and pill-boxes. Its inner bark has been used for paper. The famous Cardinal Mazarin had a work of Cicero written on it in his library. Baskets and cradles, cages and lattice-work, are made of it. The name botanists give it is Tilia. What class is it?

Here are many stamens, standing on the receptacle; it must be of the Polyandria class. The poppy,

larkspur, and anemone, belong to it. Here is but one pointal; it must be of the first order; or Monogynia. But here is an insect eating the flower, Papa, which is more wonderful than the tree.

Truly it is; God has not formed a more wonderful insect than the bee;* here are a great many of them. They find out flowers of every species, and enrich themselves with their spoils.

And see, they are all over this field. of beans which are in full blossom.

Truly, they are; we may indeed say with our poet Thomson,

"Here their delicious task, the fervent bees,
In swarming millions tend; around, athwart,
Through the soft air, the busy nations fly,
Cling to the bud, and, with inserted tube,
Suck its pure essence, its ethereal soul;
And oft, with bolder wing, they soaring dare,
The purple heath, or where the wild thyme grows,
And yellow load them with the luscious spoil."

Of the order hymenoptera, or membrane-winged.

Linnæus mentions more than fifty species of bees; but this bee on the lime, and in the bean-field, is the apis mellifica, or the common bee, which is by far the most valuable of them all. Each hive has a monarch, who is their queen, and the mother of the rest. The others, and are the male

drones are larger than the bees. Observe them,-they have two horns, which shield their eyes, and warn them of danger. They have a trunk, which they can put out and draw in at their pleasure, and by which they readily rifle the flowers of their sweets. They have a bag, which, when full, is the size of a small pea, in which they deposit their honey till they lay it up in the comb. They have six feet; with the two first, and their fangs, they form the wax, of meal of flowers, into balls; with their middle feet they place these in a hollow formed for their reception in their hinder legs, which are hairy to hold it. The queen and the working bees have stings, with which to defend themselves against their enemies. They not unfrequently leave their sting in the wound, and die.

How busy they are, Papa.

They are; they will make a honey-comb of double cells, sufficient to lodge three thousand bees, in twentyfour hours. They are a pattern of industry. See, they lose no time abroad; as soon as they have examined one flower, they are off to another. And in the hive all is industry,-some build the cells; others deposit the honey in its place; others close up with cement every chink, to keep out the wind, or insects; others carry out any nuisance; or if too heavy, they effectually encase it, that it may not annoy them. How should we emulate their diligence, in seeking after the treasures of knowledge and wisdom, and the good that is imperishable.

I have always been struck, too, Edward, with the willingness with which these surprising insects help one another; and with their disinterestedness. They will meet one that is heavily laden, and take a part of his burden. They form one family, each labours for the good of all. There is no avarice, or selfishness, among them. And what an example of providence