are the vineyards of more southern climes, they are not more beautiful than our own Kentish hop-gardens, with their luxuriant pale-green tassels, and light, elegant panicles of blossoms. Yet how often are these fair crops blasted by innumerable hosts of aphides spreading desolation on every side!

On these insect enemies it is that the larvæ of our little lady-bird exclusively feed, rendering an immense service to the hop-grower, who, to his own profit, often expresses his knowledge of their value by engaging children to scare away the birds that would in their turn destroy them. Thus the coccinella is left in undisturbed possession of the field, and the little flat, sixlegged, leaden-hued grub welcome to slay its thousands of aphides.

My young readers may be interested to try the experiment for themselves. If they have a pet geranium, or almost any house plant, it is almost sure to be the victim, more or less, of aphides. Let them hunt for the larva or perfect insect of the lady-bird, and the destroying enemy will speedily be vanquished. Thus we see how valuable even this tiny insect is in the economy of

nature.

'Let no presuming impious railer tax
Creative wisdom, as if aught was formed
In vain, or not for admirable ends.'

Another aphidiverous, or aphis-eating insect, equally useful and valuable, and presenting, in its grace and lightness, a strong contrast to the heavy-bodied lady-bird, pretty though it be, is the beautiful golden-eyed lacewing-hemerobius-one of the most dainty, elegant, fairylike flies that ever flitted in the sunny air.

Its soft slender body is a delicate green in tint, about half an inch long, but exceeded in length by the four large white reticulated or net-like wings, which are deflexed when the insect rests. The conspicuous brilliant eyes are globular, and a rich bronze in colour, like burnished metal. They deposit their eggs on leaves-the lilac,

elder, or indeed any plant where aphides are abundant. These are very curious, and have been mistaken for a species of delicate fungus. The mother-insect, evidently. desirous of placing them beyond the reach of the grubs of various aphidiverous flies, attaches a little glutinous line, like a spider's thread, about half an inch or more long, and so frail and smooth that no insect would venture to climb it. At the end of this she places her small oval egg, and then proceeds to make another footstalk, often as many as a dozen in a row, attaching an egg at the point of each. The larvæ are provided with powerful mandibles, crescent-shaped, pointed, and perforated or hollow. Of these they make terrible use, first to slaughter, and then suck in the sweet juices of their numerous victims, the aphides; it is even said they deck themselves with the skins of the poor slain, and thus appear like wolves in sheeps' clothing. So ferocious and

fierce are they that they have been named 'the lions of the aphides.' When the larva is full grown, it encloses itself in a little silken cocoon, from which afterwards emerges our beautiful, ariel-like, lace-wing fly.

Many species of Syrphidæ also may be found prying in all the lurks and folds of every contorted or furledup leaf where aphides abound, devouring with appetite insatiable the poor silly prey, that are either too slow in movement, too helpless and stupid, or unconscious of their danger, to attempt defence or escape. The syrphidæ are very pretty, two-winged, bee-like flies, that may often be seen hovering about the hedge-side blossoms. The grub is greenish in colour, and of a tapering form, able to contract or lengthen its body at will. It is provided with a formidable three-pronged mandible, shaped like a trident, with which it strikes and secures its prey. When desiring to feed, it fixes itself with a kind of glue by its broad flat tail, and sways its head from side to side in search of victims, which are readily found, and as speedily pounced upon and devoured.

These, I believe, are the three principal aphis-eating

Evening Hymn.

229

insects; but there are numerous others, less wholesale in their slaughter, ever at work to keep down the numbers of these destructive aphides, whose ravages and power of mischief, we are told, are greater than that of any other insect. If no counter check was in wisdom sent, they might prove as great a scourge to our land as did the locusts of old. Therefore let us protect, encourage, cherish with gratitude our aphis-feeding friends, remembering the special mission with which they are entrusted, and for the execution of which Providence has created them; ever acknowledging the infinite wisdom and power displayed by that mighty Being, who hath so marvellously fashioned all things, Himself pronouncing them to be very good.'

'What prodigies can pow'r divine perform,
More grand than it produces-

And all in sight of inattentive man?
Familiar with the effect we slight the cause,
And in the constancy of nature's course
See nought to wonder at.'

LEIGH PAGE.

EVENING HYM N.

THOU, from whom we never part,
Thou, whose love is everywhere,

Thou, who seest every heart,

Listen to our evening prayer.

Father! fill our souls with love,

Love unfailing, full and free,

Love no injury can move,

Love that ever rests on Thee.

Heavenly Father! through the night
Keep us safe from every ill :
Cheerful as the morning light,
May we wake to do Thy will.

-Religious Magazine.

AND-IN-HAND Fortis and Metis ran down the hill, and for some distance the way was plain and straight; then, taking a turning to the right, which they had been told to follow, they came to a narrow lane, on one side of which was a clear running brook. The water looked so cool and refreshing, that the children stayed to quench their thirst, and Fortis began playing with the small round pebbles which lined the bottom of the brook, building up

little pyramids which the force of the water soon threw down again. Metis stood and watched him; but she was silent and sad. She had given her promise to do as the stranger wished, but much she feared she would not be able to keep that promise; and she wondered much that Fortis could care to play, whilst she wished to hurry on, for fear of any unexpected hindrance by the way; but he was the elder, and had always taken the lead; so for some time she waited patiently. Fortis was in a very different state of mind. When standing by the kind stranger, with the Golden Gates just in view, he thought he could undertake anything to please the one, and gain an entrance into the other; but as he came down the hill his ardour began to cool, the prospect of the work before him was not pleasant, and by the time he had reached the brook a doubt had crossed his mind as to whether it was worth while to go on: he was well pleased when his sister's wish to stay and drink gave him an excuse for loitering by the way.

The Golden Gates.

231

But now the sun began to go down, and the tall trees in the hedgerows cast their long shadows on the adjoining fields. Metis could wait no longer.

'Oh, do come on, Fortis,' she said. 'See how late it is getting and if it should get dark before we are there, we should never find our way.'

'That would not much matter,' answered Fortis. 'I dare say we should have a great deal given us to do there, and I almost think I would rather stay out and do just as I like.'

'But you have promised, Fortis,' said his little sister, earnestly; 'and, besides, you know the kind stranger said we must appear before him again some day; and suppose we are not ready! We shall never be like his own happy children if we do not do as he told us.'

The reminder of the happy children came just in time. Fortis jumped up, and sprang over a gate in which the lane ended, Metis gladly following. With quick steps they crossed the fields, beguiling the way with many conjectures as to what they should find in their future home. Once they feared they had lost their way, for the large building, before seen so plainly, was not visible; but Fortis ran on, and soon returned with the tidings that they were now almost close to it; and sure enough, in a few minutes more, they stood by the high wall, which enclosed a large garden on every side. They had been told to go up boldly to the door and knock, and did so ; but little Metis trembled exceedingly as they stood waiting to be admitted.

Very soon a porter appeared, who asked what they wanted. Fortis said they had been sent by a stranger, whom they had seen on the hill by the Golden Gates; then the porter opened the door wider, and took them in. Leading the way to a small room, he told them they would here be rested for the night, and on the morrow be told what they had to do. Food was brought, and their limbs, weary with the dust and toil of the way, were bathed and refreshed. Then the porter brought in