the Gecko. One of this species was sent to me
from California, and lived for a few weeks, but as nothing would induce
it to eat, to my great regret it pined and died. It was about as large
as an ordinary full-grown toad, of a speckled grey colour, with rich
brown markings, its head something like a lizard, with large thorny
projections which extended all along the spine. The feet were very
remarkable, each toe being furnished with a sucker which enabled the
Gecko to walk with perfect ease in any position on a wall or pane of
glass without losing its hold; and travellers say that it is a frequent
inmate of Eastern houses, and may be seen catching flies as it creeps
along walls and ceilings.

Many kinds of spiders run with ease upon the surface of ponds and
ditches, and one forms a kind of raft of a few dead leaves woven
together, on which it sits and is blown by the wind hither and thither,
and thus is enabled to prey upon various aquatic insects.

The surface of grass lawns may be seen on autumnal mornings covered with
tiny webs gemmed with dew. We may therefore estimate the immense number
of flies captured by these traps so thickly spread over the grass, and
see in them another proof of the adaptation of each created thing for
its special purpose, and how wonderfully the balance of nature is
maintained, so that one creature keeps another in check, and all work
harmoniously together, according to the will of our great Creator.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

TAME BUTTERFLIES.

In _The Century_, for June, 1883, Mr. Gosse described a monument, in
which the sculptor had carved a child holding out her hand for
butterflies to perch on. He went on to say that this was criticised as
improbable, even by so exact an observer as the late Lord Tennyson. It
may therefore be of some interest to record the following facts from my
personal experience.

One summer I watched the larvae of the swallow-tailed butterfly through
their different stages, and reserved two chrysalides to develop into
the perfect insect. In due time one of these fairy-like creatures came
out. I placed it in a small Indian cage, made of fine threads of bamboo.
A carpet of soft moss and a vase of flowers in the centre made a
pleasant home for my tiny "Psyche."

I found that she greatly enjoyed a repast of honey; when some was placed
on a leaf within her reach, she would uncoil her long proboscis and draw
up the sweet food with great apparent en