f insects. Class distinctions were apparently
forgotten in the common enthusiasm; the plebeian bluebottle and blowfly
now consorted with Aphrodite and sipped at the same drop. Many a leaf
was begemmed with the blue bodies closely set side by side or in a close
cluster. The meat-fly, house-fly, and horse-fly made themselves
promiscuous in every portion of the spray, and what with the
rainbow-eyed and ruby-eyed flies, black and silver-banded flower-flies,
and other tiny, restless, iridescent atoms of the fly fraternity, the
family of _Musca_ was well represented at the feast.

Nor were these all the guests at the banquet--for banquet there
certainly was, judging from the eager sipping and crowding everywhere
upon the leaves, the flowers even yet, as I first noticed, seeming to
have little attraction.

I have no direct means of knowing as to the social discrimination of the
host as shown in the entertainment, for that invitations were issued the
subsequent facts would show. But I have good reasons for believing, from
the course of events, that the gathering included a number of
questionable personages that were not counted upon.

Here, for instance, was an overwhelming contingent of the whole tough
gang of wasps and hornets--brown wasps from under the eaves and fences;
black hornets from the big paper nests; yellow-jackets from where you
please; deep steel-blue wire-waisted wasps from the mud cells in the
garret, to say nothing of an occasional longer-waisted digger-wasp, and
a host of their allied lesser associates scattered around generously
among the assemblage.

Every now and then a big darning-needle took a shimmering circuit about
the bush, and doubtless knew what he was about; as did also what at
first glimpse appeared to be a big bumblebee, which seemed to find
attraction in the neighborhood, although he seldom alighted upon the
leaves, preferring to sit upon a neighboring weed and watch his
opportunities.

I have thus described a few of the more prominent guests or personages
present at the feast. But I have reported little of their "goings on."
Doubtless there were appropriate toasts and responses, or what in bug
etiquette answered to this seemingly indispensable human fad, while as
to that other festive social essential of after-dinner speeches, coupled
in this case with most vigorous discussion, I am certain the air was
blue with something of this sort, if the eloquent pantomime bore any
significance. Her