Second Edition

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 January 1914, Page 3

Second Edition

THE MASON FLY. ~« (Written for The Chronicle.) BY JACK VINCENT. Introductory Note. This strange- fly is one of thos complex anomalies of Nature tlia fill the casual observer with wop dei'j and cause even the expei iencd naturalist to paupe in ni labours and ponder on the in scrutable ways of an omnicien Providence. Its method of continuing it species is unique even in the all .embracing laboratory of Nature It deposits its ova in a series o small cells, composed of finel; tempered clay, which it has pre viouslj' prepared for their recep tion, and then pounces upon sonn hapless insect, spiders for choice into which it injects a peculia fluid that possesses the property of rendering it comatose withou 'killing it outright. The insect; thus "doctored" are then thrus into the cells containing the ova which are then hennatically seal ed, and so furnish sustenance fo] the larvae during Their period o; development, when they emerge a robust, piratical fly, with -ar hereditary vendetta against al spiders, beetles, and other insects that they consider useful. * * "* I suppose you've read the story oJ "The Spider and the Fly?" And pondered oe'r its edifying moral ? —So have I! But I'm going to tell the sequel tc that dark and tragic crime, How the spider expiated for his villiany in time. * * * Tis of the same old insect I am . going 'to relate, How he travelled many thousand miles to meet a shocking fate, He found his way on board a ship bound for New Zealand's shore And stowed himself away behind the captain's cabin door. * * * He hadn't any object to induce him thus to roam, He'd a fairish way of doing in a grocer's shop at home. But Discontentment even chafes within the spider's breast, So on board this outward bounder, he built his cunning nest. * * * And when the voyage ended he got on. shore all right, And began to look about him for an eligible site, Till he found a place that suited, retired and weather proof, Beneath the jutting timbers of a sloping shingle roof. * * * And there he spread his artful nets to carry on his game, And he gobbled little sandfliei and mosquitoes as they came, Till he'd got so many blowflies pickled down for winter use, That he'd throw away the carcase —when he'd sucked out all the juice. * * * But one day an ancient-looking fly came sailing in that way, Between her two forearms she > held a piece of wetted clay. As the spider glared upon her from his lurking place hard by_ He fanced he detected "speculation in her eye." <n * * He saw her take this clay up to a rrevice in the wall, And fasten it securely there, so „ _,j liat it could not fall. ShVfhen manipulated it until she wade it hollow, "While the spider looked and wondered what the deuce was going to follow! * * * Within the' tiny mud recess the fly then laid an egg; __

The spicier thought he "smelt a , rat," but never stirred a peg' Till the fly came out and look'd 11 about as if she something lacked e j When the spider thus addressed '• her, with captivating tact: L, * * * e —"Will you walk into my"— "Hello! you arc just the chap • I want!" f And with her strong forearms she & g'rabbed the spider by the front. *■ "What were you going to ob- * serve?"--"I—I —merely meant 1 to say s "I'm not accustomed to be treatf ed in this offhand sort of waw * * * f Let go! you saucy insect, or your " wretched life I'll take." But she smiled a mocking smile and whispered—"Steady on the 1 brake. You under-sized immigrant, how long have you•been out ?" But the spider, mad with rage and pain, began to squirm about. * * * "Now! pray don't get your monkey up, nor give yourself such airs, But take the matter quietly and— say your shortest prayers. By way of explanation I will merely state that I By famous entomologists am call"ed the "Mason Fly/* * * * And by the laws of Nature, which we must all obey, Spiders are our choicest diet, and you are now my prey. Control your agitation—you're the victim of a clause In one of Mother Nature's grandest compensating laws. ' * * * * You—have your little parlour, with its mirror on the shelf, I—have a spare apartment, shall have it to yourself. Within your elegant boudoir of course you've got the pull, But when you play in my backyaixLl've got you by the wool." •* * * When he heard this dire oration the spider was aghast! He couldn't get away because the . fly had got him fast. He took the situation in, in and dismay, And wished himself amongst his poor relations —far away. * * * But he struggled, and he blustered, and he threatened what he'd do, Till with her vengeful sting the fly then ran him through and through. And :as the little bully expired with a sigh, She sarcastically asked hini"Pray, how is" that for high?" * * * She. dragged him then up to the cell, and there she made a stop, Then, straight in through the orifice she pitched him neck and erop\ And then she closed the outlet up and sailed upon her way, To get another spideii and another piece of clay. * * * This closes up the story of this roving little elf, It teaches its own moral, so apply it to yourself; And if you're doing well at home, don't overstrain your cord, For there's many kinds of "Spiderflies" a-knocking round abroad. * * * —JACK VINCENT. Levin, January, 1914. ——■——■—