I asked the Scarabee
whether he would not like to make one of us.
--Out of the question, sir, out of the question. I am altogether too
much occupied with an important scientific investigation to devote any
considerable part of an evening to star-gazing.
--Oh, indeed,--said I,--and may I venture to ask on what particular point
you are engaged just at present?
-Certainly, sir, you may. It is, I suppose, as difficult and important a
matter to be investigated as often comes before a student of natural
history. I wish to settle the point once for all whether the Pediculus
Mellitae is or is not the larva of Meloe.
[--Now is n't this the drollest world to live in that one could imagine,
short of being in a fit of delirium tremens? Here is a fellow-creature
of mine and yours who is asked to see all the glories of the firmament
brought close to him, and he is too busy with a little unmentionable
parasite that infests the bristly surface of a bee to spare an hour or
two of a single evening for the splendors of the universe! I must get a
peep through that microscope of his and see the pediculus which occupies
a larger space in his mental vision than the midnight march of the solar
systems.---The creature, the human one, I mean, interests me.]
--I am very curious,--I said,--about that pediculus melittae,--(just as
if I knew a good deal about the little wretch and wanted to know more,
whereas I had never heard him spoken of before, to my knowledge,)--could
you let me have a sight of him in your microscope?
--You ought to have seen the way in which the poor dried-up little
Scarabee turned towards me.
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