Looking-Glass Insects

           Ofcoursethefirstthingtodowastomakeagrandsurveyofthecountryshewasgoingtotravelthrough.‘It’ssomethingverylikelearninggeography,’thoughtAlice,asshestoodontiptoeinhopesofbeingabletoseealittlefurther.‘Principalrivers—therearenone.Principalmountains—I’montheonlyone,butIdon’tthinkit’sgotanyname.Principaltowns—why,whatarethosecreatures,makinghoneydownthere?Theycan’tbebees—nobodyeversawbeesamileoff,youknow—’andforsometimeshestoodsilent,watchingoneofthemthatwasbustlingaboutamongtheflowers,pokingitsproboscisintothem,‘justasifitwasaregularbee,’thoughtAlice.

           However,thiswasanythingbutaregularbee:infactitwasanelephant—asAlicesoonfoundout,thoughtheideaquitetookherbreathawayatfirst.‘Andwhatenormousflowerstheymustbe!’washernextidea.‘Somethinglikecottageswiththeroofstakenoff,andstalksputtothem—andwhatquantitiesofhoneytheymustmake!IthinkI’llgodownand—no,Iwon’tjustyet,’shewenton,checkingherselfjustasshewasbeginningtorundownthehill,andtryingtofindsomeexcuseforturningshysosuddenly.‘It’llneverdotogodownamongthemwithoutagoodlongbranchtobrushthemaway—andwhatfunit’llbewhentheyaskmehowIlikemywalk.