196 Rev, Mr, Kirby'j Account of the Ammophifa, 



high degree, our natural tafte for the infpeclion of things that are 

 remarkable either for their beauty, their ftructure, or their ufes. 



Amongft the parts which diitinguifh this clafs of infects from 

 others, there is none more fingular, both for its utility and conftruc- 

 tion, than the tongue and the valves which inclofe and defend it : 

 for this inftrument is not confined to one or two genera, as feems 

 to have been the opinion of Linnseus and the majority of Entomo- 

 logifts; but belongs, as I have reafon to believe in confequence of 

 repeated diiTeaions of this part, to a very large majority of the clafs ; 

 although in fome, on account of their diminutive fize, it may not 

 be vifible, unlefs the eye of the examiner be afMed by a very ftrong 

 magnifier. 



By means of this inftrument the Hymenoptera^ I apprehend, con- 

 tribute very confiderably towards the depuration of the air ; for the 

 iweets which the flowers would exhale, were it not for myriads of 

 thefe infers, which feaft upon their ne&ar during the fummer and 

 autumnal months (b) 9 would probably render that element impure 

 and unfit for refpiration (c). I have heard of perfons that have 

 been nearly fufTocated by the odour of Sowers placed in their bed* 

 chamber. 



This part, fo important to thefe infects, will furnifh, I feel per- 

 fuaded, a very appropriate character to diitinguifh many of the 



(*) Hymenopterous infects, efpecially thofe that arc provided with a ftort rofirum are 

 moft abundant upon umbelliferous plants. Upon thefe, particularly the Daucus caret* 

 the Entnmologift will find many of the rarer fpecies of the fplendid genus Chrvfu 



(0 The wifdom of Providence has not only been attentive to provide againft the 

 atmofphere's being overloaded with fweets; it has alfo ufed fimilar precautions to pre 

 vent its being corrupted by exhalations of a contrary nature : and to efFed this purpofc.it 

 employs an infinite number of inf e a S . (Whieh dafe.of animals, in conjunaion with the 

 Fuj h may be called the depurators and fcavengers of Nature). Witnefs the myriads to 

 be found in their different ftates in dung and all putrefcent fubftances. 



genera 



