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J XXVI. Some Obfervations ‘upon Infecis that prey upon Timber, with a 
~ Jort Hiftry of the Cerambyx violaceus of Linnaeus. 
By the Rev. William Kirk, F. L.S. 
Read ue edd 5th, 1799. 
| Kor part of the economy of this terreftrial globe i is more worthy 
of admiration, or furnifhes a wider field for i inquiry, than the 
methods by which all that vaft variety of fubftances, animal and 
vegetable, which are produced from the earth, are kept within 
their proper bounds, and, when life is departed from them, are re- 
duced to duft; fo that a due harmony of parts is preferved, the 
relative. proportion of individuals accurately adjufted to the wants 
and general good of the fyftem5 and thofe fubftances which have 
. à tendency to deform or injure it, are in due time removed out of 
the way, and made to contribute under another form to its. 
fupport. - 
Not to mention man, and the various fpecies of AER 
birds, fifhes, reptiles and worms, which prey on animal and vege- 
table life; infeéts, although very diminutive, are very powerful 
inftruments, i in the hands of the great Difpofer of events, to pro- 
mote, fometimes indeed by partial evil, the good of the whole. 
- To them it is given in charge not only to prey on living fubftances, 
but alfo to haften the diffolution and decompofition of thofe that 
are dying or dead. Of thefe none feem to have a more arduous 
tafk affiened them, than toh whofe .office it is to bring on, or 
9 accelerate 
