Rev. Mr. Krrsy’s Obfirvations 1 upon Infettsi dbi prey upon Ti 7i mber. 247 
PU um the decay of the giant inhabitants of the foreft. Nu- 
merous fpecies of infe&s, and in various ways, labour in this depart- 
ment (2). Some attack living trees, others thofe that are dead, 
Some depofit their eggs in them, that, when hatched, their larva 
may feed upon the wood; while others feck only a place well 
fheltered from wet, cold, birds or other infects, for the habitation of 
of their young. Again, fome prey. upon the foundeft timber ; 
while others make no attempt upon it till it begins to decay :—but all’ 
contribute, in one way or other, to the fame end; one taking up 
the office, where another refigns it; till that vinh from its bulk 
and folidity appeared calculated to laft as long as the earth that 
gave it birth, by -the fucceffive efforts of various kinds of infeéts, 
is S E iie 4n Do very nS time, to its 5 original c galt, "n powerful 
pes or defpife. | Jue. 
To particularize fome of the fpecies employed in this work, and. 
to point out what trees they attack either for food, or to fecure a 
fheltered fituation for their offspring, may not be unentertaining, - 
or altogether ufelefs. I fhall therefore mention a few of the indi- ` 
_+viduals of each of the Linnzan claffes, omitting Hemiptera and Neu- 
roptera, of which I recollect no fpecies that feed or nidificate 
in wood; referving the Coleoptera, which clafs fends forth the 
J moft numerous bands of thefe minute pioneers of nature, to the 
laft; and concluding the whole with a fhort hiftory of the praaiyu. 
violaceus of Linnzus. 
Among the "Lepidopterous infc&ts, the larva of the Phalena Bombyx 
(a) Infe&s are not the only labourers employed in this field; the fame m 
moted by the Æge and Fungi. Witnefs the numerous tribe of Lichens, Fremelle,, 
Agarici, Boleti, Auricularie, Spharie, &c. which derive their nourifhment from decay- 
ing wood, and aflift in its decompofiti tion.. | 
Coffus 
E 
