290 Mr, Clark^ Obfervattom on the Genus Oejlrus* 



If the prefent investigation fhould prove acceptable to the fcien- 

 tific naturalift, from the fpecies being exhibited with greater per-- 

 fpicuity than they have hitherto been ; it is alfo hoped the de- 

 scription of their economy and manners will render it not lefs fo 

 to the enlightened veterinarian, as tending to point out the mod 

 effectual means of removing them when they become the fource of 

 difeafe. 



The obfcure fituation of the OeJIri in their larva date has been 

 a principal caufe of their hiftory being lefs undcrftood than that of 

 other infects ; and in fome inftances the defective parts have been 

 fupplied from imperfect obfervation, or mere conjecture ; as the 

 (E. hocmorrhoidalis is faid to depofit its eggs " mire per anum intransj' 

 which, though perfectly fabulous, has by frequent repetition on 

 fuch high authority*, obtained the appearance of ai± eftablifhed 

 truth ; and from the filence of authors on the Subject, it appears 

 that the mode in which the other fpecies depofit their ova has not 

 been at all underftood. 



Since the time of Linnaeus the errors of this genus, far from being 

 expunged, have confiderably accumulated by the confufion of the 

 Species with one another ; which in part may be attributed to in- 

 attention, but chiefly perhaps to the difficulty of procuring Spe- 

 cimens for examination. The inacceflible Situations of the larva, and 

 the impoflibility of Successfully imitating by artificial means their 

 mode of life when removed, have rendered them fcarce ; and in their 

 fly Hate they are not often feen, or eafily taken. This difficulty 

 will be in a confiderable degree removed, when their hiftory and 

 the mod proper time of obtaining them is pointed out. 



The errors will be beft corrected by means of a plate, reprefenting 



* Linnai S^/Itma Natura, p. 969. This error appears to have originated with Reau- 

 *nur, who received it from a Dr, Gafpari, See note on GE. hamcrrhoidalis. 



all 



