^r, CufLTis's OS/£rViit!Gfis on ^phiiics. 89 



thefe infe^ls being comparatively very fmalU they may be'confidered 

 rather as the cafual invaders of their exigence than the main hofl of 

 their deftroyers. 



The Earwig, which is in itfclf no contemptible enemy to plants, 

 makes fome atonement for its depredations by deftroying the Aphides\ 

 efpecially fuch as refidc in the curlcd-up leaves of fruit-trees, and 

 the purfes formed by certain Aph'uies on the poplars and other trees. 



Laf^Iv, we may add as the enemies of thefe creatures, foir.e of 

 the fmaller foft-bilUd birds, which feed generally on inle6ls, and 

 which may frequently be feen bufily employed in picking them 

 from the plants. Their utility did notefcape the obfervation of the 

 plcafing author of the Seafons. We {hall quote the whole of what 

 he writes on this fubjecl, prefuming that none of our readers will 

 think it too long; remarking, however, that he h-is fallen into the 

 error of moil others in regard to the manner in which thefe infeds 

 are faid to be brought by the eafterly winds, and that he confounded 

 the mifchiefs of Caterpillars with thofe of the Apb:s. 



*• For oft engender'd by the hazy north, 

 Myriads on myriads, infe£l armies warp 

 Keen in the poifon'd breeze, and wafteful eat 

 Thro' buds and bark into the blackcn'd core 

 Their eager way. A feeble race I yet oft 

 The facred fons of vengeance, on whofe courfe 

 Corrofive famine waits, and kills the year. 

 To check this plague, the Ikilful farmer chaff, 

 And blazing flraw, before his orchard burns, 

 Till, all involv'd in fmoke^ the latent foe 

 From every cranny fuffocated falls ; 

 Or fcatters o'er the blooms the pungent duft 

 Of pepper, fatal to the frofly tribe; 

 Or, when the envenom'd leaf begins to curl, 

 "With fprinkled water drowns them in their neft; 

 Nor, while they pick them up with bufy bill, 

 The little trooping birds unwifeiy fcares. 



Vol, VI. N When 



