216 NATURAL HISTORY OF AQUATIC INSECTS CH. 



windows, one on each side ; put an ox into it, 

 thirty months old, very fat and fleshy ; let a number 

 of young men kill him by beating him violently 

 with clubs, so as to mangle both flesh and bones, 

 but taking care not to shed any blood ; let all the 

 orifices, mouth, eyes, nose, &c., be stopped up with 

 clean and fine linen, impregnated with pitch ; let 

 a quantity of thyme be strewed under the re- 

 clining animal, and then let windows and doors be 

 closed and covered with a thick coating of clay, to 

 prevent the access of air or wind. Three weeks later 

 let the house be opened, and let light and fresh air get 

 access to it, except from the side from which the 

 wind blow r s strongest. After eleven days you will 

 find the house full of Bees, hanging together in 

 clusters, and nothing left of the ox but horns, bones 

 and hair. When the shed is opened, small white 

 animalcules are seen, resembling each other, motion- 

 less ; then they are observed to grow little by little, 

 to develop wings, and to take the colour of Bees ; the 

 wings are at first short and tremulous, unfit for flight ; 

 the limbs are weak ; finally, desirous of light the 

 Insects start and knock against the windows, pushing 

 each other." 



Virgil's description of the process is very similar. 

 The chamber to be built must have four windows ; a 

 young ox is to be slain and his flesh pounded with- 

 out shedding of blood ; thyme and cassia are to be 

 strewed. The words " trunca pedum primo" (with 

 stumps of feet) apply exactly to the larva of Eristalis. 



Wasps and hornets were similarly supposed to 

 proceed from the carcasses of horses. Ostcn Sacken 



