PARASITIC INSECTS. 25 



which sap its foundations, and bring it, sooner or later, to 

 destruction. The above description (that of parasitic insects) 

 applies almost as exactly to those destructive spirits whose 

 name is Legion, which are for ever seeking the life of the soul ; 

 generally, in the first instance (as with their insect prototypes) 

 assailing it singly, but, wherever successful, making w r ay for a 

 multitude of vices, sprung from the original, to complete the 

 work their parent has begun. Our business is not with para- 

 sitic vices (except our own), but with parasitic flies. The 

 analogy, however, betwixt the two affords so striking a text of 

 one homily of nature, that, though pointed out before,* we note 

 it here, as a comparison to be kept in view, extended, and 

 applied, while we trace the proceedings of a notable few 

 amongst the most insidious of all insect destroyers of insect 

 vitality. 



Ichneumon is the name generally applied to the parasitic race 

 of which we have been speaking. There are, however, various 

 insects of parasitic habits which are not properly ichneumons, 

 though the name, as signifying pry en, does not ill befit them. 



The original ichneumon of antiquity was, as most people 

 are aware, no insect at all, but a little four-footed animal, a 

 pryer after, and devourer of, crocodiles' eggs, on which 

 account it was adored by the deifying people of Egypt as 

 among their benefactors ; and amongst ours we are bound, 

 certainly, to rank its insect namesakes, prying, as they do, 



* By Kirby. 



