SÏUDY XI. 273 



iiave never hitherto been able to rear in the An- 

 tilles Iflands, the honey-bees of the country. They 

 refufed, no doubt, to take up their abode in do- 

 meftic hives, becaufe they did not confider them- 

 felves as there in a ftate of fecurity ; but might, 

 perhaps, have been induced to make that choice, 

 had the hives to which they were invited been de- 

 corated and defended by thorns. 



If Nature employs prickly vegetables for the 

 defence even of flies againft the attacks of qua- 

 drupeds, fhe fometimes makes ufe of the fame 

 means for delivering quadrupeds from the perfe- 

 ction of common flies. She has, in truth, be- 

 llowed on thofe which are the mod expofed to it, 

 manes and tails, armed with long hair, to drive 

 them away ; but the multiplication of thofe in- 

 fects is fo rapid in warm and humid feafons and 

 countries, as to threaten deftruction to the whole 

 race of animals. One of the vegetable barriers, 

 oppofed to them by Nature, is the dionaa mufci- 

 pila. This plant bears on one and the fame branch, 

 oppofite little leaves, befmeared with a fugary li- 

 quor, refembling manna, and fludded with very 

 fharp prickles. When a fly perches on one of 

 thofe little leaves, they inftantly clofe with a 

 fpring, like the jaws of a wolf- trap, ajid the fly is 

 fpitted through and through. 



vol. in. t There 



