EATING INSECTS. 169 



" The inhabitants of BridHno-ton may beh'eve that 

 this insect was left there a few years ago by an 

 American vessel, with what foundation I know not ; 

 but that it is an imported insect, and, like the Teredo 

 navalis, not originally an European animal, seems 

 very probable from the fact, that I can find no de- 

 scription of any species of oniscus at all resembling 

 it, prior to that of Dr. Leach, who seems first to have 

 given it a name, and it appears highly improbable 

 that if it had been an European species it should not 

 long since have attracted attention and been de- 

 scribed. No other remedy against its attacks is known, 

 than that of keeping the wood free from salt water 

 for three or four days, in which case it dies ; but this 

 method, it is obvious, can be rarely applicable. In 

 order to ascertain how far pure sea-water is essential 

 to this insect, and consequently what danger exists of 

 its being introduced into the wood-work of our docks 

 and piers communicating with our salt-water rivers, 

 as at Hull, Liverpool, Bristol, Ipswich, &c., where it 

 might be far more injurious than even on the coast, 

 I have, since December 15th, 1815, when Mr. Lut- 

 widge was so kind as to furnish me with a piece 

 of oak full of insects in a living state, poured a not 

 very strong solution of common salt over the wood 

 every other day, so as to keep the insects constantly 

 wet. On examining it this day (February 5th, 1816), 

 I found them alive ; and what seems to prove them 

 in as good health as in their natural habitat, num- 

 bers have established themselves in a piece of fir- 

 wood which I nailed to the oak, and have in this 

 short interval, and in winter too, bored many cells 

 in it*." 



* Intr. 1.233. 



Q 



