DIRECT INJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS. 121 



US with blessings, while other countries have been 

 made to drink deep of the cup of his fury, we shall see 

 reason for an increased degree of thankfulness and 

 gratitude, and, instead of repining, be well content 

 with our lot, though our offences have not wholly 

 been passed over, and we have been " beaten with few 

 stripes." 



Besides the insects that seek to make us their food, 

 there are others, which, although we are apt to regard 

 them with the greatest horror, do not attack us with 

 this view, but usually to revenge some injury which 

 they have received, or apprehend from us. Foremost 

 in the list of these are those with four wings, which, 

 according to the observation of Pliny before quoted, 

 carry their weapon, an instrument of revenge, in their 

 tail. These all belong to the Linnean order Ilymeyi- 

 optera ; and the tremendous arms with which they an- 

 noy us, are two darts finer than a hair, furnished on 

 their outer side at the end with several barbs not visi- 

 ble to the naked eye, and each moving in the groove of 

 a strong curved sheath, often mistaken for the sting, 

 which, when the darts enter the flesh, usually injects a 

 drop of subtle venom, furnished from a peculiar vessel 

 in which it is secreted, into the wound, occasioning, 

 especially if the darts be not extracted, a considerable 

 tumour, accompanied by very acute pain. Many in- 

 sects are thus armed arid have this power. Twice I 

 have been stung by an Ichneumon ; first by one with 

 a concealed sting, and afterwards by another of the fa- 

 mily of /. 3Iamfestator (Pimpla, F.), with a very long 



