INDIRECT INJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS. 149 



destroy them ^. — But of all the insect tormentors of 

 these useful creatures, there is none more trying to 

 them than the forest-fly (Hippobosca equina, L.)- At- 

 taching themselves to the parts least covered with hair, 

 particularly under the belly between the hind legs, 

 they irritate the quietest horse, and make him kick so 

 as often to hazard the safety of his rider or driver. 

 This singular animal runs sideways or backwards like 

 a crab ; and, being furnished with an unusual number 

 of claws, it adheres so firmly that it is not easy to 

 take it off ; and even if you succeed in this, its sub- 

 stance is so hard, that by the utmost pressure of your 

 finger and thumb it is difficult to kill it ; and if you let 

 it go with life, it will immediately return to the charge. 

 — Amongst the insect plagues of horses, I should also 

 have enumerated the larva of Curculio paraplecticus, 

 L., which Lfinne considers as the cause of the equine 

 disease, called in Siveden, after the Phellandrium aqua- 

 ticum, " Stdkra,'''' had not the observations of the accu- 

 rate De Geer rendered it doubtful whether the insect 

 be at all connected v/ith this malady''. 



Another quadruped contributing greatly to our do- 

 mestic comfort, from which we derive a considerable 

 portion of our animal food, and which, on account of 

 its patient and laborious character when employed in 

 agriculture, is an excellent substitute for the horse, 

 (you will directly perceive I am speaking of the o.r, 

 whether male or female,) is also not exempt from in- 

 sect domination. At certain seasons the whole terri- 

 fied herd, with their tails in the air, or turned upon 



* Life of General Thomas, 186. 



" Linn. It. Scand. 182. De Geer, v. 227-30. 



