INDIRECT INJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS. 163 



highest alps ; to which in order to avoid it they often 

 fly with great swiftness in a direction contrary to the 

 wind. By this constant agitation and endeavour to 

 escape from the attack of their enemy they are kept 

 from eating during the day, standing always upon the 

 watch, with erect ears and attentive eyes, that they 

 may observe whether it comes near them*. The rein- 

 deer are teased also by a peculiar species of Tabanus 

 {T. tarandinus, L.) which, by a singular instinct, in- 

 stead of their skin, makes its incision in their horns 

 when tender. 



Our dog-s, the faithful guardians of our other domes- 

 tic animals and possessions, the attached companions 

 of our walks, and instruments of many of our plea- 

 sures and amusements, cannot defend themselves from 

 insect annoyance. They have their peculiar louse, and 

 the flea sucks their blood in common ^ith that of their 

 master : you must also often have noticed how much 

 they suffer from the dog-tick, which, when once it has 

 fixed itself in their flesh, will in a short time, from the 

 size of a pin's head, so swell itself out by gorging their 

 blood, that it will equal in dimensions what is called 

 the tick-bean. In the West Indies these ticks, or one 

 like them, get into the ears and head of the dogs, and so 

 annoy them and wear them out that they either die or 

 are obliged to be killed''. 



Some of the most esteemed dainties of our tables are 

 supplied from such of the winged part of the creation 

 as we have domesticated. These also have a louse (Rici- 

 nus, De Geer) appropriated to them, and the gorgeous 

 peacock is infested by one of extraordinary dimen- 



* Linn, Flor. Lapp. 379. * Mr, Kittoc. 



M 2 



