INDIRECT INJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS. 185 



food to insects. The caterpillar of a white moth, called 

 the borer, for destroying- which a reward of fifty guineas 

 is offered by the Society of Arts, is in this respect a 

 i^reat nuisance, as is an unknoMn species of horned 

 beetle^. An ant also {Formica analis, Latr.) makes a 

 lodgement in the interior of the sugar-cane in Guinea, 

 and destroys it. — But the creature of this class most de- 

 structive to the sugar-cane, is one of the latter genus 

 that does not devour it, and is therefore improperly 

 called Formica soccharixora by Linne ; but, by Tnakin^ 

 its nest for shelter under the roots, so injures the plants 

 that they become unhealthy and unproductive. These 

 insects about seventy years ago appeared in such infi- 

 nite hosts in the island of Granada, as to put a stop to 

 the cultivation of this plant; and a reward of 20,000/. 

 was offered to any one who should discover an effectual 

 mode of destroying- them. Their numbers were incre- 

 dible. They descended from the hills like torrents, and 

 the plantations, as well as every path and road for miles 

 w ere filled with them. Many domestic quadrupeds pe- 

 rished in consequence of this plague. Rats, mice, and 

 reptiles of every kind became an easy prey to them; 

 and even the birds, which they attacked whenever they 

 alighted on the ground in search of food, were so ha- 

 rassed as to be at length unable to resist them. Streams 

 of water opposed only a temporary obstacle to their 

 progress, the foremost rushing blindly on to certain 

 death, and fresh armies instantly following-, till a bank 

 was formed of the carcases of those that were drowned 

 sufficient to dam up the waters, and allow the main body 

 to pass over in safety below. Even the all-devouring 



* I owe this information to Robinson Kit toe, Esq. 



