256 IXDIRHCT BEXLFITS DElUVEiD FROM INSECTS. 



S(ill more would our olfactory nerves be offended, 

 and our health liable to fatal injuries, il the wisdom and 

 goodness of Providence bad not provided for the re- 

 moval of another nuisance from our globe — the dead 

 carcases of animals. When these begin to grow putrid, 

 every one knows what dreadful miasmata exhale from 

 them, and taint the air we breathe. But no sooner 

 does life depart from the body of any creature, at least 

 of any which from its size is likely to become a nuisance, 

 than myriads of different sorts of insects attack it, and 

 in various w ays. First come the Histers and pierce the 

 skin. Next follow the flosh-flies, some, that no time 

 may be lost, (as Musca carnaria, &c.) depositing upon 

 it their young already hatched" ; others (il/. Cctsor.^ &c. ) 

 covering it with millions of eggs, whence in a day or 

 two proceed innumerable devourers. An idea of the 

 dispatch made by these gourmands maybe gained from 

 the combined consideration of their numbers, voracity, 

 and rapid development. One female of M. carnaria 

 will give birth to 20,000 young ; and the larvse of many 

 flesh-flies, as Redi ascertained, will in twenty-four hour? 

 devour so much food, and grow so quickly, as to increase 

 their weight two hundred fold ! In five days after being- 

 hatched they arrive at their full growth and size ; which 

 is a remarkable instance of the care of Providence in 

 fitting them for the part they ai'e destined to act : for 

 if a longer time was required for their growth their food 

 would not be a fit aliment for them, or they would be 

 too long in removing the nuisance it is given in charge 

 to them to dissipate. Thus we see there was some 

 ground for Linne's assertion under M. vomitoria, that 



" Plate XXI I. Fig. 4. 5, 



