286 INDIRECT BENEFITS DERIVED FROM INSECTJ^. 



to be an adept in fly-fishing, which requires the most 

 skill and furnishes the best diversion, the angler ought 

 to be conversant in entomology, at least sufficiently so 

 to distinguish the different species of Phryganea, and to 

 know the time of their appearance. — The angler is not 

 only indebted to insects for some of his best baits, but 

 also for the best material to fasten his hooks to, and 

 even for makins: his lines for smaller fish — the Indian 

 grass or gut as it is called, (termed in France Chexeux 

 de Florence,) which is said to be prepared in China from 

 the matter contained in the silk reservoirs of the silk- 

 worm, but according to Latreille is the silk vessel itself 

 when dried ^. 



One of the most important ends for which insects 

 were gifted with such powers of multiplication, giving 

 birth to myriads of myriads of individuals, was to fur- 

 nish the feathered part of the creation with a sufficient 

 supply of food. The number of birds that derive the 

 whole or a principal part of their subsistence from in- 

 sects is, as is universally known, very great, and in- 

 cludes species of almost every order. 



Amongst the Accipitres the kestril (Falco Tinmincv- 

 Ins, L.) devours abundance of insects. A friend of 

 mine, upon opening one, found its stomach full of the 

 remains of grasshoppers and beetles, particularly the 

 former, which he suspects constitute great part of the 

 food of this species. One of the shrikes, also, or 

 butcher-birds {Laniits Coll urio)— and it is probable that 

 other species of this numerous genus may have the same 



'^ Anderson's Recreations in Jgricult. fisc, iv. 4TS. Latr. Hist. ISat. 

 xiv. 154. 



