384 FOOD OF INSECTS. 



cent or unmanufactured state. A beam of oak when 

 it has supported the roof of a castle five hundred years, 

 is as much to the taste of some, (AnobJa,) as the same 

 tree was in its growing state to that of others ; another 

 class (Ptini) would sooner feast on the herbarium of 

 Brunfelsius, than on the greenest herbs that grow ; 

 and a third (Tinece, Termites), to whom 



a river and a sea 



Are a dish of tea, 



And a kingdom bread and butter," 



w ould prefer the geographical treasures of Saxton or 

 Speed, in spite of their ink and alum, to the freshest 

 rind of the flax plant. — The larva of a little fly (Musca 

 cellaris ? L. Oinojjota cellaris, Kirby), whose econo- 

 my, as I can witness from my own observations, is 

 admirably described by Mentzelius% disdains to feed 

 on anything but wine or beer, which like Boniface in 

 the play it may be said both to eat and drink, though, 

 unlike its toping counterpart, indifferent to the age of 

 its liquor, which whether sweet or sour is equally ac- 

 ceptable. 



A diversity of food almost as great may be boasted 

 by the insects which feed on animal substances. Some 

 (flesh-flies, carrion-beetles, &c.) devour dead carcases 

 only, which they will not touch until imbued with the 

 Jiaut gout of putridity. Others, like Mr. Bruce's Abys- 

 sinians, preferring their meat before it has passed 

 through the hands of the butcher, select it from living 

 victims, and may v^ith justice pride themselves upon 

 the peculiar freshness of their diet. Of these last, dif- 



^ r.ph^m. German. Jn. xW. Obs. 58. Ra!. JJist. Ins. 261. 



