XV 



diseased, and others are doomed to perish, and by their deaths give birth to these their 

 inbred enemies ? Who, that is a stranger to natural history, woukl believe that there are 

 insects destined to live in the waters many months, where their principal employment is 

 the destruction of animals less than themselves, on whom they feed and thrive, till they 

 become inhabitants of the air, when their lives arc terminated in a few weeks, perishing 

 by the depredations of old age, if they are lucky enough to escape the power of other 

 animals stronger than themselves ? Yet such are the truths existing in nature ; truths 

 known to every one conversant with this study. In short, there is no part of the kingdom 

 of nature, where so many wonders are unfolded to us, as in this of insects. 



Nor are they to be considered in that contemptible light in which the generality of 

 mankind are apt to place them. We are too prone to think every thing noxious and 

 unnecessary, if we are not fully acquainted with its use. " The poor Beetle that we 

 tread on," serves to fill up an order of beings, as useful and proper in the economy of 

 nature, as that of a partridge or a hare, whose preservation and increase we are so 

 solicitous for. Many others, whose very sight create the most disagreeable sensations, are 

 not less useful and proper, under the same predicament. The carcases of dead animals, 

 which, when putrid, send forth a most nauseous stench, would remain so for a great 

 length of time, were it not for the various kinds of Flesh Flies, who, by depositing their 

 eggs there, help to consume it very quickly, and prevent a continuance so offensive to our 

 nostrils and health. Many kinds of insects are to be foiuid here in England, in great 

 plenty, who, it is highly probable, by a close enquiry into their natures might be ren- 

 dered very serviceable to us, either mediately or immediately. The blue Dung Beetle 

 (Scarabaeus Stercorarius of Linnaeus) found in great plenty in July, under horse-dung 

 and cow-dung, it is not unlikely may yield effects, either in medicine or dyeing, that 

 at present we are ignorant of. It is certain, it abounds with salts that are strong and 

 pungent ; but the examination of them must be left to time, and the enquiry of some 

 ingenious person. 



The Meloe Proscarebeus of Linnaeus, or English Oil Beetle, described by Moffat, 

 lib. i. cap. '23., also by Godartius in Lister's translation, number 1'20. yields an oil by 

 expression in considerable quantity, which is used in Sweden, with the greatest success, in 

 the cure of the rheumatism, by bathing the afflicted part. Of this I have been well 

 assured by an ingenious physician who resided there? Might not the same effects be 

 expected from it here as there. Its virtues, I imagine, are not confined to a single 

 country ; nor can I suppose the different situations of them will prevent its being 

 equally efficacious here as in Sweden. However, it is certainly worth while to make 

 the experiment.* 



* If any person is inclinable to make this trial, I must advise him to colleft them in the spring, wlicn they abound with this 

 liquor, and to choose only the females, whose bodies at that season are so large, being as it were overcharged with oil and a great 

 number of eggs, that they seem with difficulty to drag them along. When they have discharged their eggs, the appear nmch less, 

 and are not furnished with that oil thev before abounded with. The males have little, if any of it, therefore are not proper 



