196 Rev. Mr. Kirsy’s Account of the Ammophila, 
high degree, our natural tafte for the infpection of things that are 
remarkable either for their beauty, their ftructure,, or their ufes, 
Amongtt the parts which diftinguifh this clafs of infeds from_ 
others, there is none more fingular, both for its utility and conftruc- 
tion, than the tongue and the valves which inclofe and defend it : 
for this inftrument is not confined. to one or two genera, as feems 
to have been the opinion of Linnzeus and. the majority of Entomo- 
logifts; but belongs, as I have reafon to believe in confequence of 
repeated difleCtions of this part, to a very large majority of the clafs 5: 
although in fome, on account of their diminutive fize, it may not 
be vifible, unlefs the eye of the examiner be affifted by avery ftronge 
magnifier. 
By means of this inftrument the Hymenoptera, T apprehend, con- 
tribute very confiderably towards the depuration of the air; for the 
{weets which the flowers would exhale, were it not for myriads of 
thefe infeéts, which feaft upon their nectar during the fummer and 
autumnal months (4), would probably render that element impure 
and unfit for refpiration (c). I have heard of perfons that have 
been nearly fuffocated by the odour of flowers placed in their bed- 
chamber. 
This part, fo important to thefe infects, will furnifh, I feel per- 
fuaded, a very appropriate character to diftinguifh many of the 
(2) Hymenopterous infects, efpecially thofe that are provided with a fhort roftrum, are 
moft abundant upon umbelliferous plants. Upon thefe, particularly the Daucus carota, 
the Entomologift will find many of the rarer {pecies of the fplendid genus Chry/is. 
{c) The wifdom of Providence has not only been attentive to provide againft the 
atmofphere’s being overloaded with fweets; it has alfo ufed fimilar precautions to pré- 
vent its being corrupted by exhalations of a contrary nature: and to effeét this purpofe, it 
employs an infinite number of infe@&ts. (Which clafs of animals, in conjunétion with the 
Fungi, may be called the depurators and feavengers of Nature). Witnefs the myriads to 
be found in their different ftates in dung and all putrefcent fubftances. 
genera 
