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XXVI. Some Obfervations upon In/eSls that prey upon 'Timber, with a 

 J}:ort Hijlory of the Cerambyx violaceus of Linnaus, 



By the Rev. JFilliam Kirby, F. L. S. 



Read November ^th, 1799. 



NO part of the economy of this terreftrlal globe is more worthy 

 of admiration, or furnifhes a wider field for inquiry, than the 

 methods by which all that vaft variety of fubftances, animal and 

 vegetable, which are produced from the earth, are kept within 

 their proper bounds, and, when life is departed from them, are re- 

 duced to dull ; fo that a due harm.ony of parts is preferved, the 

 relative proportion of individuals accurately adjufted to the wants 

 and general good of the fyftem ; and thofe fubftances which have 

 a tendency to deform or injure it, are in due time removed out of 

 the way, and made to contribute under another form to its 

 fupport. 



Not to mention man, and the various fpecies of quadrupeds, 

 birds, fillies, reptiles and worms, which prey on animal and vege- 

 table life ; infefts, although very diminutive, are very powerful 

 inftruments, in the hands of the great Difpofer of events, to pro- 

 mote, fometimes indeed by partial evil, the good of the whole. 

 To them it is given in charge not only to prey on living fubftances, 

 but alfo to haften the diftblution and decompofition of thofe that 

 are dying or dead. Of thefe none feem to have a more arduous 

 tafli affigned them, than thofe whofe office it is to bring on, or 

 p accelerate 



