Mr. Lehm Ann's Obfervatiom on the CiircuUo Tr!folif. 149 



nun, and other birds of the titmoirfe kind. (MotacilLe, Pari.}, 

 Such as efcape their bills are among the fir ft partakers of the uni- 

 vcrfal life which nature excites in the fpring. Laft year they ap- 

 peared in Suflex in the month of March, and, in addition to their 

 numerous perfecutors, the Staphylini were then particularly formi- 

 dable to them. 



Surrounded by fo many dangers, while feeding on the tender 

 leaves of plants, they are employed in feeking their conforts, until 

 the heads of clover and perhaps other papilionaceous flowers break 

 out, when the female depofits on the cup of the fwelling feed the 

 egg that produces its deftroyer. 



The fecundity of this little infed is fo prodigious, that the 

 maggots deftroyed a whole field which the year before, when not 

 a fingle infeft of this kind was difcovered, produced 70 pounds of 

 feed. There is reafon to believe, however, that the parents of thofe 

 millions were then in your grounds, as, the animal being not only 

 deftitute of wings but alfo very flow in its motion, it is not probable 

 that it could have overrun your field to fuch a degree from a dif- 

 tance in the courfe of one feafon. 



In the hiftory of this, as in almofl: that of every other infc6l, if 

 obferved with attention, the oeconomy of nature appears wonderful. 

 This little infefl feems defigned to prevent the boundlefs increafe 

 of the trefoil, and is itfelf circumfcribed in its numbers by numerous 

 enamies conft^antly on the watch to devour it. The female of this 

 infedt could never lay a great number of eggs if flie had to fearch 

 for flowers fparingly fpread over a large field, as flie would in that 

 cafe infallibly become a prey to fome of her enemies; whereas 

 in the clover field, where flower prefles upon flower, flie may lay 

 ten thoufand in fecret. 



The wolf is extirpated in thefciflands, formerly its abode. Infefts 

 not lefs formidable and deftru6tive are yet unfubdued. Our cattle, our 



fields 



