1793- _ curious phenomena 7 in nabeal history. 1907 
even persons precautions so necefsary- to health and 
comfort, in either hot cr cold climates. i 
It is only to be regretted, that the progrefs hither- 
to made in this branch of natural history, does not as 
yet furnifh us with sufficient means of defence against 
the different species of musca or flies, curculis or 
weavils, dermestes or feather-eaters, phalena or 
moths, &c. &c. which destroy our provisions, corn, ' 
clothes, furniture, and peltry, &c. although I make 
no doubt but another generation will pofsefs what we 
are deficient in; if naturalists pursue their inquiries 
in entomology, with the same ardor they have done 
of late years ; disregarding the common-place sneer 
at what is wittily called moth-hbunting: but the un- 
thinking beau or belle, who makes the remark, little 
suspects that the moth is the declared enemy of all 
their finery, and the very insect on which they fhould 
make war, if they with to preserve their elegant trap- 
pings. 
I cannot conclude these general hints on insects 
hostile to man, without particularizing two which 
are much more worthy the enmity of Britons than 
the nibblers of their clothes; I mean the TEREDO sia- 
valis, or calamitas navium, a dangerous enemy to the 
navy of England, pietcing the bottom of thips, and 
taking up its abode there, with the Canruaris navaits, 
an insect which finds means to pierce the hardest oak, 
whether in a {hip or other building. I have in my 
collection, a piece of petrified oak from the Pritifi 
island of Sheppey, pierced in every direction by the 
teredo navalis, which seems to contradict the opinion 
of that destructive worm’s heing brought to us from 
