NATURAL HISTORY 



without enemies, and fuch as I hope will be a conficlera- 

 ble check upon the increafe of this very difagreeable and 

 deftructive infect. 



In profecuting my inquiries the lafl year, I obferved 

 fome eggs in the leaves of the Cherry-tree,which were not 

 femitranfparent; but opaque and black ; concluding they 

 were abortive, and defirous to know the caufe, 1 examined 

 them and found each egg occupied by two or three white 

 fpecks : the fie were fo many infects in the pupa date, one 

 of which is reprefented at j£g\ 16, and I afterwards found 

 the perfect infect which is fhewn at fig, 1 7. This is an 

 extremely fmall fly of the genus Ichneumon, which depo- 

 sits its eggs in thofe of the Tenthredo and other infects. 

 It is of a pale mjl colour ; the eyes and three fpots ((lem- 

 mata) on the top of the head, of a bright red ; the -wings 

 tranfparent, Jludded and fringed with fine briflles^ the pos- 

 terior wings very narrow ; the antenna; confifling of 5 

 articulations, I obferved this year that great numbers of 

 the eggs of the Slug-fly, efpecially of the fecond hatch, 

 were rendered abortive by this atom of exiftence. The 

 out line of the egg of a Slug flv at^/*g. 1 8, magnified to the 

 fame degree zs fig. 16 8c 17, will enable you to judge of 

 their comparative magnitudes. 



I cannot but remark here, how juft was the obferva- 

 tionof a naturalift who lived in thehrft century, and how 

 amply it is confirmed by the microfcopes of the moderns, 

 u that the author of nature is no where more perfect than 

 in the minutefl of his works !" 



To make this account as perfect as I was able, I have 

 noted every particular which has come to my knowledge ; 

 this has rendered it prolix : but I hope the fatisfaction you 

 may receive, will, in fome meafure, compenfate for the 

 fatigue of going through it. 



I beg you to believe me to be, with much refpect, 

 Sir, your mod obedient fervant, 



Matfachvjetts, .Auguf—ijgS— RURICOLA- 



A 7 . B. Tht abovt Hiflory obtained the Agricultural Society's premium 

 of fifty Dollars and the Gold Medal, C^f" 1 he prtferved fpecimens, re- 

 j erred to in the Hiflory , may befeen by calling on. the Corr'g, Secretary. 



