ioo NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



young in colour ; among which they skulk and conceal themselves. 

 They make no nest, but lay their eggs on the bare ground, pro- 

 ducing in common but two at a time. There is reason to think 

 their young run soon after they are hatched ; and that the old 

 ones do not feed them, but only lead them about at the time of 

 feeding, which, for the most part, is in the night." Thus far, my 

 friend. 



In the manners of this bird you see there is something very 

 analogous to the bustard, whom it also somewhat resembles in 

 aspect and make, and in the structure of its feet. 



For a long time I have desired my relation to look out for 

 these birds in Andalusia ; and now he writes me word that, for the 

 first time, he saw one dead in the market on the 3rd September. 



When the ozdicnemus flies it stretches out its legs straight behind, 

 like a heron. 



I am, etc. 



LETTER XXXIV. 



SELBORNE, March y>th, 1771. 



DEAR SIR, There is an insect with us, especially on chalky 

 districts, which is very troublesome and teasing all the latter end 

 of the summer, getting into people's skins, especially those of 

 women and children, and raising tumours which itch intolerably. 

 This animal (which we call a harvest bug) is very minute, scarce 

 discernible to the naked eye ; of a bright scarlet colour, and of the 

 genus of Acarus. They are to be met with in gardens on kidney- 

 beans, or any legumens, but prevail only in the hot months of 

 summer. Warreners, as some have assured me, are much infested 

 by them on chalky downs ; where these insects swarm sometimes 

 to so infinite a degree as to discolour their nets, and to give them 

 a reddish cast, while the men are so bitten as to be thrown into 

 fevers. 



There is a small long shining fly in these parts very troublesome 

 to the housewife, by getting into the chimneys, and laying its eggs 



