n FOOD OF INSECTS 37 



dried flowers of a botanist's collection. Nevertheless 

 their bodies are often as well stocked with fluids as 

 are leaf-fed caterpillars. 



Insects that feed on animals can boast of a 

 diversity of food nearly equally great. While the 

 Sexton, or burying beetles favour dead carcases, the 

 majority are adapted for living prey. A class of 

 these, the parasites,* form one of the most curious 

 and interesting phases of all methods of insect life. 

 There are the Strepsiptera, parasitic throughout 

 their lifetime upon bees and wasps. There are 

 the gad-flies, which, as adults, pierce the skin of 

 cattle and horses, maybe of ourselves, and suck 

 the blood. There are the young of various bot- 

 flies that insinuate themselves beneath the hide of 

 the ox, or deer, or goat, and procure regalement 

 in the swelling caused by the irritation produced. 

 They likewise penetrate into the nostrils and head of 

 sheep, and the stomach of the horse or cattle, being 

 carried thither by the tongue of the animal in licking- 

 its coat, whereon the insect mother had previously laid 

 her eggs. The mites, and ticks, and fleas infesting 

 animals and birds need not be more than mentioned. 

 Numerous flesh-feeders kill their prey outright. They 

 devour either its solid parts, or merely drink in its 

 juices, rejecting the dry frame. 



The subject of insect parasitism upon insects is a 

 very fascinating one, but for want of space it is im- 

 possible to linger long upon it here. Unfortunately, 

 anything like an adequate conception of the absorbing 

 interest of the study cannot be gained by a brief 

 notice. The leading parasitic families of the order 



