THE FLY. 207 



tion is more rapid and sudden than that of the bee, and resembles 

 that of the gad-fly in England. There is something particular in 

 the sound or buzzing of this insect. It is a jarring noise, together 

 with a humming ; which induces me to believe it proceeds, at 

 least, in part, from a vibration made with the three hairs at his 

 snout. 



It is a well known fact, that the Egyptians paid a superstitious 

 worship to several sorts of flies and insects ; and this, as the learned 

 Bryant has shown, gave a peculiar character to the judgment 

 brought upon them by the plague of flies, since their punishment 

 was inflicted by means of the very things they revered, and which 

 none of the spells or charms of the magicians and priests could in 

 any way propitiate. 



Among the ridiculous idols worshipped by the ancient Canaan- 

 ites, Beel-zebub, the god of flies, appears to have been one, as he 

 had, during the times x of the Old Testament history, a famous tem- 

 ple and oracle at Ekron, 2 Kings i. This name was afterwards 

 used by the Jews to signify * the prince of devils,' Matthew x. 24, 

 &c. 



In Hosea iv. 16, we read of Israel sliding back ' as a blacksliding 

 heifer,' where the original signifies, properly, a cow which has been 

 etung by a gad-fly, or other insect, and refers to those retreats of 

 safety to which the animal betakes itself under such circum- 

 stanpes. 



