INDIRECT INJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS. 163 



will equal in dimensions what is called the tick-bean. In 

 the West Indies these ticks, or one like them, get into 

 the ears and head of the dogs, and so annoy them and 

 wear them out that they either die or are obliged to be 

 killed \ 



Some of the most esteemed dainties of our tables are 

 supplied from such of the winged part of the creation as 

 we have domesticated. These also have a louse (Nir- 

 mus) appropriated to them, and the gorgeous peacock 

 is infested by one of extraordinary dimensions and sin- 

 gular form b . Pigeons, in addition, often swarm with the 

 bed-bug, which makes it advisable never to have their 

 lockers fixed to a dwelling-house. In their young, if 

 your curiosity urges you to examine them, you may find 

 the larva of the flea, which in its perfect state often 

 swarms in poultry. 



Amongst our most valuable domestic animals I shall 

 be very unjust and ungrateful, if I do not enumerate 

 those industrious little creatures the bees, from whose 

 incessant labours and heaven-taught art we derive the 

 two precious productions of honey and wax. They also 

 are infested by numerous insect-enemies, some of which 

 attack the bees themselves, while others despoil them of 

 their treasures. They have parasites of a peculiar ge- 

 nus, although at present regarded as belonging to Pedi- 

 culus c , and mites (Gamasus gymnopterorum) are fre- 



a Mr. Kittoe. b PLATE V. FIG. 3. 



c Melittvphagui, Mus. Kirby. See Mon. Ap. Angl. ii. 168. I copy 

 the following memorandum respecting M. MelittcB from my com- 

 mon-place-book, May 7, 1812. On the flowers of Ficaria, Taraxa- 

 ^cum and Bellis, I found a great number of this insect, which seemed 

 extremely restless, running here and there over the flowers, and over 

 each other, with great swiftness mounting the anthers, and sometimes 



