384 FOOD OF INSECTS. 



or unmanufactured state. A beam of oak when it has 

 supported the roof of a castle five hundred years, is as 

 much to the taste of some, (Anobia,) as the same tree 

 was in its growing state to that of others ; another class 

 (Ptini) would sooner feast on the herbarium of Brunfel- 

 sius, than on the greenest herbs that grow ; and a third 

 ( Tinea, Termites], to whom 



" a river and a sea 



Are a dish of tea, 



And a kingdom bread and butter," 



would prefer the geographical treasures of Saxton or 

 Speed, in spite of their ink and alum, to the freshest 

 rind of the flax plant. The larva of a little fly (Oscinis 

 cellaris), whose economy, as I can witness from my own 

 observations, is admirably described by Mentzelius % 

 disdains to feed on any thing but wine or beer, which 

 like Boniface in the play it may be said both to eat and 

 drink, though, unlike its toping counterpart, indifferent 

 to the age of its liquor, which whether sweet or sour is 

 equally acceptable. 



A diversity of food almost as great may be boasted by 

 the insects which feed on animal substances. Some 

 (flesh-flies, carrion-beetles, &c.) devour dead carcases 

 only, which they will not touch until imbued with the 

 liaut gout of putridity. Others, like Mr. Bruce' s Abys- 

 sinians, preferring their meat before it has passed through 

 the hands of the butcher, select it from living victims, 

 and may with justice pride themselves upon the peculiar 

 freshness of their diet. Of these last, different tribes 

 follow different procedures. The Ichneumons devour 



a Ephem. German. An. xii. Obs. 58. Rai. Hist. Ins. 261. 



