14 INTRODUCTION. 



be very serviceable to endeavour to introduce, as well us tin- 

 true silkworm and the Coccus cacti. Gumlac also, wax and 

 ink-galls are insect productions of too great importamr to 

 be passed over without notice. But there are other classes 



The Ink-gall entire, and cut open, with the insert by which it U produced (Cynipi timrtoria.) 



of benefits resulting from the relations of insects with other 

 organized beings. These, although less directly affecting 

 man, ought not to be overlooked in a general survey of the 

 economy of nature. Suppose the race of insects to be en- 

 tirely annihilated, and then observe the thousands of ills 

 which would inevitably result from the putrefying masses of 

 animal and vegetable productions, and which are now, as it 

 were, reduced to then* native elements solely by the interfer- 

 ence of the insect tribes. The entire tribes of Silpha, Ne- 

 crophagi, Dermestes, Nitidulte, immediately fall upon the 

 dead carcases of animals, devouring the flesh, and am K-rat- 

 ing the dissipation of the putrid mass; and these, assisted by 

 myriads of flies, which deposit their eggs in the decomposing 

 body in such immense numbers, succeed, in a very few <l:u s. 

 in reducing the carcass to a mere skeleton. In like manner, 

 the Scarabitedae (whose extraordinary habits of rolling their 

 rggs in globules of dung caused them to be regarded as sacred 

 by the Egyptians), the Geotrupidte, Histeridte, and many 

 other insects, are equally serviceable in burrowing into tho 

 earth underneath the fallen excrements of animals, and 

 thus disseminating them, rendering them serviceable to 



