CHAP. VII. DESTRUCTIVE ANTELOPES AND INSECTS. 22Q 



dispossessed of his lands so long as these animals re- 

 main, and till the heavy rains again restore verdure to 

 the earth. Every attempt to save the cultivated fields 

 proves abortive, if they he not inclosed by high and 

 thick hedges. Heaps of dry manure (the only fuel of 

 Sneeuwbergen and other treeless districts) are placed 

 close to each other round the fields, and set on fire in 

 the evening, so as to cause a dense smoke, with the 

 hopes of frightening away the antelopes ; but the dawn 

 of day exposes the inefficacy of the precaution, for 

 the fields, which were verdant with produce the evening 

 before, are now covered with thousands of antelopes, 

 and the crops cut or levelled with the ground. Many 

 others might be added to the list of quadrupeds which, 

 in a greater or less degree, inflict injuries upon our pro- 

 perty; but their depredations are of an inferior nature. 

 (241.) Insects appear more 

 insignificant, but they are, on 

 many occasions, equally de- 

 structive. These little enemies 

 consume our plants, eat up 

 our food, devour our clothes, 

 books, collections, and furni- 

 ture, besides proving the tor- 

 mentors of our domestic ani- 

 mals. Our horses are often 

 plagued by many of this tribe, 

 among which are the various 

 flies ( Tdbanus Lin.) which at- 

 tack them during autumn. In 

 North America, vast clouds of 

 different species sometimes 

 " absolutely darken the air, 

 and inflict so severe a wound, 

 as to be called burning flies. 

 Some are as large as humble 

 bees."*- Cattle are subjected 

 to equal annoyance ; and their 



Kirby and Spence's Ent. vol. i. p. 146. 



Q 3 



