INDIRECT BENEFITS DERIVED FROM INSECTS. 161 



form the food of some of our most esteemed fishes, and of birds that ure 

 not more valuable to us as articles for the table, than as the songsters that 

 enliven our groves. But before proceeding to the details which this view 

 of the subject involves, I ought not to omit pointing out to you that many 

 quadrupeds, which, though not all of direct utility to us, are doubtless of 

 importance in the scale of being, derive a considerable part of their sub- 

 sistence from insects. 



The harmless hedgehog and the mole, to begin at the lower end of 

 the series, are both said to be insectivorous l ; the latter devouring large 

 quantities of the wire-worms. The greedy swine will root up whole acres 

 in search of the grubs of cockchafers, of which they are very fond ; 

 and perhaps the good they do is greater than the harm, if their attack be 

 confined to grass that, having been undermined by these grubs, would soon 

 die ; they also dig up the larvae of the destructive Cicada septendecim, 

 called the American locust 2 , on which, when in their perfect state, the 

 squirrels are said to grow fat. 3 The badger, Lesser informs us, will eat 

 beetles ; and its kinsman the bear has the character of being very fond of 

 ants and of honey; which last is also said to be a favourite article with the 

 fox, who has sometimes the audacity to overturn bee-hives, and even to 

 attack wasps' nests in search of it. He will also eat beetles. 



Sparrman has given an amusing account of the honey-ratel (Viverra 

 mellivora), which has a particular instinct enabling it to discover bees, and 

 attack them in their entrenchments. Near sunset the ratel will sit and 

 hold one of his paws before his eyes, in order to get a distinct view of the 

 object of his pursuit ; and when, in consequence of his peering about in 

 this manner, he sees any bees flying, he knows that at this time of the day 

 they are making for their habitations, whither he follows them, and so 

 attains his end. 4 Another species of Viverra ( V. prehensilis) is also reputed 

 to be an eager insect hunter. The young armadillos feed on a species of 

 locust ; but no quadruped can with more propriety be called insectivorous 

 than the ant-eaters (Myrmecophagd), which, as their name imports, live 

 upon ants. The great ant-eater, when he comes to an ant-hill, scratches 

 it up with his long claws, and then unfolds his slender worm-like tongue 

 (which is more than two feet long, and wet with saliva), and when covered 

 with ants draws it back into his mouth and swallows thousands of them 

 alive, renewing the operation till no more are to be found. He also climbs 

 trees in search of wood-lice and wild honey. Bats, as every one knows, 

 are always flitting about in summer evenings, hawking for insects : and the 

 lemur and monkeys will also eat them. 



Insects likewise afford a favourite kind of food to many reptiles : the 

 tortoise ; frogs and toads ; and lizards too of different kinds. St. Pierre 

 mentions a small and very handsome species in the island of Mauritius, 

 that pursues them into the houses, climbs up the walls, and even walks 

 over glass, watching with great patience for an opportunity of catching 

 them. 5 The common snake also is said to receive part of its nutriment 

 from them. 



But to revert to insects as indirectly advantageous to us, by furnishing 

 food to fishes and birds, beginning with' the former. 



* Bingley, ii. 374. Bingley, iii. 27. 



5 Collinson in Philos. Trans. 1763. 4 Sparrman, ii. 180. 



St. Pierre, Voy. 73. 



