84 INDIRECT INJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS. 



there, j et their motions are so rapid, that it is not very likely that cattle 

 would often swallow them while feeding. 



M. Latreille, in an ingenious essay on this insect 1 suspects it to belong 

 to the genus Meloe, and as this feeds upon herbs (M. Proscarabceus and 

 M. violaceus, upon the Ranunculi, so widely disseminated in our pastures), 

 his opinion seems to rest upon more solid grounds than that of his prede- 

 cessors ; but yet, I think, the insect in question rather belongs to Mylabris, 

 and for the following reason. 



In order rightly to ascertain what insect this really was, we must en- 

 deavour to trace it in the country in which it received its name and cha- 

 racter. This country was certainly Greece; and there such an animal, 

 retaining nearly its own name, and accused of being the cause of the same 

 injury to cattle, still exists. For Belon informs us, that on Mount Athos 

 there is found a winged insect like the blister-beetle, but yellow, larger, 

 and of a very offensive smell, which feeds upon various plants, and is 

 called Voupristi by the caloyers or monks, who assert that when horses or 

 other cattle even feed upon the herbs which the animals have touched 

 they die from inflammation, and that it is an immediate poison to oxen. 2 

 This, therefore, most probably was the Buprestis of the Greek writers ; 

 and as Pliny usually compiled from them, it may be regarded as his also, 

 which he tells us was a caustic insect, and prepared in the same manner 

 as the blister-beetle. 3 He further observes that it was scarce in Italy. 

 The Greek insect .of Mount Athos M. Latreille supposes to be a Mylabris, 

 and in this I agree with him; and, therefore, this is the proper genus to 

 which the original Greek Buprestis, the true type of the insect in question, 

 ought to be referred, and not Meloe. 



Whether this animal be really guilty to the extent of which it is accused, 

 admits of considerable doubt; but as I have not the means of ascertaining 

 this, I shall leave the question for others who are better informed to 

 decide. 



But of all our cattle none are more valuable and important to us than 

 our flocks ; to them we look not only for a principal part of our food, but 

 also for clothing and even light. Thick as is their coat of wool, it does 

 not shield them from the attack of all-subduing insects: on the contrary, 

 it affords a comfortable shelter to one of their enemies of this class, 

 regarded by Linne as a species of Hippobosca, but properly separated from 

 that genus by Latreille under the name of Melophagus.* This is com- 

 monly called the sheep-louse, and is so tenacious of life, that we are told 

 by Ray it will exist in a fleece twelve months after it is shorn, and its 

 excrements are said to give a green tinge to the wool very difficult to be 

 discharged. You have doubtless often observed in the heat of the day 

 the sheep shaking their heads and striking the ground violently with theii 

 fore feet ; or running away and getting into ruts, dry dusty spots or gravel 

 pits, where crowding together they hold their noses close to the ground. 

 The object of all these actions and movements is to keep the gad-fly ap- 

 propriated to them (GE. Ovis) from getting at their nostrils, on the inner 

 margin of which they lay their eggs, from whence the maggots make their 



1 Annaks du Museum. X e Ann. N xi. p. 129. 



2 Observations de plusieurs Singularittis, &c., 1. 1. c. 45. p. 73. of the edition in Sir 

 Joseph Banks's library. 



5 Hist. Nat. 1. xxix. c. 4. 4 See Curtis, Brit. Ent. t. 142. 



