INDIRECT INJURIES CAUSED EY INSECTS. 87 



rein-deer that has only seen one winter; and these so emaciate them, 

 that frequently one-third of their numher perish in consequence. Even 

 those that are full-grown suffer greatly from this insect. The fly follows 

 the animals over precipices, valleys, the snow-covered mountains, and even 

 the highest alps ; to wnich, in order to avoid it, they often fly with great 

 swiftness in a direction contrary to the wind. By this constant agitation 

 and endeavour to escape from the attack of their enemy they are kept 

 from eating during the day, standing always upon the watch, with erect 

 ears and attentive eyes, that they may observe whether it comes near 

 them. 1 The rein-deer are teased also by a peculiar species of Tabanus 

 (T. tarandinus), which, by a singular instinct, instead of their skin, makes 

 its incision in their horns when tender. 



Our dogs, the faithful guardians of our other domestic animals and 

 possessions, the attached companions of our walks, and instruments of 

 many of our pleasures and amusements, cannot defend themselves from 

 insect annoyance. They have their peculiar louse, and the flea sucks their 

 blood in common with that of their master ; you must also often have 

 noticed how much they suffer from the dog-tick, which, when once it has 

 fixed itself in their flesh, will in a short time, from the size of a pin's head, 

 so swell itself out by gorging their blood that it will equal in dimensions 

 what is called the tick-bean. In the West Indies these ticks, or one like 

 them, get into the ears and head of the dogs, and so annoy them and wear 

 them out that they either die or are obliged to be killed. 2 



Some of the most esteemed dainties of our tables are supplied from 

 such of the winged part of the creation as we have domesticated. These 

 also have a louse (Nirmus) appropriated to them, and the gorgeous 

 peacock is infested by one of extraordinary dimensions and singular form. 

 Pigeons, in addition, often swarm with the bed-bug, which makes it ad- 

 visable never to have their lockers fixed to a dwelling-house. In their 

 young, if your curiosity urges you to examine them, you may find the 

 larva of the flea, which in its perfect state often swarms in poultry. 



Amongst our most valuable domestic animals I shall be very unjust and 

 ungrateful if I do not enumerate those industrious little creatures the bees, 

 from whose incessant labours and heaven- taught art we derive the two 

 precious productions of honey and wax. They are also infested by nume- 

 rous insect-enemies, some of which attack the bees themselves, while 

 others despoil them of their treasures. They have parasites of a pecu- 

 liar genus (if indeed they are not the young larvae of Meloe), although 

 at present regarded as belonging to Pediculus 3 , and mites (Gamasus 



i Linn. Flor. Lapp. 379. 2 Mr. Kittoe. 



5 Melittophagus Mus. Kirby. See Hon. Ap. Angl. ii. 168. (Triungulinus Dufour.) 

 I copy the following memorandum respecting M. mdittce from my common-place 

 book, May 7. 1812. On the flowers of Ficaria, Taraxacum, and Bellis, I found a 

 great number of this insect, which seemed extremely restless, running here and 

 there over the flowers, and over each other, with great swiftness, mounting the 

 anthers, and sometimes lifting themselves up above them, as if looking for some- 

 thing. One or two of them leaped upon my hand. Near one of these flowers I 

 found a small Andrena or Halictus, upon which some of these creatures were busy 

 sucking the poor animal, so that it seemed unable to fly away. When disclosed 

 from the egg, I imagine they get on the top of these flowers to attach themselves to 

 any of the Andrenidce that may alight on them, or come sufficiently near for them 

 to leap on it. K. 



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