34 HEATH'S HEAD SPHINJJ. 



as a very rare insect ; and, as the caterpillar feeds 

 chiefly by night, concealing itself during the day 

 under leaves, &c. it is not often detected; yet, 

 from some singular circumstances favourable to its 

 breed, there are some seasons in which it is even 

 plentiful. Dr Shaw tells us, that in the autumn of 

 1804, the caterpillar was so common in some countries 

 as to be very prejudicial to the potato plants, parti- 

 cularly in some parts of Cornwall and Surrey. 



This animal is a great enemy to bees ; and on this 

 interesting point I shall quote what Mr Huber states, 

 in a chapter entitled, " On a New Enemy of Bees." 

 " Among the labours of insects," says he, " those which 

 concern the defence of their habitations are not the 

 least deserving the attention of man, who is so often 

 called on to fortify himself against the enterprises of 

 his enemies. It is here that Nature unfolds the most 

 unexpected resources, where she admits of the greatest 

 latitude ; for the chances of war are the object of 

 one of those general laws concurring to the preserva- 

 tion of universal order. Without the alternatives of 

 success and reverse, how could an equilibrium be 

 maintained ? One species, endowed with superior 

 strength, would annihilate another. Nevertheless, the 

 most timid have subsisted since the origin of things ; 

 their tactics, their industry, and their fecundity, or 

 other circumstances peculiar to their kind, have 

 enabled them to escape that extinction which seems 

 to menace them. 



" Among bees, as with the greater part of their 

 class, the ordinary means of resistance are those 



