?!* MINUTES AUG. 



122. & into the water-, wetting it thoroughly. 

 TENTHREDO Its wings and body being by this means loaded 

 THE TURNIP with water, its utmoft efforts to dry them were 

 in vain : it ftill, however, kept upon the fur- 

 face, and made regular efforts in fwimming ; 

 by which means reaching the water's edge, it 

 crawled out, dried its wings, and took flight, 

 without having received any apparent injury 

 from the ducking. 



Thus the fimermen may be right : in a 

 frnooth fea the flies may reft themfelves upon 

 its furface, and renew their flight ; but, being 

 once thoroughly wetted by the waves, they 

 cither perifh, or are brought by the wind and 

 tide to the fhore ; where, if alive, they gain 

 foot-hold, dry themfelves, and fly to dry 

 land *. 



* Being doubtful as to the genus to which this fpecics 

 pf infeft belongs ; and being, under the above date, in pof- 

 feflfion pf fome living flies, alfo of fome caterpillars and 

 f hryfaliies, I embraced the opportunity of conveying one 

 pf them in each ilute to Doctor Morton, (principal libra- 

 rian of the Britifh Mufeum, from whom I had been 

 happy in receiving :nore than one mark of difmterefted 

 friendfhip) in order that the fpecies and its hiflory might 

 beafcerta ; ned ; and, toward, this intent, ,w far a s my oh' 

 Jervations had then enabled me, a- well as to apologize in the 

 importance of the fubject for the liberty I was taking, I 

 accompanied them with the fubflartce of the foregoing mi- 

 on this fubjedt. Qr> Morton was pleufed to mew 



the no 



