NOXIOUS INSECTS. 115 



hot summers, they abound to an amazing degree ; and, as you 

 walk in a field, or in a garden, make a pattering like rain, by 

 jumping on the leaves of the turnips or cabbages. 



There is an oestrus, known in these parts to every plough- 

 boy, which, because it is omitted by Linnaeus, is also passed 

 over by late writers ; and that is the curvicauda of old Moufet, 

 mentioned by Derham, in his Physico -Theology, p. 250 : an 

 insect worthy of remark, for depositing its eggs, as it flies, in 

 so dexterous a manner on the single hairs of the legs and 

 flanks of grass horses. But then, Derham is mistaken when 

 he advances that this oestrus is the parent of that wonderful 

 star-tailed maggot which he mentions afterwards; for more 

 modern entomologists have discovered that singular production 

 to be derived from the egg of the musca chamceleon. See 

 Geoff roy, t. 17, f. 4. 



A full history of noxious insects, hurtful in the field, garden, 

 and house, suggesting all the known and likely means of 

 destroying them, would be allowed by the public to be a most 

 useful and important work. What knowledge there is of this 

 sort lies scattered, and wants to be collected : great improve- 

 ments would soon follow, of course. A knowledge of the 

 properties, economy, propagation, and, in short, of the life and 

 conversation, of these animals, is a necessary step to lead us 

 to some method of preventing their depredations. 



As far as I am a judge, nothing would recommend ento- 

 mology more than some neat plates, that should well express 

 the generic distinctions of insects according to Linnaeus ; for 

 I am well assured that many people would study insects, could 

 they set out with a more adequate notion of those distinctions 

 than can be conveyed at first by words alone. 



he was so eaten by the maggots, that his death seemed inevitable. After 

 clearing away, as well as they were able, these shocking vermin, those 

 who found courage conveyed him to Asbornby, and a surgeon was 

 immediately procured, who declared that his body was in such a state, 

 that dressing it must be little short of instantaneous death : and, in fact, 

 the man did survive the operation but a few hours. When first found, 

 and again when examined by the surgeon, he presented a sight loath- 

 some in the extreme ; white maggots of enormous size were crawling 

 in and upon his body, which they had most shockingly mangled, and the 

 removing of the external ones served only to render the sight more 

 horrid." ED. 



