PARASITIC INSECTS. 25 



which sap its foundations, and bring it, sooner or later, to 

 destruction. The above description (that of parasitic insects) 

 applies almost as exactly to those destructive spirits whose 

 name is Legion, which are for ever seeking the life of the 

 soul ; generally, in the first instance (as with their insect pro- 

 totypes) assailing it singly, but, wherever successful, making 

 way for a multitude of vices, sprung from the original, to 

 complete the work their parent has begun. Our business is 

 not with parasitic vices (except our own), but with parasitic 

 flies. The analogy, however, betwixt the two affords so 

 striking a text of one homily of nature, that, though pointed 

 out before,* we note it here, as a comparison to be kept in 

 view, extended, and applied, while we trace the proceedings 

 of a notable few amongst the most insidious of all insect 

 destroyers of insect vitality. 



Ichneumon is the name generally applied to the parasitic 

 race of which we have been speaking. There are, however, 

 various insects of parasitic habits which are not properly ich- 

 neumons, though the name, as signifying pryers, does not ill 

 befit them. The original ichneumon of antiquity was, as 

 most people are aware, no insect at all, but a little four-footed 

 animal, a pryer after, and devoiarer of, crocodiles' eggs, on 

 which account it was adored by the deifying people of Egypt 

 as among their benefactors ; and amongst ours we are bound, 

 certainly, to rank its insect namesakes, prying, as they do, 



* By Kirby. 



