Flies : ( ' The Hosts of Achor." 233 



none of the poets really understood what the dragon-fly, the 

 dispeopler of the air, the tyrant of the pool, really is. They 

 do not recognise in the creature that 



"with gauzy wings, 



In gilded coat of purple, green, or brown, 

 That on broad leaves of hazel basking clings 

 Fond of the sunny day," Clare. 



the vulture, the shark, the wolf the everything that is 

 poetically dreadful to the insect world that it is a carni- 

 vorous fly and singularly pitiless. Perhaps it is better that 

 they did not know it, for the insect, as it is, has adorned 

 their verse, and not suffered in the handling. 



The " winged ichneumon " for her embryon young, that 

 " gores with sharp horn the caterpillar throng," is also the 

 "false ichneumon." The gnat is in Hurdis "the minor 

 fly":- 



" If yet the season to his race be kind, 

 Sharp stings the minor fly, chirurgeon keen, 

 With lancet petulant, the manly skin 

 Provoking, oft repuls'd, and slaking well 

 His thirst of blood, ere the vindictive hand 

 Of his vex'd patient fall, and with a frisk 

 The small phlebotomist indignant crush." 



As diverse as the winged insects are the "maggots" and 

 "grubs" that breed them. But in their perfected and 

 imperfect forms they are employed equally indiscriminately 

 as typical of degraded humanity. Thus the meal-worm, "all 

 powdered o'er from tail to chin " (in Swift), " cheese-hoppers," 

 bookworms (as in Burns) : 



" Through and through the inspired leaves, 

 Ye maggots, make your windings ; 

 But oh ! respect his lordship's taste, 

 And spare his golden bindings," 



Apple-grubs that in the cider-press 



