Mr. VV. S. MacLeay on the (Estrus oj Mr. B. Clark. 21 



As for Vallisneri, he knew about as much of entomology as he did of 

 steam-boats; and Reaumur* expresses himself in doubt as to the Greek 

 (Estrus. Consequently, the only opinion that remains at once valuable 

 and decisive on the subject is that of Mr. Clark. It is, in short, Bracy 

 Clark solus, versus Ray, Olivier, Latreille, and Kirby ; nay, even versus 

 the ancients themselves, if they have the impudence to contradict him. 

 The question indeed is concerning the 'Oi<rpoe of the ancients; but this 

 is of the very slightest consequence, for says this diffident logician, " if 

 " Aristotle, ^Elian or Pliny described the insect which they called (Estrus 

 " with spotted wings, or with a trunk or proboscis, they knew nothing 

 " at all about the true (Estrus bovis.'" I beg leave to inform Mr. Clark 

 that he has most thoroughly convicted these ancients of ignorance, for 

 although they have not audaciously proceeded so far in their guilt as to 

 verify quite his worst suspicions, and to describe their (Estrus as having 

 spotted wings, these ignorant philosophers, to their shame be it said, nay, 

 even ^schylus himself, although he is one of those poets whom Mr. Clark 

 considers as better authority on a scientific question than any philo- 

 sopher, have all, as I have shewn, described their (Estrus as having a 

 proboscis. What follows then ? Why, that although we wish to ascer- 

 tain what Aristotle, ^lian, Pliny, and jEschylus, considered an (Estrus, 

 those ignorant philosophers, and that still more inexcusable poet, knew 

 nothing at all about their own insect, the accurate knowledge of which 

 is the snug and sole property of Mr. Bracy Clark. His " practical 

 " pursuits" and his " curious discoveries," entitle him, and him alone, 

 to decide the question as to the true (Estrus of the ancients. 



Indeed, upon Mr. Clark's profession depends a great deal of the 

 argument; for if, says he, "MacLeay or Latreille had been as much among 

 " cattle on the heaths, as my pursuits have led me, they would have 

 " long since obtained a practical acquaintance with the effects produced 

 " by these insects, and would not have been' led to suppose that the 



* Reaumur mentions the subject as a doubtful one, Vol. IV, p. 540. He 

 seems to make a distinction between the (Estrus and Asilus of the ancients, 

 and merely appropriates the latter name to the Oestrus bovis, because Vallisneri 

 had done it before him. " M. Vallisneri veut que ee nom soit donne a notre 

 " raouche. Aussi 1' appellerai-je volontiersen Fran9ois." Such are his words. 



