514 Of' INSECTS IN GENZRAIL, 



Another obje6l highly worthy the attention of the ea- 

 tymologift, is the means of preferving corn from the in- 

 vafion of infefts, after it Is collected into granaries. Our 

 fubfiftence in almofl every ftage of its piogrefs, is con" 

 ilantly expofed to the intrufions of thefe enemies of hu- 

 man induftry. Flour, bifcuit, and almofl every kind of 

 provifion, even after It is barrelled up for exportation, 

 is liable to be devoured, or rendered ufelefs, by the de- 

 predations of the moft hideous animals. Tl>e patrlotifm 

 of ftatefmen, and their z^eal for the good of mankind, 

 could not receive a nobler or more ufeful direftion than 

 in holding out rewards to fuch as might difcover the moft 

 cfFetSlual means of preventing the ravages of thofe ani- 

 mals, who, by the moll deflru6live a6livity, are conti- 

 nually converting large {lores of provifions Into £o many 

 maffes of corruption. 



May it not be hoped, tliat by a careful iludy of the 

 nature of Infefts, fome means may be difcovered to pre- 

 vent them from penetrating into the joifls of buildingSj 

 and thereby reducing them into dufl, and effedling the 

 dc(lru£lion of the moft coftly edifices. How often do we 

 find wooden furniture deftroyed by infe£ls, which might 

 have anfwered the'purpofes for which it was intended for 

 ages, had it been preferved from the deftruftive attacks 

 of thefe animals ? How many accidents are probably oe- 

 cafioned at fea by thofe formidable worms, whofe heads 

 are armed with hard fhells, and who are thereby enabled 

 to gnaw through the thickeft velTels, and make perfora- 

 tions under the water ? The alarms they have frequently 

 occafioned in Holland^ by introdilcing fhemfelves and mul- 

 tiplying among thofe wooden ftakes which fupport their 

 dikes, are univerfally known. The naturalift who fhould 



difcover 



