3l6 OF INSECTS IN GF.NERAL. 



fands of the fame noxious race were continually entering 

 into his lurgs by breathing. During the whole of the 

 funimer months, the atmofphere teems with myriads of 

 fmall animals, and particularly in the months of July 

 and Auguil : It is then that the exceflive numbers that 

 are conveyed into the liomach and lungs, probably gene- 

 rate thoie epidemic diforders for which that feafon of the 

 year is fo remarkable. If we pufs from thofe dangers 

 •which are kfs vifible, to others more apparent, with 

 which infeclb threaten ihe human race, we iball Hill find 

 room to commiferate the inh:ibitants of many parts of the 

 globe. What an uncomfortable life mufl the poor Lap' 

 lander lead, fmce, at certain feafons of the year, the 

 number of infe£ts is fo great, that a candle is no fooner 

 lighted than the flame is extinguiflied by the multitudes 

 that flock to it ; where, after millions are deftroyed, fa- 

 mifhed millions fuccced, and renew the uncealing com- 

 bat. Even in Britain, which is happily free from thefe 

 unrelenting invaders, much inconvenience is often felt 

 from the bug, the hornet, the wafp, and the bee *. 



To counteract thefe inveterate enemies of man, and to 

 relieve him from the mifchiefs they occafion, ought al- 

 ways to be one aim of the entymologift : and no perfon 

 will deny, that whoever, by the fludy of infedls, has found 

 the means of availing himfelf of the labours of futh as 

 are ufeful, or preventing the noxious from doing harm, 

 hath rendered an eflential fervice to mankind. 



After all, however, it will readily be allowed, that 

 in purfuing the hiftory of infeds, the number of ufeful 



obfcrvations 



* The firft of thefe animals has been found to be effci^ually deftrovcij 

 by the fmoak of peat. 3 



