NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY. 49 



in Ant-hillocks what is called Norlk-Virak, which is but little 

 inferior to the oriental refins 5 this the Ant gathers from the 

 refinous moifture that runs from the fir-trees, and feparates it 

 with its feet 5 it then moiftens it, and mafticates it fo long, 

 that it becomes a well-fcented refin, of which I can fhow a 

 ipecimen. 



SECT. XL 



Of the Infers which belong to the element of water,, there 

 might, with nice examination, I am perfuaded, be found many 

 ftrange and unknown ; for what our eyes., without trouble or much 

 examination can difcover, are not near fo many as are found by 

 microfcropes, and from their minutenefs efcape the naked eye. 

 One ought to be provided with exceeding good magnifying 

 glaffes, or microfcopes, if one would make difcoveries of this 

 kind. 



What I can remember to have particularly remarked, in regard 

 to Water-Infe£h, worthy of obfervation, and any ways ufeful, is 

 confined to thefe following kinds. 



Firft, the little round Beetle : this is fmall and black, round as Water- 

 a bail, and has a little thin narrow tail ; horfes and cows are often Beetre * 

 hurt by fwallowing this kind in their water. 



We have alfo an extraordinary, and otherwife to me unknown 

 Infeft, larger than an Ear-wig, and fomething like it, but very 

 different in the head ; it having two crooked horns bending 

 towards each other, which open and fhut like a pair of pincers ; 

 and which I, for want of a known name, will call Kniber till 

 fuch time as we know better; with thefe weapons this little 

 animal does a deal of mifchief to the fmall fifh. A friend 

 of mine, that has a country-houfe a little way from town, and 

 near to it a good fifh-pond, afTures me, that this little Infeft 

 annually deflroys vaft quantities of fifh there, particularly of 

 his young carp; the breed of which, at a great expence, he 

 had imported from Germany : he had no luck in attempting to 

 breed them ; for not only the fpawn, but the young ones, are 

 deflroyed when they are grown to fome bignefs*. Almoft the 

 fame inconveniency is caufed by a fort of Water-Fleas with long Water-Ffe*. 

 legs ; they will fhoot and leap about upon the water, and then 

 duck; and with their fharp, tho' fubtil minute trunk, fling the 

 fifh, and fuck their blood; but they don't keep it long, for, like 



* This is the Worm of one of the large Libellse, or Dragon-flies, 

 Part. II. O the 



