t 6 ] 



The. Sting or Saw which terminates it, is flatted, and thin, and of 

 a cbefout brown ; faw'd in the Female, plain in the Male. Os 

 prefling the body of the Fly between the fingers, it may be forc'd 

 out farther, a little from the vent- 



This is the Tcnthredo-Alni, of the Syflema Nature of Lin- 

 nsus. Perhaps alfo, it is the Tenthredo Ovata of the fame work ; 

 for Infects are not fo numerous, as 'tis the cuflom now to think 

 them : and colour, tho' an obvious, is no certain character among 

 thefe creatures : in fome it differs with the feafon ; in others, with 

 the fex -, in all, it glows according to the creature's health and vi- 

 gour : in moft, it is exalted in the time of courtfhip, as the feathers 

 on the necks of fome Fowls -, and in fome, it fades, and is loft utterly 

 in dying, as the colours of many fillies. 



This pretty Fly rifes from a yellow Worm with a black head, and 

 twenty little feet ; frequent in fummer on the Alders, and bury'd 

 under ground all winter for its change : in May we fee it perfect. 



'Twere well if we knew all the Infects, as this is known ; but 

 'tis only a fmall part that have heen trac'd fo thoroughly ; where they 

 have, it makes a great addition to their hiftory : but where the eye has 

 not diftinctly ken it, 'tis befl to be filent. They who relate their errors 

 and conjectures, under the feeming face of knowledge, deceive, and 

 are deceiv'd. 



II. MOTTLED 



