156 INDIRECT INJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS. 



tis of the Greek writers ; and as Pliny usually compiled 

 from them, it may be regarded as his also, which he 

 tells us was a caustic insect and prepared in the same 

 manner as the blister-beetle a . He further observes that 

 it was scarce in Italy. The Greek insect of Mount Athos 

 M. Latreille supposes to be a Mylabris, and in this I 

 agree with him ; and therefore this is the proper genus 

 to which the original Greek Buprestis, the true type of 

 the insect in question, ought to be referred, and not 

 Meloe. 



Whether this animal be really guilty to the extent of 

 which it is accused, admits of considerable doubt ; but 

 as I have not the means of ascertaining this, I shall leave 

 the question for others who are better informed to 

 decide. 



But, of all our cattle none are more valuable and im- 

 portant to us than our Jlocks ; to them we look not only 

 for a principal part of our food, but also for clothing 

 and even light. Thick as is their coat of wool, it does 

 not shield them from the attack of all-subduing insects : 

 on the contrary it affords a comfortable shelter to one of 

 their enemies of this class, regarded by Linne as a spe- 

 cies of Hippobosca, but properly separated from that ge- 

 nus by Latreille under the name of Melophagus. This 

 is commonly called the sheep-louse, and is so tenacious 

 of life, that we are told by Ray it will exist in a fleece 

 twelve months after it is shorn, and its excrements are said 

 to give a green tinge to the wool very difficult to be dis- 

 charged. — You have doubtless often observed in the 

 heat of the day the sheep shaking their heads and strik- 

 ing the ground violently with their fore feet ; or running 

 away and getting into ruts, dry dusty spots or gravel 

 * Hist. Nat. I. xxix= c. 4= 



