INDIRECT INJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS. 87 
rein-deer that has only seen one winter; and these so emaciate them, 
that frequently one-third of their number perish in consequence. Even 
those that are full-grown suffer greatly from this insect. The fly follows 
the animals over precipices, valleys, the snow-covered mountains, and even 
the highest alps ; to which, in order to avoid it, they often fly with great 
swiftness in a direction contrary to the wind. By this constant agitation 
and endeavour to escape from the attack of their enemy they are kept 
from eating during the day, standing always upon the watch, with erect 
ears and attentive eyes, that they may observe whether it comes near 
them.1 The rein-deer are teased also by a peculiar species of Tabanus 
(T. tarandinus), which, by a singular instinct, instead of their skin, makes 
its incision in their horns when tender. 
Our dogs, the faithful guardians of our other domestic animals and—~ 
possessions, the attached companions of our walks, and instruments of 
many of our pleasures and amusements, cannot defend themselves from 
insect annoyance. They have their peculiar louse, and the flea sucks their 
blood in common with that of their master; you must also often have 
noticed how much they suffer from the dog-tick, which, when once it has 
fixed itself in their flesh, will in a short time, from the size of a pin’s head, 
so swell itself out by gorging their blood that it will equal in dimensions 
what is called the tick-bean. In the West Indies these ticks, or one like 
them, get into the ears and head of the dogs, and so annoy them and wear 
them out that they either die or are obliged to be killed? 
Some of the most esteemed dainties of our tables are supplied from 
such of the winged part of the creation as we have domesticated. These 
also have a louse (Nirmus) appropriated to them, and the gorgeous 
precy is infested by one of extraordinary dimensions and singular form. 
igeons, in addition, often swarm with the bed-bug, which makes it ad- 
visable never to have their lockers fixed to a dwelling-house. In their 
young, if your curiosity urges you to examine them, you may find the 
larva of the flea, which in its perfect state often swarms in poultry. 
Amongst our most valuable domestic animals [ shall be very unjust and 
ungrateful if | do not enumerate those industrious little creatures the ees, 
from whose incessant labours and heaven-taught art we derive the two 
precious productions of honey and wax. They are also infested by nume- 
rous insect-enemies, some of which attack the bees themselves, while | 
others despoil them of their treasures. — They have parasites of a pecu- 
liar genus (if indeed they are not the young larve of Mele), although 
at present regarded as belonging to Pediculus’, and mites (Gamasus 
——— 
1 Linn. Flor. Lapp. 379, 2 Mr. Kittoe. 
5 Melittophagus Mus. Kirby. See Mon. Ap. Angl. ii, 168. (Triungulinus Dufour.) 
I copy the following memorandum respecting JZ. melitte from my common-place 
book, May 7.1812. On the flowers of Ficaria, Taraxacum, and Bellis, 1 founda 
great number of this insect, which seemed extremely restless, running here and 
there over the flowers, and over each other, with great swiftness, mounting the 
anthers, and sometimes lifting themselves up above them, as if looking for some- 
thing. One or two of them leaped upon my hand. Near one of these flowers I 
found a small Andrena or Halictus, upon which some of these creatures were busy 
sucking the poor animal, so that it seemed unable to fly away. When disclosed 
from the egg, I imagine they get on the top of these flowers to attach themselves to 
any of the Andrenid@ that may alight on them, or come sufficiently near for them 
to leap on it—K, 
a4 
