208 
LETTERS FROM ALABAMA, 
being disturbed, diffused suddenly their rank odour, 
in a degree far more pungent than I had ever be- 
fore smelt ; it even caused my eyes, though at a 
considerable distance, to smart like the exhalations 
from a cut onion. 
Everybody knows how liable the Common Dorr 
and the Humble-bee of our own country are to be 
infested with parasitic mites or ticks, to so great an 
extent, indeed, as often to be almost covered with 
them, while the poor exhausted creature is utterly 
unable to defend itself against their attacks, and at 
length dies. Mr. Rennie, in his Insect Miscel- 
lanies,” speaks of having seen butterflies and dra- 
gonflies burdened in the same manner. I have 
lately observed a parallel fact, in the case of a 
little dragonfly [Libellula Bermioe)^ which I found 
much infested with minute scarlet mites, beneath 
the abdomen. But there is a much more interest- 
ing fact, which I forgot to mention when speaking 
of the Ocellated Clickbeetle [Alans oculatus), viz. 
that one of these beetles was molested by great 
numbers of the curious little creature, Ghelifer. 
It resembles a very tiny scorpion without a tail ; 
and these, which I found, ran backward as readily 
as forward. That these little insects are fiercely 
predaceous has been long known, but not (at 
least that I am aware,) that they are gregarious, 
or parasitical. 
The continuation of the species seems to be the 
chief end of individual insect existence : an instinct 
which almost triumphs over death itself. 
Naturam expellas furc&, tamen recurret.” 
Moths which have been pinned by the collector 
before the deposition of their eggs, in conformity 
with this instinct, hasten to deposit them on the 
