6 
To feed the females ere the sun arise, 
Or late at night, when stars adorn the skies.” 
Dryden. 
The next notice of these animals in point of antiquity that we 
have yet observed is with theVeterinary writers of Constantino¬ 
ple, as Absyrtus, Theomnestus, &c. who appear to have designated 
them by the term Teredines, perhaps on account of 
their cylindrical figure ; or it may be from their boring, as they 
apprehended, holes in the stomach, an apprehension and belief 
which prevails very much at this day among the ignorant, but 
is without foundation. The impressions or indentations they 
occasion upon the soft internal coats of the stomach, are often, 
it is true, pretty deep, but never, as far as we have seen, have 
pierced through the stomach; these indentations probably 
close and fill up again, after the Bot is removed; for the death 
of animals is certainly not designed in their use, 
The Veterinarians of Constantinople for their cure direct us 
to extract them from the fundament with the fingers, and 
then kill them by strewing hot ashes over them ; by which 
recommendation it would appear that they entertained some 
obscure apprehensions of their afterwards coming to something 
hurtful, if permitted to live, though it is probable their notions 
were very obscure, if they had any, of their real trans¬ 
formations. 
The same Veterinarians, I observe, have also made an allu¬ 
sion to the Bot which infests the head of the Stag ; of which, 
excepting what Reaumur has informed us, we know no more 
at this day than what they did, at least that I am acquainted 
with. Reaumur describes it as existing in a sac of the 1 auces. 
What the, complete Insect is, we are as yet unacquainted ; and 
I mention it here to excite the farther prosecution of this 
object, which to those who have leisure and opportunity, and 
