When the oedicnemus flies it stretches out its legs straight behind,
like an heron.
I am, etc.
Letter XXXIV
To Thomas Pennant, Esquire
Selborne, March 30, 1771.
Dear Sir,
There is an insect with us, especially on chalky districts, which is
very troublesome and teasing all the latter end of the summer,
getting into people's skins, especially those of women and children,
and raising tumours which itch intolerably. This animal (which we
call an harvest-bug) is very minute, scarce discernible to the naked
eye; of a bright scarlet colour, and of the genus of Acarus. They are
to to be met with in gardens on kidney-beans, or any legumens; but
prevail only in the hot months of summer. Warreners, as some have
assured me, are much infested by them on chalky downs; where
these insects swarm sometimes to so infinite a degree as to
discolour their nets, and to give them a reddish cast, while the men
are so bitten as to be thrown into fevers.
There is a small long shining fly in these parts very troublesome to
the housewife, by getting into the chimneys, and laying its eggs in
the bacon while it is drying: these eggs produce maggots called
jumpers, which, harbouring in the gammons and best parts of the
hogs, eat down to the bone, and make great waste.
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