It creeps under the tails, and about
the groins, of horses, which, at their first coming out of the north,
are rendered half frantic by the tickling sensation; while our own
breed little regards them.
The curious Reaumur discovered the large eggs, or rather pupae, of
these flies as big as the flies themselves, which he hatched in his
own bosom. Any person that will take the troupe to examine the
old nests of either species of swallows may find in them the black
shining cases of the pupae of these insects: but for other
particulars, too long for this place, we refer the reader to L'Histoire
d'Insectes of that admirable entomologist. Tom. iv. pi. ii.
Letter XVI
To The Honourable Daines Barrington
Selborne, Nov. 20, 1773.
Dear Sir,
In obedience to your injunctions I sit down to give you some
account of the house-martin, or martlet; and, if my monography of
this little domestic and familiar bird should happen to meet with
your approbation, I may probably soon extend my inquiries to the
rest of the British hirundines -- the swallow, the swift, and the
bank-martin.
Pages:
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251