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warmth; for which reason, trees in the vicinity of an ice-house tend to its disadvantage. The best soil for an ice-house to be made in is chalk, as it conveys away the waste water without any artificial drain; next to that loose stony earth or gravelly soil. Its situation should be on the side of a hill, for the advantage of entering the cell upon a level.

To construct an ice house, first choose a pro per place at a convenient distance from the house or houses it is to serve: dig a cavity of the figure of an inverted cone, sinking the bottom in a concave form, to make a reservoir for the waste water till it can drain off; if the soil require it, cut a drain to a considerable distance, or so far as will come out at the side of the hill, or into a well, to make it communicate with the springs; and in that drain form an air-trap by sinking the drain so much lower in that place as it is high, and bring a partition from the top an inch or more into the water, which will consequently be ir the trap, and will keep the well air-tight. Work up a sufficient number of brick piers to receive a cart-wheel, to be laid with its convex side upwards to receive the ice; lay hurdles and straw upon the wheel, which will let the melted ice drain through, and serve as a floor. The sides and dome of the cone are to be nine inches thick, and the sides to be done in steened brickwork, i. e. without mortar, and wrought at right angles to the face of the work: the filling in behind should be with gravel, loose stones, or brick-bats, that the water which drains through the sides may the more easily escape into the well. The doors of the ice-house should be made as close as possible, and bundles of straw placed always before the inner door to keep out the air. The ice when to be put in should be collected during the frost, broken into several pieces, and rammed down in strata of not above a foot, to make it one complete body; the care in putting it in, and well ramming it, tends much to its preservation. In a season when ice is not to be had is sufficient quantities, snow may be substituted. Ice may be preserved in a dry place under ground, by covering it well with chaff, straw, or reeds. Chaff is much used for this purpose in Italy.

ICE ISLAND, a name given by sailors to a great quantity of ice collected into one huge solid mass, and floating about upon the seas near or within the polar circles. In the midst of those tremendous masses navigators have been arrested and frozen to death. In this manner the brave Sir Hugh Willoughby perished with all his crew in 1553; and in the year 1773 lord Mulgrave was caught in the ice, and was near experiencing the same unhappy fate. The forms assumed by the ice in this chilling climate are very pleasing. The surface of that which is congealed from the sea water is flat and even, hard, and opaque, resembling white sugar. The greater pieces, or fields, are many leagues in length: the smaller are the meadows of the seals, on which those animals at times frolic by hundreds. The motion of the smaller pieces is as rapid as the currents: the greater, which are sometimes 200 leagues long, and sixty or eighty broad, move slow and majestically, often fix for a time, im

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moveable by the power of the ocean, and then produce near the horizon that bright white ap. pearance called the blink. The approximation of two great fields produces a most singular phenomenon the larger forces the less out of the water, and adds it to its surface: a second and often a third succeeds; so that the whole forms an aggregate of a tremendous height. float in the sea like so many rugged mountains, and are sometimes 500 or 600 yards thick; but the far greater part is concealed beneath the water. These are continually increased in height by the freezing of the spray of the sea, or of the melting of the snow, which falls on them. Those which remain in this frozen climate receive continual increase; others are gradually wafted by the northern winds into southern latitudes, and melt by degrees by the heat of the sun, till they waste away in the boundless element. The collision of the great fields of ice, in high latitudes, is often attended with a noise that for a time takes away the sense of hearing any thing else; and the less with a grinding of unspeakable horror. The water which dashes against the mountainous ice freezes into an infinite variety of forms; and gives the voyager ideal towns, streets, churches, steeples, and every shape which imagination can frame.

ICELAND, an island of the North Atlantic Ocean, belonging to Denmark, extends according to Henderson from lat. 63° 20′ to 67° 20′, and between 15° 30′ and 22° 30′ W. long. It is of an irregular oval figure, about 380 miles in length, and about 230 in its greatest breadth, containing upwards of 60,000 square miles: Dr. Henderson says 67,000; but the estimates of its size vary considerably. The coast is indented all round with numerous deep gulfs, bays, and creeks; several of which form excellent harbours.

When this island was discovered by the Norwegians, in 860, it was uninhabited: that nation first colonised it in 878; since which its history has been very accurately kept. The whole country is composed of stony and barren mountains, whose summits, though the highest does not reach 5000 feet, are covered with glaciers (Snaefell Jokul, the highest point, is 4558 feet). These mountains present two distinct characters; first, those formed by thirty to forty regular horizontal strata of rock; while the second are composed of various substances minglea and confused, such as great masses of rock, agglomerations of pumice stone, &c., cemented by gravel and clay. These are evidently of volcanic origin, and indeed the whole island may be considered as a vast cauldron filled with combustible matters, whose ignition produces frequent and sometimes

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dreadful earthquakes and eruptions ; amongst which those of 1783 were the most tremendous of any recorded in history. In that year,' says the abbé Ordinaire, it was feared, that this island would fall to pieces, so dreadful and multiplied were the convulsions produced by its volcanoes and internal fires. A thick sulphureous smoke rendered the island absolutely invisible to mariners at sea, while the people on shore were in danger of being suffocated by it. The fog, which about this time spread over all

Europe, was considered as an effect of these ex-bruary the Eyafjeld Jokui emitted smoke halations. Frightful hollow roarings proceeded greatly resembling the steam of boiling water; from the bottom of the sea. From Mount Shap- and some persons were of opinion that the mou ton-gluber (Skaptar Jokul) there poured a terri- tain had decreased, and was lower near the crafic torrent of liquid fire for six weeks, which ter, as it evidently appeared to be when viewed ran ninety miles to the sea and was fifty miles in from north to south. It is stated that the water. breadth, and the perpendicular height of its sides in the rivers that flow from the Jokul and the from eighty to 100 feet; it dried up twelve rivers surrounding mountains, had been considerably and filled extensive valleys, so that the whole enlarged during the first day's eruption. A consurface of the country was in a state of igneous stant rumbling noise was heard in the vicinity of fluidity, and resembled an immense lake of inelted the volcano, attended occasionally by a dreadful metal. crash as if the immense masses of stones and ice were on the eve of being precipitated down the mountain.

Not equal to the above in its terrific consequences, but still worth recording, was the eruption of the old volcano of Eyafjeld Jokul in December 1821.

Europe had this month experienced a remarkable fall of the barometer, accompanied with an agitation of the magnetic needle, which indicated, in the opinion of many persons, some extraordinary convulsion of nature. It was afterwards found that this old Icelandic volcano, which had been quiet since 1612, was suddenly on the 16th in a state of great activity.

This mountain, otherwise called Cape Hecla, is about 5666 feet in height. It is nearly equidistant from Kolla and Hecla, and is the southernmost of the chain where the dreadful eruption broke out about the middle of the last century.

On the 19th of December, 1821, the eruption began. The crater was formed at the distance of five miles, from the minister's house at Holt, and discharged itself through the thick mass of ice that enveloped it, and which is seldom melted. The ice was dispersed in every direction, and a mass, eighteen feet high and sixty feet in circumference, fell towards the north. A number of stones, of different sizes, rolled down the mountain, accompanied with a noise like thunder; and this was immediately followed by a discharge of an enormous and lofty column of flame, which illuminated the whole country, and allow ed the people at Holt to read as perfectly within their houses at night as if it had been day. Ashes, stones, gravel, and heavy melted masses of rock, some of which weighed about fifty pounds, were thrown up, and one of these last was found at the distance of five miles from the crater. On the day immediately following the eruption, a great quantity of the fine grayishwhite powder of pumice was discharged, and carried about by the wind so as to fall like snow, and cover the adjacent country. It penetrated into the houses through every opening. It exhaled a disagreeable smeli of sulphur, brought on affections of the eyes, and occasioned diseases among the sheep in Vester Eyafjeld and Oster Landoe. On the 25th a violent storm raged from the south, and, by the united action of the wind and the rain, the fields were cleared of the sulphureous dust which had covered them. On the 26th and 27th of December there was a heavy storm from the north-east, and the barometer, which had been gradually falling since the 18th of December, when it was 29° 16′, had reached on the 26th of December its lowest point at 28° 49′. On the 18th of February the barometer, which had been at 29° 42', on the 11th fell to 27° 72'. So late as the 23rd of Fe

The total number of previous eruptions of volcanoes in Iceland appears to be the following :

From Hecla, since the year
From Kattlagiau Jokul
From Krabla

In different parts of the Guld-
bringe Syssel
At sea

1004 inclusive 22 900

1724

1000

1583

From the lake Grimsvatn, in 1716
From Eyafialla Jokul in
From Eyrefa Jokul, in
Prom Skaptar Jokul, in

7

4

3211

1717

1720

1

1783

1

42

In chronological order, the different eruptions mentioned by Icelandic authors stand thus: In the years 900, 1000, 1104, 1137, 1222, 1300, 1340, 1341, 1362, 1389, 1422, 1538 (Vesuvius erupted the same year), 1554 (Etna), 1538, 1619, 1636 (Etna), 1693 (Vesuvius, 1692; Ætna 1694), 1716, 1717 (Vesuvius), 1720, 1724, 1728, 1730 (Vesuvius), 1754 (Vesuvius), 1755 (Ætna), 1756, 1766 (Etna and Vesuvius), 1771, and 1772, flames seen on Hecla; 1783. Thus it appears, that many of the eruptions that are known to have taken place, since Iceland was inhabited, have not been particularly noticed; and it is very probable that numerous eruptions of less note have been passed over. We may reckon active all those mountains which have burned within the last century. Of these there are six ;Hecla, Krabla, Catilagiau, Eyafialla, Eyrefa, and Skaptar Jokul.

These internal fires have produced a great number of yawning fissures and caverns, and give rise to innumerable boiling springs, which the natives use both medicinally and to cook their victuals without hire. The most celebrated is that of Geyser, near Skalholt, the approach to which is announced by a noise resembling the fall of a great cataract. At intervals, several times a day, it throws up a column of boiling water many feet in thickness, to the height of nearly 100 feet. Mineral springs are also common, and basaltic columns are scattered over the island, sometimes covering spaces of two or three miles in length without interruption: they have generally from three to seven sides, are from five to seven feet in thickness, and from twelve to sixteen yards in length.

Specimens of silver, copper, and iron ores have been found in Iceland, and induce the supposition that it has mines of these metals: in

other mineral substances it is extremely rich, having sulphur, onyx, zeolite, chalcedony, porphyry, pumice-stone, rock-crystal, jasper, agate, carneoles, the celebrated calcareous spath or Iceland spar, that gives a double refraction, several varieties of argillaceous earth, clay for porcelain, limestone, &c.

The gulfs of the shores are filled with islands, and abound in fish, amphibious animals of the genus of phoca, and sea birds. The rivers, or rather torrents, are numerous, and, as well as the lakes, some of which are of considerable size, are well stocked with salmon and trout.

The climate of Iceland is not extremely cold, but the seasons are variable. The sea, at a small distance from the shores, is seldom frozen; and very little ice is ever seen near the west coast, notwithstanding its proximity to Greenland. On the east coast, the floating ice does not drift farther south than Berufiord in 644°. The prevailing winds are from the north, and the extremes of the temperature are between 35° below the freezing point to 70°. In some years the month of January is accompanied by violent storms from the north-west that drive vast mountains of ice into the bays of the north coast, which chill the atmosphere and prolong the On this ice arrive herds of white bears, which commit great ravages among the sheep, but are soon destroyed, government paying ten dollars a head for their destruction, besides purchasing their skins. Thunder is very rarely heard, and never but in winter and in the vicinity of the volcanoes.

winter.

Once or twice I observed them in the south, but they were faint and stationary.'

Though the island at present produces no trees of importance, there can be no doubt but that it was formerly well wooded, the roots and trunks of trees, chiefly birch, being found in the morasses; and a species of fossil or imperfectly petrified wood, apparently oak, called surtur brand, is met with in large quantities, principally in the mountains, and partly supplies the inhabitants with fuel, the deficiency of which necessary is made up towards the south by turf and cow-dung. On the north coast drift wood is generally abundant.

According to the Icelandic annals, wheat was formerly sown here with success, but this grain will not now come to maturity; and the ripening of rye, oats, and barley, is so very precarious, that agriculture is almost entirely confined to the manuring some meadows for pasture and hay. In the island are reckoned 300 gardens, producing potatoes, cabbages, carrots, and turnips, but no fruit trees of any kind. The most useful indigenous plants are some cochlearia, and the Iceland moss used in dyeing. It seems probable, that the destruction of the woods, and the feebleness of vegetation in general, is owing to the increased severity of the cold, caused by the accumulation of ice between this island and Greenland, which now forms a solid mass precluding all approach to the latter, though, according to the annals, the communication was formerly open.

The wild animals of Iceland are the arctic or The most attractive curiosity of an Iceland white, and the brown or blue fox, wild cats, rats winter is the aurora borealis; which is no where and mice. The domestic are rein-deer, horses, more beautiful or more constantly exhibited. black cattle, sheep, goats, dogs, and cats. The Dr. Henderson says, 'I had the opportunity of rein-deer introduced from Norway have rapidly contemplating the northern lights almost every multiplied. The horses are of a small but largeclear night the whole winter, sometimes shoot- boned breed, and capable of great fatigue; they ing across the hemisphere in a straight line, and are the only land conveyances, the want of roads presenting to the view, for a whole evening, one precluding the use of wheel carriages. The vast steady stream of light, but more commonly black cattle are small and without horns, while they kept dancing and running about with amaz- the sheep are all furnished with them. In 1810, ing velocity, and a tremulous motion, exhibit- the island had, horses, 27,000; black cattle, ing as they advanced some of the most beautiful 20,000; sheep, 225,000. Goats are chiefly found curvated appearances. On gaining one point in the north, and there are no hogs. The dogs of the hemisphere, they generally collected, as are of three varieties, the sheep or Icelandic dog if to muster their forces, and then began to of Buffon, and two other varieties of the Danish branch out in numerous ranks, which steered off dog. The only poultry reared, from the dearto the greatest distances from each other as they ness of corn, are a few common cocks and hens. passed the zenith, yet so as always to preserve The wild birds, which the Icelanders take either the whole of the phenomena in an oval shape, for their feathers or as food, are the swan, wild when they contracted nearly in the same way geese, ducks, puffins, and other aquatic birds, as they had expanded, and, after uniting in a the woodcock, heathcock, &c. The eider duck common point, they either returned in a few builds its nest in the rocks of the coast, and its minutes, or were lost in a stream of light, which down is carefully collected, but there is a heavy grew fainter and fainter, the nearer it approached fine for killing the bird. It disappears in authe opposite side of the heavens. They were tumn, but where it retires to is unknown. The mostly of a dunnish yellow, yet often assumed Iceland falcons are considered the best of Eumixtures of red and green, They almost always rope for sport, and considerable numbers were took their rise from the summit of Mount Erian, formerly sent to Copenhagen for the royal which is about due north-east from Reykeavik, amusement, but this tribute is no longer deand proceeded in a south-west direction. When manded. visible the whole length of the hemisphere, they were uniformly strongest towards the north and north-east, and were always sure to be seen in that quarter when they appeared no where else. VOL. XI.

Besides the destructive effects of earthquakes and volcanoes, the Icelanders have to fear almost equally the disruptions of the secondary or agglomerated mountains, and the avalanches. The

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former usually happen in summer, after heavy rains, which washing away the clay that supported the masses of rock, they roll into the valleys, and carry destruction with them. The principal diseases to which the Icelanders are subject are catarrhal fevers, pleurisy, diarrhea, leprosy, and hypochondria. Their general food consists of dried or fresh fish, milk, cheese, curds, and bread. As luxuries, meat stewed in milk, smoked meat, porridge of wheat or barley flour and milk, sour and salted butter. The Icelanders observe Lent so strictly, that they not only do not touch meat, but even abstain from mentioning it during this season. Their chief beverage is tolerable beer, of their own brewing, and a fermented liquor produced from milk. The higher classes have, of late years, become habituated to the use of tea, sugar, and coffee, wines, brandy, &c.

The Icelanders fabricate almost all their domestic utensils, and manufacture the whole of their wool into a coarse cloth called wadmar, or into stockings, gloves, jackets, carpets, &c. The men as well as women are employed during winter in their domestic manufactures. As soon as the ice is melted cutting turf begins, and, when the thawed waters have run off from the meadows, they are cleared of the straw and other rubbish collected on them during winter, and which, by preventing the sun's rays from penetrating the ground would hinder the grass from shooting. When this operation is completed, a thin layer of manure is spread on them, which finishes the field labor until the time of mowing, which usually commences in the middle of July, and lasts till September.

The fishery principally occupies the inhabitants of the south and west coasts. Its chief objects are cod and herrings: the former, as abundant as in Newfoundland, are cured in the same manner as in Norway. The herrings arrive in shoals in June and July. About 2000 boats are usually employed in the fisheries. The Icelanders also take for their oil the arctic shark, small whales, and seals, which arrive at the same time as the white bears on the ice. A part of the fish is, after being dried, reduced to powder, and serves to feed the cattle in winter. The extent of the fisheries, considered as a branch of commercial industry, is, however, very confined, both from the imperfection of the boats and nets and from the want of capital.

Iceland is politically divided into four quarters, or amts, named after the cardinal points, which are subdivided into eighteen syssels, or districts, and these again into less jurisdictions, called hreppar. The island is governed by a grand bailiff, who is also bailiff of the southern quarter: the other three quarters are under the immediate superintendance of two subordinate bailiffs. The written laws are according to the Norwegian code, and there is an appeal to the supreme tribunal at Copenhagen. The island has no regular troops.

The population of Iceland in former times is said to have exceeded 100,000. In 1810 it was estimated at 47,000, or about thirty-three persons to a square mile for the whole island, or 102 to 104, considering only the habitable parts. Dr.

Henderson takes it at 50,000. In 1824, accord ing to Gieman's dsecription of Iceland, it was 50,092; the whole being extended over a considerable space, and having but one physician, four surgeons, and 154 Christian pastors. Volcanic convulsions, and other accidents, epidemical diseases, and more particularly the system of commercial monopoly, which by keeping the people poor discourages marriage, are given as the causes of this decreased population.

The revenue raised in the island is about 30,000 rixdollars, the whole of which is supposed to be absorbed in the expense of its government and various establishments; so that the nett revenue to the king of Denmark is confined to the produce of the customs, which is reckoned at little more than 6000 rixdollars. The official communication between Denmark and Iceland is by packet.

Iceland has scarcely any collection of houses that deserves the name of a town. In the ancient system of commercial monopoly twentyfive ports were allowed the privilege of importation, and at each of these the company had an establishment of three or four houses. In 1787 six of these ports were granted considerable privileges, and as they become inhabited are to enjoy the rank of cities: they are Reikiavik, Westmanna, Grennefiord, Isafiord, Eyafiord, and Eskefiord. Reikiavik is now considered the capital, containing 500 inhabitants, whose houses are of wood coated with tar and red clay; the church and prison alone being of stone. The harbour is sheltered by several small islands, which render it safe. Skalholt, often called the capital in books of geography, probably because it is the residence of one of the two bishops, consists of only the bishop's house, the church, and a few wooden cottages. In all the other parts of the island the habitations, even of the better sort of Icelanders, are miserable hovels of turf, without windows, and the huts of the common class are such wretched dens, that it is wonderful how any thing in the human form can breathe in them.

Dr. Henderson speaks highly of the personal dispositions of the Icelanders; and all travellers notice their general intelligence and abilities. 'I have been surprised,' says Dr. H., at the degree of cheerfulness and vivacity which I found to prevail among them, and that not unfrequently under extreme depression and want. Their predominant character is that of unsuspecting frankness, pious contentment, and a steady liveliness of temperament, combined with a strength of intellect and acuteness of mind seldom to be met with in any other part of the world. They have also been noted for the unconquerable attachment which they feel for their native island. With all their privations, and exposed, as they are, to numerous dangers from the operation of physical causes, they live under the practical influence of one of their common proverbs: Island er hinn besta land sem solinn kinnar uppân. Iceland is the best land on which the sun shines.'

On the subject of their literary attainments another recent traveller observes, I have frequently been astonished at the familiarity with

which many of these self-taught peasants have discoursed on subjects which, in other countries, we should expect to hear started by those only who fill the professor's chair, or who have other wise devoted their lives to the study of science.' The same traveller remarks, in another place, "it is no uncommon thing to hear youths repeat passages from Greek and Latin authors, who have never been farther than a few miles from the place where they were born. Nor do I scarcely ever recollect entering a hut where I did not find some individual capable of entering into conversation with me on topics which would be reckoned altogether above the understanding of people of the same rank of society in other countries of Europe. On many occasions, indeed, the common Icelanders discover an acquaintance with the history and literature of other nations which is perfectly astonishing.'

ICELANDIC CRYSTAL, in mineralogy, a pure calcareous spar, in oblique rhomboidal prisms, principally known for its double refraction. With respect to the figure of Iceland crystals, they are not all of the regular form of an oblique parallelopiped, though the generality of them are such. For this crystal spar, like many others, shoots out from a large base on the rock, into many irregular, uneven-sided scalenous pyramids, small and large; which, when broken by gentle strokes with a hammer, readily split into many pieces, parallel-wise to the base; and those on the outside are of irregular forms, with opposite sides and angles unequal. Some are like a wedge or isosceles prisms, some quadrangular pyramids. Again, some of these spars are very hard, and will take a fine polish; others are softer. Some of these pieces are colorless and transparent as glass itself, though few of these are to be met with, the greatest part being foul with mundic, and other opacous matter. Some pieces are of a yellowish hue, and others of a darker complexion; but all agree in having a double refraction and a double focus, when ground into lenses; but they differ in other respects, according to their different species. Iceland crystal will bear a red heat without losing its transparency; and, in a very intense heat, calcines without fusion; steeped a day or two in water it loses its natural polish. It is easily scratched with the point of a pin; it will not give fire on being struck against steel; and ferments and is dissolved in aqua fortis. It is found in Iceland, whence it has its name; and in France, Germany, and many other places. The phenomena of this stone are very remarkable, were first suggested by Bartholine, and have been examined with great accuracy by M. Huygens and Sir Isaac Newton. In other pellucid bodies it is well known that there is only one refraction, in this there are two; so that objects viewed through it appear double. In other transparent bodies a ray falling perpendicularly on the surface passes straight through, without suffering any refraction; and an oblique ray is always divided; but, in Iceland crystal, every ray, whether perpendicular or oblique, becomes divided into two, by means of the double refraction. Mr. B. Martin prepared several prisms of Iceland crystal which exhibited not only a

double but a multiple refraction. A single prism produced a six-fold refraction, and a prism which afforded two images applied to one of six produced twelve images. He farther observes, with respect to Iceland crystal, that, though the sides of its plane of perpendicular refraction be parallel to one another, a beam of light transmitted through them will not be colorless; in which property it differs from all other known substances. See OPTICS.

ICENI, an ancient nation of South Britain, who inhabited the counties now called Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, and the Isle of Ely.

ICE-PLANT. See MESEMBRYANTHEMUM.

ICHE, a town of France in the department of Vosges, four miles S. S. E. of Marche, and four and a quarter N. N. E. of Chatillon sur Saone.

A

ICHNEU'MON, n. s. Gr. ἰχνέυμων. small animal that breaks the eggs of the croco

dile.

ICHNEUMON, in zoology. See VIVverra. ICHNEUMONFLY,' n. s. A sort of fly. The generation of the ichneumonfly is in the bodies of caterpillars, and other nymphæ of insects.

Derham's Physico-Theology.

In

ICHNEUMON, the ichneumon fly, in entomology, a genus of flies of the hymenoptera order. The mouth is armed with jaws, without any tongue; the antennæ have above thirty joints; the abdomen is generally petiolated, joined to the body by a pedicle or stalk; the tail is armed with a sting, enclosed in a double-valved cylindrical sheath; the wings are lanceolated and plain. This genus is very numerous. Gmelin's edition of the Systema Naturæ 415 species are enumerated. They are divided into families, from the color of their scutellum and antennæ, as follow: 1. Those with a whitish scutcheon, and antennæ annulated with a whitish band. 2. Those which have a white escutcheon and antennæ entirely black. 3. With a scutcheon of the same color as the thorax; the antennæ encompassed with a fillet. 4. With a scutcheon of the same color as the thorax; the antennæ black and setaceous. 5. With setaceous claycolored antennæ. 6. With small filiform antennæ, and the abdomen oval and slender. One striking character of these species of flies is the almost continual agitation of their antennæ. The name ichneumon has been applied to them from the service they do by destroying caterpillars, plant-lice, and other insects; as the ichneumon or mangouse is said to destroy the crocodiles. The variety to be found in the species of ichneumons is prodigious; among the smaller species there are males who perform their amorous preludes in the most passionate and gallant manner. The posterior part of the females is armed with a wimble, visible in some species, no ways discoverable in others; and that instrument, though so fine, is able to penetrate through mortar and plaster; the structure of it is more easily seen in the long-wimbled fly. The food of the family to be produced by this family is the larva of wasps or mason bees; for it no sooner espies one of those nests, but it fixes on it with its wimble, and bores through the mortar of

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