iuSS', SBSffiBEK HSflOH ■■':..,,'■':-■ Mm '"<■■; -■ . , ■ ■ SSwfflH

*t».u(AM 4 MARY [MRLIfcelU*
Ml v IKIftl Ll«l *KY

UNTVEp-. ; v of piris*

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH

Darlington jMemorial Library

V

u^ \ I ' •' . /*v|

/

fv

THE

NATURAL HISTORY

Hi

OF

INSECTS,

COMPILED FROM

SWAMMERDAM, BROOKES, GOLDSMITH, &c»

EMBELLISHED WITH COPPER-PLATES,

INTENDED AS A COMPANION TO

BUFFON's NATURAL HISTORY.

P E R T Hj

PRINTED Br R. StORISON JUNIOR,

POfc &• MORISON AND SON, BOOKSELLERS, PERTH | C. tiV3lS3
gOiSSU&GHj AND W. CQK2, fcfilXH,

CONTENTS.

Imtroductiok. Page i

CHAP. I.
OF Infe&s in general J

CHAP. II.
Of Infe&s of the Beetle kind n

chap. iir.

Of, four winged Infe&s $&

CHAP. IV.
^ Of Infe&s with Membranaceous Wings, and reticulated with Veins 57

CHAP. V.
♦ Of mealy winged Infe&s, with a fpiral Mouth 65

CHAP. VI.
Of flying Infe&s with four membranaceous wings 85

CHAP. VII.
Of Infe&s of the Bee or Wafp kind, with Stings in their Tails 89

CHAP. VIII.
*N A more particular account of Bees and their management 105

CHAP. IX.

' J Of Infe&s of the Ant kind 1 ro

CHAP. X.
Of Ants, from Goldfmith 123

H CHAP. XI.

^ Of flying Infe&s with two Wings 127

^ CHAP. XII.

O Of the Gnat and Tipula 139

CHAP. XIII.

* Of Flies of the Gnat kind, which have (lender Snouts or Trunks like

* Threads 140

~r. CHAP. XIV.

- Of flying Infe&s of the Tipula kind 144

CHAP.

CONTENTS.

CHAP. XV.
Of Caterpillars, and Butterflies proceeding therefrom 146

CHAP. XVI.
Of Infers of the Spider kind 1 7*

CHAP. XVII.
Of Scorpions, Centipes, Gaily Worms, and Hog-Lice 187

CHAP. XVIII.
Of Fleas, Lice, and other Infefts »93

CHAP. XIX.
Of Worms with naked Bodies without Limbi - 201

CHAP. XX.
Of Shell Snails. 20T

INTRODUCTION.

m

INTRODUCTION.

THOSE animals which by their fize chiefly attract our attentions,
are but the fmalleft part of animated nature ; the whole earth,
fwarms with living beings, every plant, every grain and leaf, fupports
the life of thoufands. Vegetables feem, at firit fight, to be the parts
of organized nature, which are produced in the greateft abundance ;
but upon minuter infpeftion we fhall find each fupporting numberlefs
minute creatures, who fill up the various gradations of youth, vigour,
and old age, in the fpace of a few days exigence.

Vegetables are generally produced but once in a feafon ; but among
infects, efpecially of the fmaller kinds, a fingle fummer fuffices for fe-
veral generations. Thefe therefore would multiply in greater abun-
dance than the plants on which they fubfift, but that they are deftroy-
ed by other animals, and often by each other ; the fpider feeds on the
fly, the birds upon the fpiders, and they, in turn, make the food o£
man and every beaft of prey.

Some infects as to their conformation are compofed of feveral rings,
joined together by a membrane, which is the ufual form of the body
in grubs, worms, and caterpillars. Unlike birds, who traverfe the
air with fuch rapidity, thefe humble animals, feemingly lefs favourites
of nature, move forward but flowly. The whole body confifis of a
fchain of annular mufcles, whofe orbicular fibres being contracted, ren-
der one of the rings that was before ample and dilated narrow and long.
The fibres of thefe rings are found to be fpiral, as are their motions in
a great meafure, fo that by this means they can the better bore their
paifage into the earth. Their crawling motion may be explained by a
wire wound round a walking cane, which when flipt off, and attempt-
ed to be lengthened, has an elaftic contraction of one ring to the other.
In like manner the earthworm, having fhot out or extended its body,
lays hold upon fome fubftanee with its fmall feet, and fo brings onward
the hinder part of its body.

Caterpillars have feet both before and behind, which not only enable
them to move forward by a fort of tteps made by their fofe and hinder
parts, but alfo climb up vegetables, and to ilretch themfelves out from
the boughs and ftalks to reach food at a diftance. Behind, their broad
palms are befet almofl round with iharp fmall naih, to hold and grafp
whatever they!are upon; likewife before, their feet are fharp and hook-
ed, by which they can lay hold of leaves, while their hinder parts are
brought up thereto. Reptiles that have many feet may be obferved to
move them regularly one after another, and from one end of the body
to another, in fuch a manner that their legs in walking make a fort of
undulation ; and by this means they move much fwifter forward than
one would imagine. The motion of fnails is performed in a different
manner ; they have a broad fkin along each tide of the belly, which

A kAS

2 INTRODUCTION.

his an undulating motion, which, with the help of the (lime that covers
their bodies, they can move flowly forward, and adhere to every fur-
face at pleafure.

The fecond fort of infects are flies of various kinds, whofe bodies are
covered by fmall plates not unlike our ancient armour, the pieces of
■which are lengthened by unfolding, and fhortened by running over
each other. Thefe lead a more luxurious life, transfer themfelves
from place to place with rapidity, and fpend their little exiftence in
feafiing and propagating their kind.

The third fort are ants, fpiders, and others, whofe bodies are divid-
ed into two or three portions, joined by a fort of ligament. Of all the
race of reptiles thefe feem to be endowed with the greatefl (hare of fa-
gacity. The wifdom of the ant, and it's well formed commonwealth,
is too well known to be infilled on ; but the fpider, though it leads a
folitary and rapacious life, feems endowed with even fuperior inftindts.
Its various artifices to enfnare its prey, and, when no longer able to
fupply a new web itfelf, the itratagems it lays to get poileilion of that
belonging to another, are evidences of its cunning.

The minutenefs of infers may render them contemptible in the eyes
of the unthinking ; but when we confictar the art and mechanifm in fo
minute a ftructure, the fluids circulating in vefiels fo fmall as to efcape
the fight, the beauty of their wings and covering, and the manner in
which each is adapted for procuring its peculiar pleafures, we lhall find
how little difference there is between the great and little things of this
life, fince the Maker of ail, has bellowed the fame contrivance in the
formation of the elephant and the ant.

The ftructure uf the eye in infects is remarkably different from that
of other creatures in feveral refpects. It is defended by its own hard-
nefs againlt external injuries, and its cornea, or outer coat, is all over
divided into lenticular facets, and through the microfcope appears as a
beautiful piece of lattice work. Each hole in this is of fuch a nature,
that when looked through, every object feems inverted. . This mecha-
nifm alone iuppiics the place of the cryftalline humour, which is not
to be found in infects. Spiders have generally eight eyes, and flies
may be faid to have as many as there are perforations in the cor-
nea. Other creatures are obliged to turn their eyes different ways to
behold objects, but flies have them fo contrived as to take in every ob-
ject: near them at once. In order to keep their eyes clean, they are
provided with two antennse, or feelers. Some however are of opinion,
that they clean their eyes with their fore legs as well as the feelers; nor
is this conjecture ill rounded, when we confider, that in fome forts, par-
ticularly the nelh fly, the feelers are too fhort for this purpofe, and
therefore their legs alone can fupply the defect.

The mechanifm in the feet of rlies, and other infects, defcrves alfo
our notice. The amphibious infects, which are obliged to live by land
as well as water, have their hindmoit legs made with commodious flat
joints, having gviiiles on each fide ferving for oars to fwim with, and
placed at the 'extremity of the lirrib; but nearer the body there are two
ftifl lupporters to enable them to walk when they have occafion. In
thoi'e infects whofe motions are performed by leaping, fuch as the grafs-
hopper and cricket, their thighs are ftrong and brawny; thofe, on the
contrary, which ufe their claws in perforating the earth, have fuch.

parts

INTRODUCTION. 3

parts made with ftrength and fliarpnefs, as in the wild bee, and the
beetle. There are even fome animals that convey themfelves by me-
thods to us unknown. Infefts, which are generated in flagnant waters,
are often found in new pits and ponds, and fometimes on the tops of
houfes and fteeples. Spiders with their webs have been known tofoar to
a confiderable height, having been feen above the higheft (leeple of York
Minfler. How thefe animals have been thus capable of conveying them-
felves from place to place is a phenomenon for which we are unable to
account; fome years ago, it was the method to give reaions for every
appearance in nature, but as philofophy grows more mature it becomes
more cautious and diffident, nor blufhes in many inftances to avow its
ignorance.

Thofe infects which are provided with wings have tendons, which
diftend and ftrengthen them ; thofe which are provided with four, ufe
the outermoft rather as cafes to defend the internal wings than as in-
ftruments in flying. When the infect is at reft, the inner wings are
generally gathered up in the manner we clofe a fan, nor is it without
fome efforts that the little animal can unfold it. Thofe, however,
whofe wings are not cafed in this manner, fuch as moths and butter-
flies, have them defended with feathers ; for that beautiful variety of
colours which we fo much admire, appears, through a microfcope, to
be nothing mere than different coloured plumage, as artfully placed as
in the wings of birds, but too minute to be difcerned by the naked eye.
Such infects as have but two wings have two little balls, or poifers,
joined to the body under the hinder part of each wing, that ferve to
keep them fteady, and in fome meafure counteracts the changes of the
air, which might at every variation carry them in its current : If one
of thefe poifers be cut off the infect will foon fall to the ground, but if
they are both cut, it will ftill fly, but yet in the direction of every
breeze.

They are thus formed for motion, rather to provide fuftenance than
to avoid danger. As from their natural weaknefs they are the prey of
every fuperior order of animals, they feem to find fafety only in their
minutenels of retirement ; but even with every precaution they furnilh
out a repaft to fwallows and other birds, who, while to us they feem
fporting in the air, are then employed in procuring their neceflary fub-
fiftance. The infect itfelf, however, is at the fame time in purfuit of
fome inferior order of infects, for there are the fame hollilities among
the fmalleft that there are amongft the largeft animals.

Summer is the feafon of their pleafures ; many of them never live
above a fingle feafon, while others are found to continue but one day.
Such however as are more long lived, take the. proper precautions to
provide for their fafety in winter, and fix upon the moft convenient
fituations for fpending that interval, and fuch as want food lay in
the proper (lores for fubfiftance. But the greateft number want no
fuch neceffary flock, for they fleep during the continuance of the
winter. Some caterpillars, for inftance, having fed during the fum-
xner retire, at the approach of cold, to a place of fafety, and there,
by fpinning a thread like a cobweb, hang themfelves in fome commodi-
ous place, covered with a factitious coat, which at once ferves to keep
them warm, and guard them from external injuries. Here they con-
tinue in this torpid ftate till the returning fun calls them to new life ;

A ? they

4 INTRODUCTION.

they now expand new wings, and become butterflies, which feem fcaree
employed in any other manner than that of reproducing their kinds.
Thus we fee among infecls thofe different offices of eating, fleeping,
and generation make different feafons in their lives. Were we to com-
pare them with other animals, we lhould find, that while thofe purfue
fuch pleafures by frequent returns, thefe experience each but once in
their lives, and die.

There are fome infecls, however, which lay up provifions for the win-
ter, of which the bee and the foreign ant are remarkable inftances. The
wafp, the hornet, and the wild bee are not lefs afliduous in laying in a
proper Rock of food, and fitting up commodious apartments ; but this
is wholly for the fake of their young, for they forfake their nefts in
winter, leave their young furnifhed with every convenience, and retire
themfelves to other places, where, in all probability, they live without
eating.

In general, all infecls are equally careful for pofterity, and find out
proper places wherein to lay their eggs, that, when they are hatched
and produce young ones, there may be fufficient food to maintain
them ; whether they chufe trees, plants, or animal fubftances, ftill the
pafcent creature finds a bed which at once fuppliesfood and protection.
The plumb and the pea, each feem to give birth to infecls peculiarly
formed for refiding in them. The pear and apple produce a white moth :
on the oak leaf are hatched feveral of beautiful colours, white, green,
yellow, brown, and variegated. The manner in which thofe infecls lay
their eggs is fufficiently curious; they wound the leaf through, and then
depofite their eggs in the little cavity. As the infecl increafes, its nidus
or bed, increafes alfo, fo that we often fee the leaves of trees with round
fwellings on the furface, upon opening of which we may difcover num-
berlefs infecls not yet come to maturity. On oak trees thefe nefts ap-
pear like little buds, and are in facl only gems, or buds, which are in-
creafed in thicknefs when they ought to have been pufhed out in length.
The infecl thrufts one or more eggs into the very heart of the gem
which begins to be turgid in June, and but for this would have fhot
out in July. This egg foon becomes a maggot, that eats itfelf a
fmall cell in the midft of the bud, the vegetation of which being thus
obftrucled, the fap defigned to nourifh it is diverted to the remaining
parts of the bud, which are only fcaly integuments that by this means
j>row large, and become a covering to the cafe in which the infecl lies.
But not only the oak, but the willow, and fome other trees and plants,
have knobs thus formed, which generally grow in or near the rib of the
leaf. Among thefe cafes formed by infecls, the aleppo galls may be
Teckoned as the moft ufeful, the infecls of which, when come to ma-
turity, gnaw their way out, as may be feen by the little holes in every
nut. But all thefe are formed by the ichneumon kinds of flies, namely,
of thofe kinds which are vulgarly called the blue-bottle fly,

Thofe kinds, however, which do not wound the leaf, take great
pains to lay their eggs on the furface, in the exacleft and moft curious
manner. When thus depofited, they are always faftened thereto with
a glue, and conftantly at the fame end. Thofe which lay them in the
Waters, place them in beautiful rows, and generally in a fizy fubftance,
to prevent their being carried away with the motion of the water.

INTRODUCTION. *

Upon pofts, and on the fides of windows in country villages, little
round eggs have been feen refembling pearls, which produced fmall
hairy caterpillars, and thofe like the reft are all laid in very regular order.
The gnat, though fo very fmall, is yet very curious in the manner of
depofiting her eggs, or fpawn. It lays them on the water, but fixes
them to ibme floating fubftance by means of a ftalk, which prevents
them from finking. The eggs are contained in a fort of tranfparent
jelly, and very neatly laid ; when hatched by the warmth of the feafon,
they fink to the bottom, where they become fmall maggots, flick to
the ftones, and provide themfelves cafes, or cells, which they creep
into or go out of at pleafure, and thus continue till they take the ufual
change into that of a fly. Moft of thefe infects are tinged with one
principal colour, refembling either that of the leaves on which they
fubfift, or the branches to which they fallen ; on thefe they march
with great flownefs, and by this artifice are confounded with what they
fubfift upon, fo as to efcape the birds, their rapacious and watchful
enemies. Such is the manner with thofe infects which being hatched
from eggs, are then transformed into caterpillars, which may be called
their eating ftate ; after that wrapped round with a covering of their
own fabrication, and thus turned into nymphas, which may be called
their fleeping ftate ; and laftly furnifhed with wings, and metamor-
phofed into butterflies, which is their generating ftate.

But there are numberlefs other infects which are brought forth alive,
fuch as the fpider, and the fnail produced with a fhell, which grows with
its growth, and is never found to forfake it. Thefe are never feen
to change, but continue their growth : the fpider, as it becomes older,
has its legs longer, and if they be cut off, like thofe of the lobfter they
grow out afrefh. The fnail, as it becomes more old, acquires additional
ringlets to its fhell, and contains in itfelf both fexes. But there is an
animal lately difcovered, whofe powers of generation are ftill more
extraordinary than any thing hitherto taken notice of, and from the phe-
nomena attending which, Mr Buffon has ventured to affirm, that he
ftill believes there may be fuch a thing as equivocal generation. The
animal in queftion is called the polypus, a fmall reptile found on aquatic
plants, and in muddy ditches. This furprizing creature, though cut into
never fo many parts, ftill continues to live in every divifion, and each,
in lefs than three days, becomes in every refpect a perfect polypus,
like that which was at firft divided. This I think may be juftly eft eemed
the loweft of animated beings, and fcarce to be ranked above the fen-
fitive plant, except by being endowed with a locomotive faculty, or a
power of moving from one leaf to another. It is thus that Nature
chufes to mix the kinds of being by imperceptible gradation, fo that
it becomes hard to determine where animals end, or vegetables' begin.
In this there are evident marks of her wifdom in filling up every chafm
in the great fcale of being, fo that no poffible exiftence may be want-
ing in her univerfal plan. Were we to afk, why thefe minute crea-
tures, in general little regarded by man, except from the prejudice they
are of to his labours, where formed in fuch great abundance, it would
be no eafy tafk to find a reply. For man's ufe they were not made,
as they are allowed to be noxious to him; nor for the fuUenance of other
animals that may be of ufe to him, fir.ce the advantages ef the latter

cannot

\

6 INTRODUCTION.

cannot compenfate for damage done by the former ; perhaps the wifeft
anfwer would be, that every creature was formed for itfelf, and each
allowed to feize as great a quantity of happinefs from the univ.erfal ftock,
as was confident with the univerfal plan ; thus each was formed to
make the happinefs of each ; the weak of the ftrong, and the ftrong
of the weak, but ftill in proportion to every order, power of conquell
and enjoyment. Thus we fhall find, that though man may be reci-
procally ufeful to other animals, yet in fome meafure they were formed
for his ufe, becaufe he has been endowed with every power of rendering
them fubfervient, and enjoying their fubmiffion.

NATURAL

NATURAL HISTORY

OF

INSECTS.

CHAP. I.

Of InfeBs in general.

AN Infect is a fmall animal, either compofed of feveral rings
joined together by a membrane, or feveral fmall plates, which
play one over another, or elfe having a body confiding of two or
three parts, joined together by a fort of thread or firing. The firil
kind, we commonly call Worms or Grubs ; as alfo, Caterpillars.
When they advance from one place to another, they ftretch the muf-
culous fkin, which feparates the firft ring from thofe that follow, and
thru it it forwards to a certain diltance ; then they contract and wrinkle
the fkin on the fame fide, bringing forwards the fecond ring, and fo on ;
and thus they can move along without feet, proceed out of the earth,
and enter into it again without any danger ; befides, they can proceed
in chis manner backward or forward as they pleafe. The fecond fort
are flies of various kinds, whofe bodies are an aflemblage of fmall
plates, which are lengthened by unfolding, and lhortened by running
over each other, much in the fame manner as fome parts of the an-
cient armour. The third fort are Ants, Spiders, and many others,
whofe bodies are divided into two or three portions, which feem to
have but a fmall relation to each other.

Their fmallnefs renders them contemptible in the eyes of the gene-
rality ; but rather fhould be a reafon for admiring the art and mecha-
nifm of their ftructure, which contains fo many veflels, fluids, and mo-
tions in creatures fo minute as almoft to efcape the fight ; fuch as
mites, and the like. Some of thefe infects are richly adorned, with
robes of various colours, fuch as blue, green, red, gold and filver,
and many other embellifhments. We need only look upon ihining
flies, Cantharides, Butterflies and Caterpillars to be convinced of this
truth. The fame wifdom which has given thefe ornaments, has arm-
ed them from head to foot, and has enabled them to fight, and to de-
fend themfelves ; though they do not always catch what they lie in wait
for, or fhun what is hurtful ; yet they are provided with what will belt
ferve them for thofe purpoies. Some of them have ftrong teeth, others
a double jaw, or a fting, or ftrong claws ; and they have Ihelly armour,
that cover the whole body. The mod delicate are furnifhed with hair,
which ferves them to break the fnocks they may receive, and to weaken
the blows, or to preferve them from the rubs that might hurt them.

They

S NATURAL HISTORY.

They are almoft all very quick in their flight, and getting out of the
way of danger ; fome by the help of their wings, and others by the af-
fiftance of threads, which they can throw out, and hang by them under
the leaves of trees, on which they live. Others again can leap to a
great diftance, and fo get out of harm's way.

It is alfo wonderful to confider the various organs by which they are
afTifted to live, and the inftruments they make ufe of each according
to their profeffion. Some are fltilful in fpinning, having two diftaffs
and fingers to draw out the thread ; others can make nets and webs,
and are provided with thread and fhuttles. Some again build them-
felves houfes with wood, and have the fickles to cut it ; others are fkil-
ful in making way, and have fcrapers, fpoons, and trowels. They
have generally a trunk, whofe ufes are more wonderful than that of
the elephant ; for with it they can extract liquor with more (kill than
any man. Some have tongues, which ferve them for tafting, and others
have a fort of gimblet to bore holes with. Others have piercers fixed
to their tails, by means of which, they make lodgings for themfelres
and families, in the heart of fruits, under the bark of trees, and even
in the hardeft wood. Mod of them have excellent eyes ; befides
which, they have horns or feelers, to prevent their meeting with any
tiling that may do them harm, efpecially in the dark. Some of thefe
horns are full of knots, or joints, like thofe on the heads of Cray-fifh ;
and feveral are terminated like a comb. Others again have four large
wings, equal to the length of their bodies, and fome have them fo fine,
that the leaft obftacle will tear them in pieces ; but thefe are generally
hid under two ftrong fhells, which may be raifed up, or (hut clofe down,
which they always are, when they are at reft or creep. Befides thefe,
there are other great varieties, which will be taken notice of in their
proper places.

All forts of infefts are generated like larger animals, from eggs ;
and thefe at firft are enclofed in a fingle or double covering, which
opens when the animal is old enough to pierce through. When the
brood break the covering, at their coming into the world, thefe crea-
tures are faid to be viviparous ; as for inftance, Millipedes, or Hog- lice.
When the old ones bring forth the young in a covering, where they
are to remain fome time, they are faid to be Oviparous. All thefe in-
fects, and indeed, all forts of animals are brought into the world one
of thefe ways ; and thofe of the oviparous kind, always lay their eggs
in a proper place, where they are hatched by a certain degree of heat*

It was formerly the common opinion, that all forts of infects pro-
ceeded from corruption ; but this has been exploded long ago, efpeci-
ally fince the invention of Microfcopes. And indeed, it would be ab-
furd to fuppofe, that thefe animals which are perfect in their kind>
fhould be the effect of chance. The motions of thefe creatures, may
feem to us without any defign ; and yet, it is certain that they tend to
a certain end, even thofe of the fmalleft, as well as the largeft. No
infect abandons its eggs to chance ; for they are never miftaken in lay-
ing them in places, where they may receive proper nourifhment, as
foon as they are hatched. In thofe countries where Silk Worms natu-
rally live, you will always find their eggs ou a mulberry-tree, and no
where elfe, which plainly fhews they know what they are about. The
Caterpillars that feed upon cabbages, are never found upon willows,

-

NATURAL HISTORY. 9

hor thofe of willow upon cabbages. The moths delights to be among
curtains, woollen (tuffs, or papers, but never upon plants, nor in mud,
nor yet in corrupted aliments ; and yet the contrary happens to flies,
who lay their eggs in flefh ; and therefore, it is plain, it is inftincl, and
riot chance that directs their choice. That this does not arife from the
corruption of the flefh is plain, from the following experiment ; take a
bit of beef frefh killed, and put it into an open vetfel, another into a
clean one covered over with a piece of filk, fo thin as to let in the air,
and yet thick enough to hinder the eggs of the the from paffing through
it, and you will find the firft bit produce maggots as ufual, whereas
the fecond will be entirely without ; however, the flies being attracled
by the fmell, will come in crowds to the covering, and endeavour to
enter in, and perhaps lay fome of their eggs upon the filk, but they
will penetrate no farther; from whence it is plain, that corruption pro-
duces nothing.

When fome of thefe eggs are hatched, the young will appear in their
perfect form, which they never change afterwards. Thus, fnails come
into the world with their houfes on their backs, and continue always
in the fame fhape, as well as that of the houfes ; for they grow in pro-
portion to the animal itfelf. Such likewife are Spiders, which proceed
from their eggs completely formed, and change nothing afterwards
but their fizes. But the greateft part of other infects pafs through dif-
ferent ftates, and aiTume fucceffively the figure of two or three animals
which have no refemblance to each other.

Many infects when they proceed from their eggs, appear to be nothing
elfe but a fort of worms, fome without feet and others with ; thofe
without feet are under the care of their dams, which fupply them with
food, if they are not hatched in a place where they find nourifiiment.
Thofe with feet, go of their own accord to fearch for food on the leaves
of the tree, that is molt fuitable to their nature, which is the very fame
where the dams laid their eggs. Thefe grow fenlible in a fhort time,
and fome of them throw off their old covering five or fix times, and
feem to grow young again, by having a new fkin. Thefe all pais
through the middle Itate, which is that of a Nymph or Chryfalis ; but
this wants explanation. The Caterpillar firft leaves off feeding, and
inclofes itfelf in a fort of coffin, which is different in the different kinds.
This covering preferves them from external injuries, till they acquire a
new form. Thefe have the name of Nymphs, and then they aiiume
all the beautiful colours which adorn the various kinds. Some then
call it an Aurelia, or Golden Nymph, becaufe the covering which is
more or lefs ha'd, affuir.es a colour as fhining as gold. Some call this
covering a Cod, especially when it is applied to a Silk Worm.

The laft (fate or metamorphofis, is when they arife oat of their cof-
fin, and become flying infects ; for that which was a worm before is
deftroyed, or rather turns into a fly. There are fome infects that live
only upon greens, and others that feed on nothing but wood. It is
iiow generally believed, that there is another fort which are nourifhed
even in (tones themfelves ; however, it is more certain, that there are
many which never appear out of the water. There are reckoned no
lefs than three hundred kinds of Caterpillars which are already known,
and the curious are (till making new difcoveries : their fhape, their co-
lour,, their inclinations, and their manner of living, diftinguithes th«

*9 NATURAL HISTORY.

feveral forts from each other; and yet they are all perfect in their kind.
However they are all compofed of feveral rings, which being either
extended or contracted, enable them to carry their bodies where ever
they have occafion to go. They have a certain number of feet with
joints, and arc armed with hooks, wherewith they fix themfelves to
the barks of trees, efpecially when they fieep, which is the time they
pais from one ftate to the other. They have almoft all threads com-
pofed of a fluid gummy matter, which they get out of the leaves that
fupply them with food. When they perceive any danger of being car-
ried off by birds, or crulhed by the motions of the branches, they fix
themfelves to the trees by means of this gum, which is made into
threads by feveral openings of their bodies, which threads they unite
with their paws, and form feveral into one, capable of fupporting their
own weight, and lo are generally fecure from danger. Some natura-
lifts believe, that the colour of the Caterpillars h one of the belt, pre-
fervatives againlt the birds that are fond of feeding upon them; for
they generally are- of the fame principal colour as the leaves whereon
they teed, or of the fmall branches to which they are fixed, when they
undergo the metarnorphofis ; thus, thofe that are nourilhed on the
buckthorn-tree are as green as the leaves thereof, and thole that live
upon apple-trees and bulhes are of the fame colour as the bark ol thofe
plants. Even the fmalieft of thofe animals have methods of fcreening
themfelves from the purfuit of the birds ; for they may be often found
under the leaves and not above, where they would be more expofed.

All forts of Caterpillars ufe a particular kind of nourilhment, which
they never change upon any account whatever ; for though they live
npon greens, each has its ov/n plant, and will fooner die than feed up-
on any other, unlefs they are nearly of the fame. Towards the end of
the fummer, when Caterpillars have fufficiently fed on the green leaves,,
then they leave oif eating, and fecure a retreat, where they undergo
the fucceeding changes. A few days are fufficient for fome to undergo
this metamorphofis, while others continue months, and even years in
their coffins. Some at this time hide themfelves in the ground, and
others get upon the roofs of houfes, in the holes of walls, under the
bark of trees, and even into the heart of the wood ; others again, wrap
themfelves up in threads and gum, and rowling themfelves in the fand,
make themfelves a fort of ftone coffins. Likewife, fome reduce little
bits of wood to powder, and with their gum make a covering in which
they wrap themfelves ; and when it is quite formed, it is not much un;
like an Egyptian mummy.

Some forts of Caterpillars are capable of fpinning threads, in wbkh-
they are covered and defended from the rain, particularly Silk-worms,
of which more hereafter. The moft common fort of Caterpillars are
thofe that we meet with on elms, apple-trees, and bufhes; and the But-
terflies that proceed from them, fix upon fome entire leaf, where they
lay their eggs in the autumn, and die foon after ; but befor; winter
they are hatched and become fmall Caterpillars, which with their
threads make themielves beds and fpacious lodgings, where they lie
during the cold feaibn, diftribuied as it were in different rooms with-
out eating, "or coming out. Their coverings are as hard as parch-
ment, and confequently fufficient to keep off the rain, wind, and cold;,
for they lie upon a fort of thick down, and j.rs furrounded with feveral

fillets

NATURAL HISTORY. m

fillets of the fluff wherewith they build their lodgings. Thus, having
given fome account of infects in general, we ihall now proceed to par-
ticulars.

CHAP. IL

OF INSECTS OF THE BEETLE KIND.

THE Beetle is a flying infect, with a cafe over its wings to defend
them from danger when it does not fly; though fome would have
thefe cafes a different fort of wings, and therefore place them among
four winged infects but -very improperly ; for they feem to be defigned
by nature to preferve their wings from hard bodies, which they often
meet with when they dig holes in the ground, or gnaw rotten wood
with their teeth, to make themfelves honies or nefts. When they fly
they rill the air with a humming noife, and perhaps greater than that
of any other infect* They have a great averfion to rofes, whofe frnell
they cannot bear, and fome affirm it will kill them. They are natu-
rally fond of ivy, and delight to get under its leaves. There are differ-
ent forts of Beetles, fome being large with horns, and others fniall
with none, from which they have different names.

The Elephant Beetle is the largeft of this kind hitherto known, and is
found in South- America^ particularly Guiana and Surinam, as well as
about the river Oroonoko. It is of a black colour, and the whole body
is covered with a very hard fhell, full as thick and as firong as that of
a fmall crab. Its length from the hinder part to the eyes is almoll
four inches, and from the fame part to the end of the probofcis or
trunk four inches and three quarters. The tranfverfe diameter of the
body is two inches and a quarter, and the breadth of each elytron or
cafe for the wings is an inch and three tenths. The antennae horns or
feelers are quite horny, for which reafon the probofcis or trunk is move-
able at its infertion into the head, and feems to fupply the place of
feelers. The horns are eight tenths of an inch long, and terminate in
points. The probofcis is an inch and a quarter long, and turns up-
wards, making a crooked line terminating in two horns, each of which
is near a quarter of an inch long ; but they are not perforated at the
end like the probofcis of other infects. About four tenths of an inch
above the head on that fide next the body is a prominence or fmall
horn, which if the reft of the trunk were away, would caufe this part
to refemble the horn of a Rhinoceros. There is indeed a Beetle fo
called ; but then the horn or trunk has no fork at the end, though the
lower horn refembles this. The feet are all forked at the end, but not
like lobfters claws.

The Rhinoceros Beetle, of this there are feveral kinds, one of which
was brought from the Eaft-Indies, and is of a jet-black colour, and has
a horn growing on its nofe which turns upwards ; and about the mid-
dle of the belly there is another horn, which arifcs from a tubercle and
turns inwards. The whole body, from the end of the horn to the back
part, is four inches long, and the breadth is almoft two. It has alfo

B 2 two

ai NATURAL HISTORY.

two horns on the head behind the fnout, and there are fix feet or
forked at the ends. This has been juft taken notice of, and differs
chiefly from the Elephant- Beetle, in not having the horn on the fnout
forked at the end ; befides which it has no horn on the belly. There
js alfo another Rhinoceros-Beetle, which is common about Vienna in
Germany. The horn has a greater refemblance to that of a Rhinoceros,
for it turns up like it, and is fharp at the end, and behind the head
it has a prominent bump, and there are fix feet as in the former. It
is all over as black as pitch, except the belly, which is of a deep red.
The horn of the nofe is fo very fharp, that it feems to be whetted to a
point. The third and fourth kinds are much of the fame fhapes, only
the wings of the former are longer than the cafes, and in thefe they
are fhorter. They look as if they were covered over with fhining-
ink, and the horns on the head are full of knots. The head is of a
greenifti gold-colour, and the fhoulders are red ; but the belly is pur-
ple, and the cafes of the wings are of the fame colour as the head.
The feet and legs are of a dun- colour, and the wings under the cafes
are whitifh.

The Stag-Beeile is of a dufky- brown colour on the back, or rather
blackifh, especially about the cafes of the wings and breaft. It is above
an inch long, and about half an inch broad, and it has two horns with^
out joints, but blanched like thofe of a Stag, whence it has its name.
When this Beetle is full grown they are as long as a man's little finger,
and there are nippers at the end with which this animal can pinch or lay
hold of any thing, they being not unlike lobfter claws. The eyes are
hard, prominent and whitifh, and near them on both fides there are
feelers, one pair of which are branched, and placed between the horns
and the eyes, having each a joint which makes almoft a right angle.
The other pair are placed in the middle of the forehead and are ftrait
and flat, having each a tubercle like the head of a nail at the end,
whence by fome they are faid to be clavated. It has fix feet, of which
the foremoft pair are longer and greater than the reft. The horns are
fometimes as red as coral, which give this Beetle a very beautiful ap-
pearance ; and the eggs when they are hatched turn into worms with
fix feet, which are afterwards changed into Beetles. It is very com-
mon in Kent and Su/ftx, and is fometimes feen in other parts of England.

The Beetle withlunated, prominent, denated jaws, and a fmooth breaft,
is of the larger kind, being an inch long, and two thirds of an inch broad.
The thorax is fmooth, convex and black, without any prominences,
though it has a fort of an edge. The cafes of the wings are fmooth
and of a blackifh purple colour. The jaws are in the fhape of a half-
moon, and are prominent and black, having two teeth in each. It is
found in hedges where there are afh trees, for it feeds on the rotten
part of their trunks, and burrows in the earth under their roots.

The Brafs Beetle, is of the larger kind, and has a fhort broad breaft,
the fhape in general being confiderably broad in proportion to its length j
but the eyes are fmall, and the legs long and flender. The whole bo-
dy and outer part of the cafes of the wings are of a fine fhining green,
with a mixture of yellow. It is fometimes met with in oui gardens.

The Beetle with clavated feelers, and the cafes of the wings on the fore
part. It is of the fmall kind, and of an oblong fhape, with a black;
head and breaft. The cafes of the wings are grey towards the top, but

elfewhere

NATURAL HISTORY. ij

tlfewhere the colour is of a dufky blackifh brown, with a tranfverfe
ftieak of white. This is common about the carcailes of dead animals,
particularly birds Some would not have this to be properly a Beetle,
but call it Dermeftes.

The Black Dermejles with a white fpot on each of the cafes of the wings,
is of the fmall kind, and has a body of an oval ihape, which is black
as well as its legs and feelers; on each of the cafes of the wings there is
a remarkable white fpot, with five others fo fmall that they are hardly
vinble. This animal when touched, or terrified with a noife, will flop
and draw its head and legs undei the fhell of the body. It is common
about lbme houfes and old walls, and more particularly in places where
victuals are kept

The Dermeflts* of a cylindrical fhape, with a thick hairy neck, and
teftaceous cales for the wings. This is alfo of the fmall kind, and the
body is of the (nape of a cylinder, with a thick roundifh black hairy neck.
The cafes of the wings are longifh, blunt at the point, and like fhells
with a black edge or margin running all round them ; but the colour
of the cafes themfelves are of a whitilh brown, and the body and legs
are black. The antennae or feelers are reddifh. The fize is not much
bigger than a large loule, and when it is touched or terrified it con-
trails itfell and lies quite ftill. It is very common in houfes. The
feelers of theie three forts are of a clavated fhape, and are perforated
traniverfely. There is another fort of infects of the Beetle kind, with
(lender feelers like threads, though a little thicker near the ends. This
fort, as well as the former, are by lbme of our belt authors placed a-
mong the Beetles.

The Green Tortoife Beetle with clavated feelers divided into rings, has
a very fmall oval body, convex on the back and flat on the belly. The
upper part confifts of the cafes of the wings and the fhield, which are
both green and fmooth, and appear to be one fingle cruft, divided only
by a kind of triangular future. The belly is black, and the head is
entirely hid under the fhield. The feelers are pale, only they are of a
deeper colour on the top than elfewhere. The legs are of a pale brown,
and there is a fort of a prominent rim running round the cafes of the
wings, which entirely cover the body. It is common in gardens, and
may be met with on mint and other herbs. Thefe fort of Beetles are
by Linn&us called Caffida, from the fhield.

The Black Cajfida, or Shield Beetle with feelers like briftles, and a
roundifh body, is a very fmall Beetle, of a little longiih fhape, and of a
dufky black colour. The cafes of the wings are oblong, and lightly
(freaked with feveral very fmall hollowifh fpots. The fhield is round-
ifh, being fomewhat broader than long, and it is rough on the upper
parr, with a cruciated prominent edge. Sometimes there are two (pots
on the fide towards the hinder part, with yellow hairs thereon. The
belly is black, but in fome lights has a glofs of filver colour. It is
met with in houfes in the country, where it often does a great deal of
riiifchief, eating holes in woolen cloths and ftuffs. When it is touch-
ed ever fo lightly it draws up its head and wings under its body.

The over pale-clouded Cajjlda, or Shield Beetle, with an undivided
fhield that covers the head. It is a very fmall Beetle, and has a body
of an oval ihape and of a pale brown colour, fpotted and clouded all
pyer with one that is more dufky, which makes it look fomewhat like

the

«+ NATURAL HISTORY.

the ftiell of a tortoife. The fhield is in the fliape of a half-moon, an*
of a pale colour without fpots ; but the cafes of the wings are ftreaked
and fpcckled, and the ftreaks run in crooked lines. The body is black»
and the feelers are black and {lender. It may be eafily found in beds
of baum, or mint.

The Lady-Cuiv with reddifh cafes for their wings, and feven black
fpots thereon, is an infect well known even to children, and has a black
head with two white fpots on the forehead, and a black breaft, which
is whitifh near the edges. The cafes of the wings are of an orange-
colour, and there are three black fpots towards the bafe of each, and
one that is common to both, which with the former makes feven in all.
The feelers are very fmall and clavated; and the under part of this in-
fed is black.

The Lady-Cow with red cafes for the wings, and two black fpots
thereon, that is one on each. The breaft is black, only there is one
large white fpot on its fide, and two very fmall ones near the bafe ; as
alfo two others of the fame fize at the infertions of the feelers. The
belly and legs are black, as are the feelers likewife ; and it is common
to be met with on alder and other trees, as the former is among hedges
in the Summer time.

The Lady-Conu with black cafes for the wings, with four red fpots
thereon, that is two on each cafe. The breaft, is entirely black, and the
fpots on the cafes of the wings are of a blood-red colour ; but that which
is neareft the breaft on each is largeft. They are met with on maple
trees in the North parts of England, and are fometimes feen, though
but feldom, in the hedges near London.

The Chryfomela is of the Beetle kind, and the feelers are in the fhapc
of necklaces of beads, but thickeft towards the extremities. The body
is nearly of an oval fhape, and the breaft is oblong and roundifh.
I. The blew-green Chryfomela is one of the largeft fort of this kind,
though they are all but fmall. The head is little, the legs flender,
and the belly fmooth. The back is roundifti or convex, and the colour
is a mixture of blue and green, with a very fine tincture of gold colour
diffufed throughout. The edges of the cafes of the wings are a little
prominent, and they are marked with a few hollo with fmall fpots all
the way round. The feelers, legs and belly are entirely green. It is
common in the meadows in May and June.

2. The Chryfomela with a breaft and the cafes of the wings of a red
colour, is fmaller than the former, and not fo convex on the back.
The head is fmall and black, as well as the body, legs, lower part of
the breaft and feelers ; but the upper part of the breaft is red, as are
alfo the cafes of the wings. It is commonly met with on fome fort of
willow trees in June and July.

3. The blue- green Chryfomela with a red breaft and thighs, is of the
fmall kind, and the head and cafes of the wings are of a beautiful
ihining green with a blueifh caft. There are a few hollow fpots on the
head, and the breaft is fmall, convex, and of a reddifh colour, with a
caft of blue-green. The upper part of the legs is reddifh and the other
black as well as the feelers. It is common in moft parts of this
kindom.

4. The black Chryfomela with hollowed points, is one of the largeft
£>f the kind, and is all over black, and the breaft and cafes of the wings

arc

NATURAL HISTORY. t$

are marked with fmall hollow points very near each other. The wing*
are flexible, foft, and blunt, and the feelers confift of twelve joints.
They creep but flowly, an 4 are found in quarries.

5. The black fmooth Chryfomela with the bafe of the feelers yellowifh.
It is of a middle fize, and the joints of its wings are neither hollow/
nor ftreaked, but the black colour of this infedt has a blueifh caft.

6. The purplilh black Chryfomela with hollow ftreaked points, is found
upon the birch tree, and feeds upon its leaves. This infect is of a
blackifh blue inclining to purple, and it is rather of a violet colourr
but the belly feet and feelers are black, and the head and bread are
marked with very fmall hollow points without order. The cafes of
the wings are ftreaked, and the eyes are hardly to be perceived.

7. The purplifh black Chryfomela fprinkled with hollow points, is found?
in the Spring feafon on the alder tree. It is like the former, only it
is larger, and the cafes of the wings are marked with hollow points,,
difperfed here and there, but not ftreaked.

8. The purplifh black Chryfomela with the breaft yellow on each fide,
is found upon the willow tree, and is of the fize and fhape of the for-
mer j as alio entirely of the fame colour, only the breaft is red on the
fides, round in the middle, and of a violet-colour ; but a little blacker
on the cenrer. The head and lower belly are black, and there is a
black point in the middle of the red that is on the fides of the breaft.

9. The green Alining Chryfomela with a fmooth breaft, and the cafes
of the wings marked with hollow points. This is alfo found upon the
willow, and is of a bright green colour. It is marked with hollow
points that touch each other, and it is blunt towards the vent. It
feems to open the cafes of the wings with trouble, and the breaft is
fmooth behind but a little marked with points, and the feelers and feet
are black.

10. The green fhining Chryfomela with the breaft hollow before. It
has not the breaft equally hollowed, but only at the top.

1 1. The green ihining Chryfomela with a level breaft, is lefs than
the former, but rounder.

12. The Chryfomela that is a little teftaceous, is found in the begin-
ning of the Spring among rotten wood, and is placed by authors-
among the largeft kind. The colour of the whole body, which, is oval,
is cheihut, but the eyes are black, and the feelers and the feet red.
The under parts of the feet are white, and the cafes of the wings are
marked with hollow points.

13. The pale green Chryfomela is found upon willow trees, and re-
fembles the former, only it is a little fmaller ; but what diftinguifhes
this from that is the pale colour, and the nine rows of points on each
cafes of the wings, placed long ways. The eyes are black and the bot-
tom of the feet white.

14. The Red Chryfomela with a cylindraceous breaft, is found upon
the flower de luce. It is of a middle fize, and its breaft, cafes of the
wings, and the top of the head are red ; but the feelers, eyes, knees,
belly, breaft plate, and under part of the head are black. The breaft is-
much narrower than the cafes of the wings, and is hollow on each fide.
The cafes of the wings are marked with hollow points of a middle
iize.

15, Ths

i6 NATURAL HISTORY.

15. The Copper coloured Chryfomela is very common on willows^
and is of a middle fize. It is of the colour of red copper that has
been poliflied.

16. The blackifh blue Chryfomela with red cafes of the wings, is
found on the poplar tree, in the begining of fpring, whole leaves it
feeds upon. It is one of thelargeft fort, and its red wings are marked
with fmall points, and the extremity of each cafe of the wings has a
black fpot, and the bread is fmooth and of a green and black colour,
as well as the corfet, belly, and feet ; but the feelers are black. The
cafes of the wings of this kind are not plates or leaves, but feem to be
made up of eleven joints, of which the lad is largeft. It throws out
an oily fluid when touched, and Rinks fo abominably, that few are
able to bear it.

17. The Chryfomela with a red cylindraceous bread, and red cafes
for the wings, is found on the branches of afparagus, and devours
the dalks. It is but fmall, and has a head of a '.lackifh blue, with
black feelers, and the bread narrow and cylindric, marked behind
with two black points. The cafes of the wings are oblong, yellow,
and of a fallow colour on the external edge ; there is alfo a blue fpot
like a crofs on the cafes of the wings.

18. The Chryfomela with a green bread, and red cafes of the wings,
marked with a blue crofs. For fhape it is much like that of the poplar
tree, and the colour of the head and bread is that of green copper,
with black feelers, and the feet are generally black. The head, bread,
and cafes of the wings, are of a fingular beauty, and painted with
copper-coloured dreaks, a little inclining to blue.

19. The oblong black Chryfomela with red cafes of the wings marked
with four black fpots, is very larged of this kind, and is of a rounder
ihape. There are two large fpots on each cafe of the wings, the tird
ef which is oval, but the other more fhort. The feelers are almod
dentated, and the bread is fhort.

20. The red Chryfomela with each cafes of the wings marked with
five black fpots. It is found upon willow trees, and is one of the
larged of this kind, having a black head with a red bread, black in the
middle, and red cafes of the wings, upon each of which there are five
large black fpots of an unequal lize. The belly and the under part
of the feet are black.

21. The long dufky Chryfomela with the letter S marked on the cafes
•f the wings. The breaft is grey with white hair, and the cafes of the
wings are of a greyifh-brown, with a white fpot of the fize of a grain
of caraway-feed, of the fhape as above.

22. The Chryfomela with dufky wings that are livid on the back part,
is no larger than a flea, and the body is black, and the bread brown.

23. The livid Chryfomela with black eyes, is fmall, and of a pale
livid colour.

24 The Chryfomela that is reddifh on the upper part, with two black
fpots on the bread, and feveral on the cafes of the wings. It is found
©n the poplar tree, and is of a middle fize, with a black head.

25. The Chryfomela that is of a blackifh brafs colour, with the edges
©f the cafes of the wings yellow. It is of a middle fize, and has the
external edge of the cafes of the wings and the bread yellow ; but the

middle-

/

NATURAL HISTORY. 17

huddle of the breaft and head are of a blackifh copper- colour. The
lower part is quite black, as well as the feet, and the body is oblong;

26. The blackifh brafs- coloured Cbryfomela with two yellow lines
on the cafes of the wings, has an oblong body. There is on the latteral
edge of the breaft in the middle of eacli cafe of the wing, and on the

. external edge, a long line of yellow colour ; the legs and the internal
part of the thighs are alio of a yellow colour, and the feelers are knotted*

27. The Cbryfomela with a black breaft, and red cafes of the wings
marked with a black fpot. It is of a middle fize, and has a narrow-
oblong body, with the feelers, head, breaft and belly black ; but the
wings are white, and the feelers fmaller than in other kinds ; the cafes
of the wings are of a bright red, furnithed with eight ftreaks or upwards*
confuting of hollow points ; and the bafe on the points are black.

28. The blueilh-green Cbryfomela with a red breaft and thighs, makes
its neft in the galls of the willow tree. The head and cafes of the wings
are mining, and of a blueilh green, marked with hollow points. The
breaft is fmall, marked with a reddiih green or reddifli chefnut colour,
and it is thick and convex* The feelers and the bottom of the feet are
black.

29. The Cbryfomela of a yellowifh fhell colour, with fhort wings, is
met with among flowers, and is of the fize of a loufe, with an oblong
fmooth body. The feelers are full of knots; but the cafes of the wings
are furrowed, and fhorter than the two joints of the belly.

30. The teftaceous oblong Cbryfomela with accumulated cafes of the
wings, is found on trees, and is the leaft infeft of this kind. It is of
a chefnut colour, with the feelers like threads, and pointed cafes of the
wings which cover the tail.

31. The dufky Cbryfomela with a blackifh head, is found on the
windows in the fpring, and is fomewhat lefs than a flea. The body is
oblong, and the feet are of a paler colour than the body, which is of n
black chefnut colour, with a black head.

32. The Cbryfomela with dufky cafes of the wings, and a yellow
edge, is of a middle fize, with a brown head. The breaft is yellowifh,
and the cafes of the wings almoft black j but the feet are yellow, and
the feelers alternately black and yellow. The wings are brown with
black veins, and the belly yellow marked with a broad black line.

The Curculio or IVeevel, is a fmall infect not unlike a bug, which is
found among corn, wherewith it is nourifhed, and it eats all the in-
fide, but leaves the bran behind. But there are different kinds of thefe,
which feed in a different manner, of which the following are mentioned
by Linnzus.

1. The brown oblong IVeevel with ftrait and fharp cafes of the wings,
is the largeft of thofe that are found in Sweden. The cafes of the wings
are not fo large as in other infecls of the fame kind ; but the feelers
are big, and have the laft joint of a red colour, and very long.

2. The dufky Weevel with ftreaked cafes of the wings, and as hard
as fhells. Linnsus comprehends under this fpecies the Dufky Weevel
with fhelly cafes of the wings, and marked with two ftreaks. The
greater Beetle, with rough cafes of the wings, of a greenilh afh-colour,
and variegated with black. The black Norway Weevel, variegated
with yellowifh fignatures. He fays there are feveral forts of the fecond
kind in the fields of Sweden. It creeps flovvly, and ftieks faft to any

C £hin£

vS NATURAL HISTORY.

thing it touches. When it is taken it endeavours to pinch the Ifelrjfr
and is found upon thittles. It is of a blackifh grey, and has the body„>
mouth, breaft, cafes of the wings and legs, marked with ipecks near
each other, which are all hollow. This infect gets among the leaves^,
where it changes, and becomes a winged Weevel.

3. The Grey Weevel with an iron-grey mark on the cafes of the wingsr
and is found upon willows, being like the former. It is grey and
white, with black feelers, and jaws almoft as long as the breaft. The
end of the breaft is white, and there is a fpot of a tawny colour, on
the middle of each cafe of the wings.

4. The Weevel variegated with black and white, and with a plain
carinated trunk of the length of the breaft. Frifch calls it the Weevel
with a fliort fnout. This infect is of the fhape of the former, and the
colour is b!ack and white.

5. The Weevel of a dufky brafs colour, with a fhort fnout and breafL
It is called in the Transactions of Upfal, the accumulated Weevel, of
a longifh fhape and of a dufky brafs colour. This infect is very com-
mon in Sweden, the f am ale is larger by half than the male.

6. The Weevel with a fhort fnout and breaft, and marked on the
breaft with three pale ftreaks. It is common in the gardens and mea-
dows, and is twice as large as a loufe. The body is grey, but the
feelers are reddifh.

7. The Black Weevel with a trunk or fnout the length of the bread*.
It is of a middle fize.

8. The Afh-coloured Weevel is of a longifh fhape, with blunt cafes-
of the wings. Lijler calls it the biown Beetle covered with hoary hair-
It is found among grafs, and is lefs than the former, and is oblong,
black, and covered over with fine down.

9. The Afh-coloured oblong Weevel with red feet, is like the former
in fhape, fize, and colour, and might be taken for the fame, if the
thighs, legs and feet, were not of a yellowifh red colour ; befides it
has no down. Linnaus takes it to be the female of the former.

10. The Grey Weevel clouded with black, is of a longifh fhape, and
the feet and feelers cf a dufky colour. This is to be met with among
forrel, where it makes its neft, and afterwards is metamorphofed into a*
winged Weevel. It eats the leaves of forrel on the under fide.

1 1. The green opaque Weevel with dufk feet and feelers. This is of
a middle fize.

12. The blueifhgreen fhining Weevel with black feelers, is the fmall
Weevel of Peiivtr, of a fhining green colour. This infect is met with
on the leaves of the birch tree, and is of the middle fize. The whole
head, breaft, jaws, cafes of the wings, belly, and feet of a golden
Blue-green.

13. The purple fhining Weevil, is met with in the woods, and is-
fmaller than the former, with a very long head.

14. The Weevel marked with a tooth on the fore thighs, and a body
clouded with grey. It is found in the bloffoms of trees, and is lar-
ger than a loufe ; the colour is brown inclining to grey. It has two
ftreaks that run along the cafes of the wings, and the feelers and feet-
are of a brown colour.

15. The Weevel with all the thighs marked with a tooth, and of an.
oblong greenifh body, is found upon nettle- leaves, and is of a middle

fize..

NATURAL HISTORY. 1$

fir.e. The body is longifh, the head of the length of the bread, and
the cafes of the wings almoft pointed, which has been feen on the feed
of figwort, before it was ripe.

16. The roundifii Weevel, with two black points on the longitudinal
future of the cafes of the wings, and a whitifh bread. In the tranfac-

l lions of Upfal is called the Globous Weevel, with a trunk turned back;
and Lifter calls it the fmall afh-coloured Beetle, marked with two black
ipots on the cafes -of the wings.

17. The roundifii Weevel, clouded with brown, and a white fpot in
the fhape of a heart on the middle of the back. In the tranfaftions of
Upfal it is called the lead aih coloured roundifh blunt Weevel; and it
is found on the fame plant as the former, and is of Che fize of a muf-
tard feed.

18. The oblong Weevel with a reddifh fhell, and the bread almod as
long as the cafes of the wings. Mr Ray calk it the fmall dirty-brown
Beetle, with a long trunk bending downwards. It is found upon fc-
veral forts of feeds, on which it lives, and is of the fize of a loufe,

19* The pitchy Beetle with an oval belly, is very common in Sweden,
which is all that Linn&us fays of it.

20. The Corn Weevel is fhaped like a bug, and feeds upon corn.
This is the fird that was fpoken of.

21. The black Weevel with longifti opaque cafes of the wings, is
twice the fize of a flea, and is of a black colour. The cafes of the
■wings are dreaked, and marked with opaque points.

22. The black Wtevel with fhining cafes of the wings, is lefs by one
half than a flea, of a black colour, and the cafes of the wings flreaked,
fhining, and marked with points. It is four times lefs than the for-
mer, and the cafes of the wings and belly are of an oval fhape.

23. The black Weevel with the cafes of the wings of a blackifh blue,
is found in hedges, and is of the fize of a flea. The head, bread, and
feet are black, marked with fmall hollow points, and the cafes of the
wings are of a violet- colour, or of a blackifh-blue.

24. The blackifh-blue Weevel is found in hedges like the former, and
is of the fize of a flea. The head, bread and thighs, are of a blackifli-
blue ; but the cafes of the wings are of a deep blue.

25. The black Weevel with whitifh thighs, is very like the former in
fhape and fize.; but the cafes of the wings are black and dreaked ; and
generally the legs are pale, with black feelers. The head and bread
are marked with hollow points.

26. The aih coloured Weevel with a black fpot on the cafes of thi».
wings, and legs of a paleifh yellow, is found on the leaves of willow.
It is no bigger than a loufe, and the head and jaws are black without
hair; the bread is alfo black, and covered with afh-coloured hair. The
cafes of the wings are black, dreaked and covered with the like hair,
and in the middle of each wing there is a black fpot. The feelers are
of the fame colour as the legs.

27. The afh-coloured Weevel with red legs, is common in dry
grounds, and is of the fize of a flea. The colour is aih, and the cafes
of the wings dreaked, with reddifh feet.

28. The Afh-coloured Wee vel with longitudinal dreaks of a lighter
colour, is found among the fand. It is larger than a loufe, and is of
,an afti-colour all over. The eyes are black, the feelers afn-coioured,

C 2 ani

20 NATURAL HISTORY.

and there are feveral lines ; one upon the back, of a bright afh-colour>
and another upon the wings of a light afh-colour.

29. The livid Weevel with the cafes of the wings fpotted with four
dark fpots. It is found upon the leaves of the alder-tree, and is a leap-
ing infect of the fize of a loufe.

30. The blood-coloured Weevel is found in corn, and is much of the
fize of a loufe.

31. The black Weevel with the cafes of the wings red in the middle,
is found among flowers, and is of the fize of a flea.

32. The black Weevel with red cafes of the wings, and alongifh hin-
der part of the head ; differs very much from the former kinds ; for
the head is black, and looks like that of a fox deprived of hair. The
jaws are fhort, the feelers black, and the wings of a deep red, but
fireaked and marked with hollow points.

33. The black Weevel with black cafes of the wings, and a double
white ftreak at the bafe, which is red, is very common every where.
It has a black head funk into the bread, which is red without hair, and
the body is fhort and without a trunk.

The Flying -Beetle of the Wefllndies, called by the natives Acud'iay
is a fhining infect, and is almoft as big as a Wren. There are four
fhining fpots like ftars, two of which are near the eyes, and two under
the wings. Some pretend, the natives, before the coming of the .Spa-
niards, made ufe of thefe Beetles inftead of candles.

There is an infect of the Beetle kind, known in England hj the name
of a May Bug, and in fome places a Dorr. It has two pair of wings»
one of which may properly be called the cafes, and the other the real
wings. The cafes are hard, and of a reddifh brown, fprinkled with a
whitifh duft, which eafily comes off. The legs and tail are whitifh,
but the reft of the body is brown, except a white and dentated line
wherewith each joint is marked on both fides the belly. It is thought
that the females make holes in the earth with their tails for the fake of
propagation ; but it is uncertain whether they lay eggs or fmall worms.
But be that as it will, thefe worms are prejudicial to the roots of corn
and young plants ; and they are fometimes fo numerous, as to do pro-
digious mifchief ; they continue io long in this ftate, that they are the
more dangerous on that account ; and it is faid the hardeft froft will
"not hurt them. Rooks and hogs are very fond of thefe worms, and
devour vaft numbers of them ; hence the advantage of rockeries is very-
evident, as the inhabitants of the county of Norfolk have found to their
coft ; for they lately took it in their heads to deflroy them all, fince
which time they have been peftered with great numbers of thefe worms,
which have deftroyed the roots of the wheat to their very great damage.
One farm in particular was fo injured by them in the year 1750 and
175 i, that the occupier was not able to pay his rent, which the land-
lord was not only content to lofe, but like wife gave him money for the
fupport of his family.

Thefe May-bugs are feen mod frequently flying about in the evening ;
for in the day time they hide themfelves in the leaves of feveral trees
till fun-fet, when they appear in great numbers, and often fly in the
faces of paffengers.

Moufet informs us, that in 1574 there fell fuch a great number of
thefe infects into the Severr, that they ft opt the. v, heels of the water*

NATURAL HISTORY. 2t

mills. This was on the 27th of February ; but the larger fort do not
appear till May. In Ireland they fuffered fo much by thefe infefts,
that they refolved to fet fire to a wood of ibme miles extent, to prevent
their communication with others at fome diftance. And indeed it is
certain, that where there are few trees and many rooks, the inhabitants
are leaft infefted with them.

In fome years their necks are covered with a red plate, and in others
with one that is black ; but thefe are diftincl forts ; and fome have
obferved that they do not appear in the fame year, but alternately.
Rafei has been ft curious as to catch fome of thefe infedts and put them
under glaifes, where they laid great numbers of eggs ; from whence it
is plain that they do not bring forth their young alive, which was
doubted of before. They foon change to worms of a white colour,
and at laft increafe to a considerable bulk, and he kept them two years
in this ftate, and fome three, without any change, excepting their be-
coming larger. At this time they were an inch and a half long, and
of a yellowifii white colour. Their body confifts of twelve fegments
or joints, as thofe of caterpillars, without including the head. On
each fide the body there is a protuberance that runs all along the
fegments ; in ic there are nine holes, through which this worm is fup-
pofed to breathe. Under the three firft there are fix feet, of a reddifti-
brown, compofed of four or five joints, and they are all alike hairy,
and of the colour of the feet. The head is large in proportion to the
body, and of a brownifh fhining yellow, with a pincher or nipper placed
before, of a deep brown, and blunt, but dentated at the end ; between
thefe there is a fort of femicircular lip, and by the help thereof, this
infeft cuts the roots of plants and fucks out their moifture. There is
no appearance of eyes, but behind the nipper there is a feeler, confid-
ing of five joints, and of a brownifh- yellow colour. This woi m changes
its Ikin once every year, and towards the end of the fourth year becomes
a May Bug.

The American ball Beetle, called by the inhabitants Tumble-dung,
is the moft numerous and remarkable of the Beetle-kind of any in
North-America. Their employment is to find nefts for their eggs.
They are endowed with fagacity to difcover fubfiftence by their excel-
lent fmelling, which direfls them in flights to excrements juft fallen
from man or beaft, on which they inftantly drop, and fall unanimoufly
to work in forming round balls or pellets thereof, in the middle of
which they lay an egg. Thefe pellets in September, they convey three
feet deep in the eanh where they lye till the approach of fpring, when
the eggs are hatched and burft their nefts, and the infe&s find their
way out of the earth. They affift each other with indefatigable induf-
try in rolling thefe globular balls or pellets to the place where they are
to be buried. This they are to perform with the breech foremoft , by
raifing up their hinder part, and lhoving along the ball with their hind
feet. This infed is all over of a dufky black, and has fix legs, two of
which are joined to the breaft and four to the belly. They are always
accompanied with other Beetles of a larger fize, and of a more elegant
ftrufture and colour. The breaft of this is covered with a fhield of a
crimfon colour, and fhining like metal ; the head is of the like colour,
mixed with green, and on the crown of the head ftands a finning black
born bended backwards. Thefe are called the kings of thefe beetles,

but

22 NATURAL HISTORY.

l>ut for what reafon is uncertain, fince they partake of the fame diftf
drudgery with the reft. It is a very ftrong infect, for if one of them
foe put under a brafs candleftick it will caufe it to move backwards and
forwards as it were by an inviiible hand, to the no fmall admiration of
thofe who are not accuftomed to the fight.

There is another infect which at firft appears to be of the Beetle kind,
to be met with in South-America, and particularly in Surinam. It is of
a very heavy fluggifh nature, and is furnifhed with a long tube or trunk
under its nofe, which it thrufts into flowers to fuck out the honey.
When it is preparing itfelf for transformation, it lies motionlefs for a
confiderable time, till at length the {kin breaking on the back, there
comes out a flying infect, with four wings that are tranfparent, and of
a pale rofe colour, veined with fcarlet, and bordered all round with a
pale yellow. The trunk of the body is much the fame as in the Beetle
ilate, though it entirely throws oif its fkin or fhell, which was of a deep
green colour. When it is transformed to a fly, it is exceeding fwift,
and makes a noife with its wings like a harp.

There have been the folid (hells of a fort of Beetle brought to England,
that weTe found on the eaftern coaft of Africa, over againft part of the
ifland of Madagafcar, which the natives hang to their necks, and make
ufe of them as whittles to call their cattle together. Their upper fur-
face has the appearance of rough wings, which are fo ftrongly united
to thofe below after they are dead, that one would imagine they never
could be made ufe of while they were alive. On its upper fide it has
above a dozen rows of round knobs, running lengthways, and between
them there are others that are very fmall. The colour is black, fpot-
ted with red between each knot in the rows of the back, and it has alfo
red fpots on its under fide. Thefe Beetles when living, will fly with
great force againft a perfon's head or face, though when they are dead
they feem incapable of any fuch motion as flying.

Linnaus divides the Beetles into two kinds, the great and the little j
of the former, there are,

1 . The black Beetle, with fpotted and ftreaked cafes of the wings ;
the head is fmall, the eyes prominent, the feelers confift of eleven joints,
and are as long as half the body. All thefe forts of Beetles have an
oblong body, feelers like briftles, a breaft made in the fhape of a heart,
an elevated mouth, a ftrong fmell, and they run and fly very fwiftly.
This has the fmell of tobacco, and is found among rotten wood.

2. The black Bettle with greenifh cafes of the wings, that are convex-
!y fpotted and ftreaked. It is like the former, and has the fame fmell.

3. The black Beetle with the cafes of the wings like copper, and con-
vexly fpotted and ftreaked. It is like the former, only the cafes of the
wings, the breaft, and the hinder part of the head, are of the colour
©f copper. It is found among rotten wood.

4. The purplifh-black Beetle with the cafes of the wings concavely
fpotted and ftreaked. It is the purple fpotted Cerambix of Ray ; and
the black Beetle with furrowed cafes of the wings and hollow fpots.
It is like the former, and is foupd among putrified vegetables.

5. The black Beetle with eight ftreaks on each wing, is like the former,
and is found in the fame places. It is called by Lijler the entirely
felack Beetle, with cruftaceous cafes of the wings.

6<,

NATURAL HISTORT. *j

6. The blackifh violet Beetle with the cafes of the wings a little wrirv*
lied, is called by Fryfch the fmall black Beetle. It is like the former*
«nly the edges of the breaft, and the cafes of the wings, are of a blue*
ifh purple.

7. The green Beetle with furrowed cafes of the wings, but without
points, and the feet and feelers of a brown colour. It refembles the
former, only it is green, with a blueiih caft.

8. The black Beetle with green furrowed cafes of the wings, and black
feet and feelers. It is the Cerambix of Ray, with a back divided into
long lines, and the moft beautiful of all this kind. It is like the for-
mer, only the head, breaft, and cafes of the wings above, are of a
mining green, marked with three or four ftreaks of different green,
between which there are furrows. The edge of the cafes of the wings
is of the colour of fire ; but the body, feet,, and feelers are black.

Thofe of the leaft fort, according to Linnaus, are,

1. The ftiining Beetle, with head and breaft of a blueiih green, and
with purple wings. It fhines like gold, and the cafes of the wings
have ftreaks that are hardly vifible.

2. The Beetle which is of a copper colour above, with hollow pointed
cafes of the wings, and red feet. The colour of the back is variegated
with green, red, copper colour and brown; the cafes of the wings are
marked with three points ; the thighs are black, the legs red, and the
feelers at the third joint are furnilhed with three filky threads. It is
ef the fize of a houle fly, but narrower, and is found in meadows.

3. The black Beetle with red feet, is in fhape and fize like the former,
•nly it is quite black, and the cafes of the wings are (freaked.

4. The blackifti Beetle with pale legs, is only half as big as a houfe-
fly, and the head, breaft, and cafes of the wings are of a blackifh cop-
per-colour, and the cafes of the wings are marked with eight ftreaks.
The feet are black, except the middle of the legs.

5. The pale teftaceous Beetle with fmooth wings, is of a middle fize,.
with very fmall feelers.

6. The black Beetle with a brown breaft, as well as the feelers and
feet. It has a black head, and the cafes of the wings of the fame co-
lour, and ftreaked.

7. The Beetle with the head and cafes of the wings blue, and the
bread red, or of a faffron colour. The feelers are moftly black, and
the feet are variegated with red and black. It is of the fize of a fmall fly.

8. The Beetle with a black head and cafes of the wings, but a red
breaft ; it is of the fame fize and fhape as the former, and the feet and
feelers are brown.

9. The blackifti copper-coloured Beetle with black feelers and feet, 10
©f the fize and fhape of the former. The breaft is more black than the
ether parts, and fhining,. marked with two hollow fpots ; but the cafes
of the wings are ftreaked and filky at the extremities, and the under
part of the body is black.

10. The black Beetle with a brown ftreak on the hinder part of the
cafes of the wings, and a fpot on the fides of the fame colour, but the
feelers are black and red, the feet pale, and the wings brown.

11. The black Beetle with grey cafes of the wings, is about twice the
fize of a loufe..

12,

24 NATURAL HISTORY.

12. The black Beetle with black feet and feelers. The breaft Is fniru
ing and narrow at the lower part, but the wings are ftreaked, and on
the middle of each there is an hollow point.

1 3. The pale teftaceous Beetle with black eyes, is of the fize of a large
loule, and of an opaque colour. The cafes of the wings are ftreaked.

14. The black Beetle with a brown breaft, and the cafes of the wings
marked with four livid fpots ; the feet are alfo brown, and there is a
brown fpot on the j°ints of the wings.

15. The grey Beetle with the head, belly, and bafe of the cafes of the
wings blackiih. It is fcarce fo big as a loufe, and the feelers and feet
are grey.

Linnaus has feventeen forts of Dermejles ; namely,

1. The black Dermejles with the fore parts of the cafes of the wings
of an afh colour ; it is called by Ray the beetle with clavated feelers ;
and by Fryfcb the fmall Bacon Beetle, with a tranfverfe ftreak of a
whitilh colour, on the duflcy blackiih cafes of the wings. It is fond of
bacon, and all forts of dead bodies.

2. The black Dermejles with a double undulated white ftreak on the
cafes of the wings ; in which laft particular it differs from the former,
but in other refpecls is like it.

3. The black Dermejles with two white fpots on the cafes of the wings.
It is named by Fryfch the black Dermeftes, with a white fpot on the
cafes of the wings. It is of an oval fhape, and when the cafes of the
wings are clofed, two white fpots appear on the back ; befides which
there are five others ; that is, one on the point of the corflet, one on
each fide the breaft, and one along each cafe, towards each cafe ; but
they are all very fmall, and the feelers are in the fhape of a club. It
is found among cloaths, on walls, and about provifions.

4. The black Dermejles with two red fpecks on the cafes of the wings.
It is called in the tranfaclions of Upjal the Black Dermeftes, with the
cafes of the wings marked with a red fpot. This iniecT, as well as the
two former, is fond of Bacon.

5. The black Dermejles with four red fpots on the cafes of the wings.
is faid by Fryjcb to be a fmail beetle, fpotted with yellow, that pro-
ceeds from a hairy worm, found among wool. It may be feen on
trees, and fometimes on windows.

6. The fmooth black Dermejles, of a clouded afh-colour, with a yel-
low corfet. Fryjcb calls it the Beetle proceeding from a fmooth black
caterpillar.

7. The teftaceous hairy Dermejles with ftreaked blunt cafes of the
wings ; it is called by Ray the Beetle with ten elevated feelers, and in
the Upjal tranfa<ftions the hairy Dermeftes, with the points of the cafes
of the wings feeming to be gnawed off. It is cf a bright brown, with
ftreaked, furrowed, and dentated cafes of the wings. It is to be found
under the bark of the pine tree, where it makes crooked furrows.

8. The fmooth teftaceous Dermejles with the hinder part of the cafes
cf the wings hairy and blunt. It is fond of carrion, and alfo feeds on
•ther infecls.

9. The black Dermejles with grey cafes of the wings that are black
on the edges. It is called in the Upfal tranfaclions, the Cylindrick
Dermeftes, with a thick hairy collar, and teftaceous cafes of ihe wings.
It is fmall, and when touched, rolls itfclf up.

10,

NATURAL HISTORY.

2S

no. The black Dermejies with grey cafes of the wings, is no bigger
than a flea.

11. The black oblong Dermejies with a fharp belly, is called in the
(Tjg/a/tranfadtions, the leaft flower-eating Beetle ; and by Ray the Beetle,
with clavated feelers, which are divided into rings. It is of the fize of
a loufe, with an oblong body, and a flat belly, pointed at the end.

12. The black Dermejies with blackifh cafes of the wings. It is
found among putrified cabbages, and in the winter in cellars and green-
houfes.

13. The black Dermejies with red feet, and the cafes of the wings
marked with nine llreaks, is a water infect, twice as big as a loufe.

14. The blackifh-blue Beetle, is of the fize of a grain of rice, blue
above, and blackilh below, with a hairy corfet.

15. The blackilh-brown Dermejies with ihining fpeckled cafes of the
wings ; it is of a cylindric fhape, and of the fize of a large loufe.

16. The oblong fmooth teftaceous Dermejies with black eyes, may be
feen among horfe-dnng in the beginning of the fpring.

17. The brown Dermejies with a bread fomewhat teftaceous, and the
crolfet of a bright brown, is about the fize of a loufe.

The Goat-chaffer, or Capricorn-beetle, is of the fame fize as the Stag-
beetle, as alfo of the fame colour : the head is broadifh, and the eyes
large, with a forked gaping mouth, and two exceeding hard crooked
teeth, with which it is enabled to gnaw wood, at which times it makes
a noife like the grunting ot a pig : the (boulders are of a very curi-
ous ftruclure, feeming to be carved, and having a haft of the colour
and polifh of ebony. It has fix legs, three of which are furnifiied with
knees, that aie weak, and fcarcely able to fupport the body. It has
two horns growing above the eyes, and longer than the body, confiding
of ten flexible joints, not exactly round, but rough like thofe of a goat.
It can turn them any way it pleafes, only when it flies they are thruft
directly forwards ; and when it is weary with flying, they are ufed in-
ftead of feet. When it refts upon trees, it embraces a branch with
its horns or feelers, and hangs thereto ; infomuch that it looks net
much unlike the bird of Faradiie.

The larger Capricorn green Beetle with the fcent of mufk, is a very
large beautiful infect, all over a glofly lovely blue green colour, with a
caft of a fhining golden yellow : the body is blue on the upper part,
and the wings under the cafe are black : the legs are of the fame
blueifh green colour, only fomewhat paler, and the breaft is pointed at
each extremity. Between thefe points there are three little tubercles
near the wings, and three fmaller towards the head : .the cafes of the
wings are oblong, and fomewhat in the fhape of a lance, with three
ribs a little raifed and running longways : the feelers are nearly as
long as the body, and are compofed of many fmall joints, which grow
fmaller near the ends It is fometimes found among old willow trees,
and has a fort of a mufky fmell.

The Ruffian Capricorn beetle with very long horns, is about three
quarters of an inch long, and is all over of a grey colour : the cafes of
the wings are blunt and furnifhed with many fmall hairs ; and among
them there are feveral fmall tubercles. A dufky blackilh fhade runs
acrofs the wings, which at the hinder part bends towards the middle s
She breaft is pointed at each end, and has four beautiful yellow foots-

D towards

2 6 NATURAL HISTORY.

towards its hinder part : the eyes are black, and there is a black fpot
near the feelers, which are five times as long as the body : they are
grey, and conhft of ten joints, which are ihorter the nearer they are to
the head ; but the wings are black ftreaked with brown. The female
has an elongation at the vent, which renders the body one third of the
length of the feelers. It is found among old wood, but is not very
common with us.

The black Capricorn Beetle with a hairy grey breaft, has an oblong
and fomewhat deprefled body, of a deep black colour, with a little mix-
ture of grey. It is covered with many fhort hairs with prominent tu-
bercles between them ; but all the breaft is hairy and black, though the
hairs are white, which give it a greyilh appearance ; only on its hinder
part there are two fmooth prominent fpots : the feelers are flender
and black, and about half the length of the body, and there is an un-
dulated line on the cafe of the wings, but fo faint, that it is fcarcely
vifible. It is found among timber, but it is not very common with us.

Lhineus has eighteen forts of thefe Beetles, the firft of which is the
green and blue Capricorn Beetle, with feelers nearly of the length of
the body : this has a fine agreeable fmell, and is found upon willow
trees. It is the largeft fort that is feen in Sweden, and is the fame with
one already mentioned.

2. The cloudy Capricorn Beetle with feelers longer than the body,
and the breaft marked with four yellow fpots : this is the fame as the
RuJJian Beetle, and is found on the trunks of trees that are ftript of
their bark with which the peafants make their huts.

3. The black Capricorn Beetle with a fiattifh breaft, that has three
teeth on the margin on each fide, and the cafes of the wings as black
as pitch : this is the fame as the great Cerambix of Ray, with large
articulated horns bending back : it has a very large fiattifh body,
longer than the feelers, and of the fhape of a common Beetle : this
is a kind of ftag Beetle.

4. The red Capricorn Beetle with the cafes of the wings marked with
three longitudinal black fpots : this is the largeft kind of Beetle that
is found in Europe, and has the belly, feet, mouth and forehead, of a
dark red ; the belly is covered with hair.

5. The black Stag-beetle with fpeckled cafes of the wings, and pale
fpots fprinkled thereon, with feelers longer than the body, and a prickly
breaft : it is found in forefts, and is of the largeft kind.

6. The fmall Capricorn Beetle of an afh-colour, with black cafes of
the wings, and feelers half as long again as the body : the head is
black, and it is found in Gothland.

7. The alh-coloured Capricorn Beetle with cafes of the wings, part
of which feem to be bitten off, marked with black points, with a white
ftreak ; as alfo with feelers half as long again as the body : this is of
the length of a common fly, but more flender ; and it is often feen in
houfes in the counuy.

8. The Capricorn Beetle, of a cloudy black colour, with feelers fhorter
by half than the body, and a prickly breaft.

9. The aih-colofir^d Capricorn Beetle with the cafes of the wings
marked with two yellow ftreaks, and feelers by one half Ihorter than
the body, with a prickly breaic. It is like the former, only the cafes

of

NATURAL HISTORY. 27

of the wings are of a browner colour, and marked with two yellow
ftreaks.

10. The teftaceous Capricorn Beetle, with the cafes of the wings
marked with two whitiih ftreaks, and a prickly breaft. It is no bigger
than a loufe.

1 1. The black Capricorn Beetle, with the cafes of the wings marked
with two white undulated ftreaks, and a fmooth breaft : the feelers
are long, and it is of the fame fize as the former.

12. The blackifti Capricorn Beetle, with a hairy afh-colour?d breaft,
marked with two fmooth points. It is by fome called the Tree-Beetle,
with fmall feelers, and an aih-coloured collar, marked with two points.
It is found among piles of wood.

13. The teftaceous Capricorn Beetle with a hairy afh -coloured breaft,
mar ked with two fmooth lines : this infect is of the fame fhape as the
former, but fhorter, and the feelers are not fo long as the body.

14. The teftaceous Capricorn Beetle with a fmooth breaft, does not
differ much from the former, only the feelers are longer than the body,
and the thighs and ieet are yellow inclining to red.

15. The brown Capricorn Beetle, with points imprelfcd on the breaft,
and feelers fhorter than the body.

1 6. The grey Capricorn Beetle fpotted with black : this is called by
Petiver the Norway Capricorn Beetle, of a blackifh colour, with fpotted
cafes of the wings, and fpeckled with pale fpots.

17. The black Capricorn Beetle, with the cafes of the wings marked
with a longitudinal yellow fpot, which is dentated, and there are alfo
yellow fpots : this is of a longifh ihape, and has the breaft adorned
with yellow hair.

18. The violet-coloured fhining Capricorn Beetle, with black feelers
and clavated thighs. It is found in gardens and in woods, and is all
over of a fine violet mixed with gold colour : the feelers are a little
longer than the body.

There are feveral forts of Unicorn Beetles, which may be placed un-
der two divifions, the firft of which has ftarp protuberances on the
breaft, and the fecond none. Of the firft diviiion, befide the twe> al-
ready defcribed, are the black Unicorn Beetle, with a flatted breaft,
and the edge of it having three feet on each fide, and the feelers are
coal black : the reddifh Unicorn Beetle with three black lines on the
cafes of the wings, running lengthways : the black Unicorn Beetle,
with irregular pale fpots on the cafes of the wings, and a prickly breaft ;
and has alfo feelers longer than the body : the grey Unicorn Beetle
fpotted with black, and a black tranfverfe line on the cafes of the wings,
and the feelers longer than the body by one half: the grey Unicorn
Beetle, with black cafes of wings fpotted with white, and a white tranf-
verfe line on each, with feelers longer than the body by one half:
the grey and black Unicorn Beetle, with the feelers about half the
length of the body : the grey Capricorn Beetle, with two yellow
tranfverfe lines on the cafes of the wings, and the feelers half as long
as the body : the fhelly Capricorn Beetle, with a double white tranf-
verfe line on each wing.

Of the fecond divifion, which have no protuberances on the breaft,
there are the black Capricorn Beetle, with two white undulated tranf-
verfe lines on the cafes of the wings : the fhelly Capricorn Beetle

D 3 with

28 NATURAL HISTORY.

with a grey hairy breaft, and two fmooth fhort lines thereon : the
fhelly Capricorn Beetle, with a fmooth bread: the blown Capricorn
Beetle, with fpots imprefled on the breaft : the grey Capricorn Beetle,
with the cafes of the wings fpotted with black : the black Capricorn
Beetle, with a longitudinal dentated yellow line and yellow fpots on
the cafes of the wings : the fhining violet- coloured Capricorn Beetle,
with black feelers and clavated thighs.

Linnaus has only four forts in his Syjlema Nature, which are mention-
ed among thofe abeve.

The Leptura is a fort of a Beetle with feelers like briftles, and the
cafes of the wings truncated at the points; as alio a round breaft : the
Tree-Beetle, or greater violet- red Leptura, is of the large kind, with
an oblong-fhaped body, fmalleft behind : the legs, feelers, and all
the other parts, except the cafes of the wings, are black, though in
-Jbme lights it has a whitifh caft : the cafes of the wings of the fe-
male are of a deep red ; but thofe of the males are not fo deep, and
are black or grey on the edges. All the furface of the cafes of the
wings in both is adorned with a multitude of fmall hollow dots, with
a few fhort fine hairs : the head and breaft are fometimes yellowifh.
It may be often met with in the woods, and Ray calls it a Unicorn
Beetle, with the head, fhoulders and feelers black ; but of a blackilh
yellow at the extremities.

The raiddle-fized beetle, with a black oblong narrow belly, and va-
riegated with yellow lines and fpots. It is of an oblong narrow fhape,
the general colour is of a blackilh brown ; only the upper edge of the
breaft is yellow, and there is a yellow fpot where the cafes of the wings
join. Likewife there are fome undulated yellow lines running tranf-
verfely thereon ; and they are truncated at the point, and are a little
hairy, and the feelers and legs are of a reddilh brown. It is not un-
common among the hedges in orchards and gardens.

The yellow gold-coloured Leptura, with black feelers, and dentated
hinder legs : the body is oblong, and the head fmall : the colour
refembles that of copper, with a mixture of fine ltrong gilded yellow
variegations : the head, breaft, and cafes of the wings, as well as the
legs, are all fpeckled with extremely minute, and almoft contiguous
hollow dots, which are irregularly difperfed over the breaft, head, and
legs; but on the wings they are pretty regular, and placed in ten rows,
running lengthways, forming fo may lines : the eyes are black, and
the feelers brown.

Linnaus has fifteen infecls of this kind, of which the firft is, The
greeniih-yellow Leptura, with yellow feelers, variegated with green.
It is the largeft of the kind, and in the Upfal transactions is named the
greateft black Leptura, greenilh underneath.

2. The black Leptura, with the breaft and cafes of the wings red ; it
is pretty large, and the legs are yellow.

3. The black Leptura with blackilh cafes of the wings, variegated
with a livid colour. It is found in Sweden as well as the former.

4. The black Leptura with reddilh and greenilh cafes of the wings, is
called by Ray the Cerambix, with the head and fhoulders and feelers
black, the cafes of the wings yellow and black at the extremity, and in
the Upfal tranfactions, the Leptura with teltaceous cafes of the wings ;
but this is the. male, and the female is termed the Leptura with red

cafea.

NATURAL HISTORY. 29

cafes of the wings. It is a fort of a May Bug, and of a violet-red co-
lour ; it is commonly feen on bulhes.

5. The black Leptura with the throat, cafes of the wings, and legs
purple ; it is like the former, but twice at. big.

6. The black leptura, with the cafes of the wings and breaft yellow-
ifh. It is much ot the fame fhape as the former, but lefs.

7. The Leptura with livid cales or the wings, marked with four
black fpots. It is of the greatelt fort, and is found in forefts.

8. i he Leptura entirely black, is a little bigger than the former, but
the wings are not io large.

9. The black Leptura with teft -ceous cafes of the wings, which are
marked with iix black fpots. It is called in the Upfal tranfactions the
Leptura, with teftaceous cafes of the wings and black fpots ; it is all
over black.

10. The black Leptura with the cafes of the wings marked with four
brown fpots, has a black body and wings, and is one of the largeft of
the kind.

11. The black Leptura with yellow cafes of the wings, is not fo biff
as a loufe, and the feelers are almoft as long as the body, the win°-s are
yellow and black at the points.

12. the black Leptura with cafes of the wings marked with tranf-
verfe yellow lines, and teliaceous feet. It is called by Lijler the Black
Beetle, marked with yellow lines and feet nearly of a faffron colour.
It is found in meadows and the branches of trees, and in gardens.

13. The black Leptura with teftaceous wings, marked with two points,
with a crois and black ftreaks.

14. The gilded Leptura with black feelers, and the hinder thighs
dentated. It is called by Fryfch the Tree-beetle, of a purplilh golden
colour, and it is found in moitt places.

15. The Leptura of a violet copper- colour, with the hinder thighs
dentated. It is found upon the banks of riveis, and in places where
there is much fand and gravel.

The violet- black Dung-beetle, called by Ray, the Greater Beetle,
with an oblong body, of a purplilh black colour. It has a fmall head,
and large prominent eyes, with pretty long, and very flender feelers :
the general colour is black, only the edges of the breaft and wings
are of a deep beautiful gloffy purple: the cafes of the wings have
neither dots nor lines, but they have a fort of wrinkles, which run
longways, and others that crofs them, which are not very vifible. It
is common on dung-hills, and among rotten vegetables.

The purplilh black Dunghill-beetle, called by Ray the Unicorn-Beetle,
fpeckled with purple, is ot the large kind, and the body is of an oblong
fhape, and pretty thick : the general colour is blackifh, with a ftreng
and very fine tinge of gloffy purple : the cafes of the wings are marked
with three lines, each of which is formed by a row of longitudinal,
hollow, round fpots, and there are about twelve on each row : the
lines between them are hollowed. It is found in the fame places as
the former.

The black Dung-beetle with reddifli legs, is a fmall fpecies, being not
much bigger than a common fly : the colour of the body is black,
and the breaft is broad and fhort : the cafes of the wings are ftreaked
each with eight lines, and the legs are of a reddifli brown, as are alio

the

30 NATURAL HISTORY.

the bafes of the feelers. Some authors call it the Burn-cow, or Burft-
cow, with a black body and red legs.

Ltnnaus divides them into two fpecies, namely, the greater or (linking
Beetles, and the lelfer or rapacious Beetles. Of the ftinking Beetles,
there are the black {linking Beetle with the cafes of the wings convexly
ftreaked : the black ftinking Beetle with the cafes of the wings green-
ifh, and convexly fpeckled and ftreaked : the black ftinking Beetle
with bralfy wings, convexly fpeckled and ftreaked : the black ftink-
ing Beetle with lixteen flreaks on the cafes of the wings : the green
ftinking Beetle with bluntly ftreaked cafes of the wings, and the head
and legs of an iron grey colour : the black ftinking Bettle with green
ihallow furrowed wings, and black feelers and legs.

The Mordella is an infect of the Beetle kind, with feelers like threads,
and have generally legs that ferve them for leaping. It is called by
the German Waflerwante ; but we have no Englifo name for it : the
oblong Black Mordella, with a flender pointed tail, is not above a fixth
part of an inch in length, and the breadth not half fo much : the
colour is black, and it is fmooth and a little glolfy on moil part of the
furface : the head is fmall and bent, and the cafes of the wings
have no ftreaks ; the breaft is fmooth, and very convex, and the feel-
ers are very flender, truncated, and jointed : the body grows gradu-
ally fmaller towards the tail, where it terminates in a fharp thorn or
prickle, which is black, and reaches longer than the extremity of the
wings : the legs are flender and long, by which means it leaps very
nimbly.

The roundilh. opake black Mordella is fhorter and thicker than the
former, being nearly of a roundilh fhape : the head is fmall, and
the breaft railed, being of a dulky deep black, but not glolfy : the
cafes of the wings are of the fame colour, and fomewhat fhorter than
the body, but the legs are flender and long, which enable it to leap
very brifkly. It is common in gardens.

The ihining blue oval- bodied Mordella, called by Ray the fmall
leaping Capricorn Beetle, is not much larger than a flea, and the body-
is fhort, being nearly of an oval form : the breaft and back are both
very convex and fmooth, and of a very deep, beautiful, glolfy blue
colour : the legs are long, the thighs thick, robuft, and whitifh, and
the lower part of the legs are of an iron-grey colour. It hops very
nimbly, and is common among cabbages, while they are young.

The roundilh black Mordella with a bralfy tinclure, is much lefs than
a flea, and is all over of a very deep glolfy black, with a fine bralfy
yellowilh caft : the belly and legs are of the fame fine black, but
without the yellow : the cafes of the wings are marked with ftreaks,
that confift of five fmall hollow fpots. It may be feen in the gardens
early in the fpring.

Linnaus has only three kinds, to which he gives no very diftincT:
marks ; however there are other fpecies, as the yellow Mordella; the
roundilh moufe-coloured Mordella ; the roundilh black opake and dotted
Mordella; the roundilh black glolfy Mordella with yellow feelers and
legs : the oblong black Mordella with an iron-grey fpot on each cafe
pi the wings, whole fides are of the fame colour towards the bafe : the
pblong black Mordella with the cafes of their wings yellow down their
middle : the reudifh-brown Mordella vrith the fore-legs dentated ;

the

Natural history. p

the black Mordella with the cafes of the wings red at their extremi-
ties : the brown opake Mordella with the cafes of the wings fpeckled ;
the iron grey brown Mordella, with the breaft depreffed on the fore
part: the Mordella with the joints of a little lOBgifti fhape, except
that at the end, which is perfectly round.

The Cicindela has feelers like threads or briftles, prominent dentated
jaws, and a roundiih breaft, though fomewhat angular :• the Green
Beetle with ten white fpots of Ray is a Cicindela, and is a very beauti-
ful infect ; the upper furface of the body fhining, and variegated with
green and gold : the cafes of the wings are fmootb, gloffy, of the
lame colour, and marked with ten white fpots, fome of which are round-
iih, fome oblong, and one in the figure of a half moon ; likewife the
extremities of thefe cafes are white : the breaft is narrow, roundiih,
and of a deep green ; the head is fmall, deprelfed, and finely tinged
with gold colour : the eyes are black and prominent as well as the
mouth, and the upper lip is blunt and whife : the upper jaws are alio
prominent, and have feveral ftrong teeth therein ; but the lower has
only one tooth, and that at the extremity : there are two pair of feel-
ers, one of which confifts only of two joints, and the other of ten : the
legs are very long and (lender, and there is a kind of hard oval lub-
ftance at the bafe of the thighs. It is common in pafture ground in
the fpring, and runs and flies very fwiftly.

The fmall gilded beetle is a fmall fpecies, and its colour is fine and
glofTy, refembling a yellow metal with a little mixture of green s
the eyes are black and prominent, the breaft narrow and rounded ;
and the cafes of the wings are adorned with many broad hollow fpecks
in the centre of each of which there is a prominent point : thefe hol-
low fpecks are placed in rows, and are a deep black ;-but their bottoms
are of a fine metalline yellow. Upon the whole it is a very beautiful
infect, and may be eafily found on the banks of rivers.

The Cicindela with the cafes of the wings of a blueilh green, and a
yellow belly ; the body is nearly of an oval fhape, and the head,
breaft, feelers and legs, are all black : the belly is of a yellowifh taw-
ny colour, and the cafes of the wings of a blue green,, variegated with
hollow fpecks : the feelers are {lender, and coniifts of ten joints : this
infect is common in the woods.

The black Cicindela with the cafes of the wings marked with fix
white fpots, and a white ftreak. It is found in the woods, and runs
and flies very fwiftly. It is quite black, except the wings, marked as
above, and the thighs and feet are long, flender, and a little hairy.

The black Cicindela with a red breaft, and blackifii blire cafes of the
wings : this infect has black feelers, of the length of the body, and
the head and feet are of the fame colour ; but the breaft is of a reddh'h
brown and the cafes of the wings black, with a bluerlh caft, marked
with very fmall points : the belly is yellow behind, and oblong and
aarrow.

The Cicindela with blueifh cafes of the wings, and the belly of a fal-
low colour. It is found at the bottoms of mountains, and in fhady
places, and is of the fame lhape as the former : the head, breaft, feet,
and feelers are black, and the belly, near the feet, is of a fallow colour,
but the cafes of the wings are of a mining blue,.. marked with hollow
joints, and the feelers confift of fix joints.

The

g« NATURAL HISTORY.

The Cic'indela with a green breaft, with the cafes of the wings of aii
iron grey, but behind of a blueilh black : the feelers are black, the
body and the bread: of a fhining blue.

The Burn-cow, or Bur/l-coiu, called in Latin Bupreftis, is an infecl
with feelers like threads or briftles, and the head half hid within their
breaft, and of a roundifh fhape : the yellowifh green Burn-cow with-
out fpots, is placed by fome among the Cantharides, only it has a
more oblong body : the cafes of the wings are of a greenifh yellow, or
rather of a gold colour ; the legs are long and thickilh, the eyes glo-
bous and prominent 5 and from the forehead near the eyes, there are
two oblong horns or feelers, which are articulated : the head is imall,
the mouth wide, hard, ftrong, and forked ; being armed with teeth,
with which it bites very hard : the belly is not round, but longifh.
It will fight with Beetles and efts, wounding them in the belly. It is
about half an inch long, and feeds upon mofs, heath, efts, worms, and
other infe&s, which it vanquifhes in fight. Nor will it touch any that
are killed by other means. Belonius defcribes it thus ; it is a winged
flying infect, having a moft filthy fmell, and is like a Cantharis, but
larger, and is of a yellowifh colour, and fo very venomous, that horn-
ed cattle which feed in paftures where they are, are often killed there-
with : this however differs from the former in the colour.

There is another Burn-coiv, with a fhorter body and a broader belly;
as alfo a fharper tail, and a fmall head, with prominent eyes, and a
wide forked mouth : the cafes of the wings are ftreaked lengthways,
and the colour is as green as grafs, with a mixture of mining gold. It
has eight legs, which are long in proportion to the body ; but more
{lender than in the former fpecies, and of a blackifh colour, the feelers
are more fmall and flender, and it is as nimble as the firft, but has a
a much more filthy fmell. It lives upon flies and palmer- worms : thefe
are venomous to cattle like the former ; and fome affirm if one of them
be fwallowed it will poifon a man. -

In Germany there are alfo two other forts, the one of a greenifh gold i
colour, and the other of a yellow black : the fiift is like the former
above defcribed, but is a little bigger, and the cafes of the wings are
ftreaked with lines of a deep gold- colour, fhaded with a little green j
and between the lines hollowifh tubercles arife, which look as if they
were engraved therein. It is very nimble, and in that is like the
other kinds : the yellowifh-black Burn-co<w has the fame qualities as
the former, only it is of a different colour, is a little bigger, and has
lour feelers.

The brownifh braffy ~£>urn-cow, is a very fmall fpecies, though the
eyes are pretty large an^ prominent : the feelers are fliort, and the
breaft is lhort, and broad, but hollowed, and has a very fmall rim :
the cafes of the wings are very bright and gloffy, and finely ftreaked
with very minute elegant fpecks : the legs are flender and black, as
well as the under part of the body, and the fnout is prominent. It is
common among the reeds near rivers.

The braffy and clouded H>urn-Co<w with clavated feelers, is alfo a
fmall fpecies, being hardly fo big as a flea: the belly and lowed
parts of tlit: body are black ; but the upper is all over of a braffy yel-
low, with a mixture of brown, and it has a brown fpot on the backr
which touches both the cafes of the wings, which are- finely ftreaked 5

NATURAL HISTORY. 33

the brcaft is marked with five oblique furrows, and is large : the head
is almoft hid under the breaft, and the body grows narrower towards
the tail. It does not appear that thefe two laft fpecies are dangerous
to cattle.

The Virginian Burn-cow, is of a dufky brafly colour, with fpots on
the wings, and is of a pretty large fort : the head is almoft hid under
the breaft, as in the former kinds, and the breaft is of a brafty colour,
with a mixture of a reddith brown : the cafes of the wings are alfo of
the fame colour, but not fo much of the red ; but they are marked
with four or five ftreaks, and on each there are two fpots, fo difpofed,
as altogether to make a fquare figure when the cafes are clofed : they
are of a bright and clear yellow.

Linn<tus mentions the Buprejlis with a forked mouth, the greater water
Bupreftis, and the leifer water Bupreftis.

Water-beetles have generally feelers like briftles, and feet proper for
fwimming, being a little bearded like an ear of corn, and are fix hi
number, the hinder being a little longer and broader than thofe before :
they never fly in the day time, but in the night, or at leaft very feldom.

The great Water-beetle is an inch and half long, and is all over of a
deep, fomewhat glolfy black : the eyes are pretty large, the feelers
fhort, and the cafes of the wings fmooth on the furface, and under
them there are wings, with a tincture of a filver colour: the body
grows fmaller, and terminates almoft in a point behind it. It is very
common in ponds and ditches, and feeds upon the fmaller water infects.

The black Water-beetle with the cafes of the wings that are yellow on
the edges, is of the fame fize with the former ; but the head is fmall
in proportion to the body : the eyes are large, and the legs ftrong and
robuft ; the edges of the cafes of the wings are very prominent, efpeci-
ally about the middle, where they are of a yellow colour ; but every
other part is black. It is common in rivers and brooks.

The goggle eyed Water-beetle is not quite fo large as the two pre-
ceding, but it has a big head, and the eyes are very prominent : the
cafes of the wings are m.rked with ten ftreaks, which do not run through
the whole length, for they are fmooth near the end : the ftreaks are
very deep, and the colour all over is of a blackilh brown.

The grey Water-beetle is not much bigger than the blue flefii flie, and
its breaft is yellow in the middle, though black at the top and bottom :
the cafes of the wings are of a greyifh colour, and are marked with a
great number of fhining fpecks of a yellowifh colour, and at the edges
they are entirely yellow ; there is alfo a yellow fpot in the fhape of a
heart, with black edges on the top : the point of the breaft is blunt,
though a little forked.

Linnaus takes notice of the Water beetle with perforated feelers, of
that with dilated fides, of the common Water-beetle, and of the Wa-
ter-flea : thefe laft are remarkable for ikipping up and down upon the
water, as if they were at play ; but when the water is troubled, they
fink to the bottom, or hide themfelves in the holes of the banks.

The other fpecies are the Water-beetle with a yellow breaft, that
with brown wings and a black belly : the Water-beetle with a round
body, marked with ten ftreaks on the cafes of the wings : the oval-bo-
died Water-beetle, with the cafes of the wings and breaft black, but;

E the

# NATURAL HISTORY.

the head and legs reddifh : the brown oval Water-beetle with reddifn
legs, head, and breaft.

Another infeft of the Beetle kind, is by modern authors called Elatef,
Which has feelers like briftles, and an oblong body. It is remarkable,
that when laid on its back, it has the power of fpringing or leaping up,
whence it has its name ; for Elater fignifies a fpring.

The Elater of a mixed brown, green, and brafty colour, is a fmall
fpecies, and has an oblong body : the breaft and cafes of the wings of
the male are very bright, abounding pretty much with green, and the
feelers are a little peclinated on the fides : the colour of the female is
more yellow, and the breaft is broader and glcffy, being more green
than the wings, but the feelers are not peclinated. It makes its ap-
pearance chiefly in June.

The black Elater with a red breaft, is of the fmalleft fpecies, and is
all over black, except on the breaft and the cafes of the wings, which
are of a blueifh caft ; likewife the forepart of the breaft is black, and the
other red, and has the appearance of a large red fpot, in the fhape of
a half moor, the horns of which are turned towards the head: the
feelers are black. It is very common in pafture-grounds under hedges,
near I, on don.

The brownifh black Elater, is a pretty large fpecies, and has an ob-
long body : the colour is the fame throughout, being of a brownifh
black ; but the head is fmall, and the cafes of the wings are fmooth,
and a little gloffy.

This is called the brown Notopeda by Linnaus ; who alfo takes notice
of the black Elater with a hairy breaft ; the black Elater with a red ,
breaft, mentioned above ; and the black Elater with red cafes of the
wings. Other authors mention the greenifh brafs- coloured Elater,
with yellow legs : the black Elater with cafes of the wings blue : the
black Elater with cafes of the wings red on the back part: the black
Elater with the cafes of the wings livid on the outer edge : the red-
breafted Elater with red cafes of the wings: the black Elater with
brown cafes of the wings, and the feelers and legs of a reddifh brown*

The Cantbarls is of the beetle kind, from whence comes Cantharides,.
well known in the (hops by the name of Spani/h flies, and for their ufe
in bliilers : they have feelers like briftles, flexible cafes of the wings, a
breaft pretty plain, and the fides of the belly wrinkled-

Cantharides differ from each other in their fize, fhape and colour;
thofe ufcd in the (hops alfo do the fame : the largeft in thefe parts are
about an inch long, and as much in circumference ; but others are not
above three quarters of an inch. Some are of a pure azure colour,
others of that of pure gold, and others again have a mixture of
gold and azure- colours ; but they are all very brilliant, and extremely
beautiful.

There are four parts in this infect, namely the head, the neck or
breaft, the body, and the belly : the head is fmall in proportion, but
the mouth is pretty large, and there are teeth in the jaws, with two
forts df articulated pinchers, with which they lay hold of the food and
brin«- it to their mouth ; on the forehead there are two eyes of a golden
colour, a little prominent, and under them there are two horns or
feelers, made like briftles, pretty long, and moveable, by means of
twelve (.qual articulations, the laft of which terminates in a point : the

top.

NATURAL HISTORY. 55

"top of the head rifes in a bump, is extremely fmooth and poliflied,
and divided into two parts. Inftead of a chin there is a beard, and
the breaft is formed of a fingle plate, behind which are a fort of
lungs, and it is connected below to the firft pair of feet, which are
<ach compofed of three parts, much of the fame length, of which
the laft has five knotted joints, terminated with two crooked claws.:
the cafes of the wings are membraneous, are connected to the breaft,
and are as it were fhagreened ; they are more long than broad, convex
above, and hollow beneath ; they are thin, but ftrong, and cover the
Upper part of the body, to which below the two laft pair of feet are
connected : the belly confifts of fix large rings, that are fmooth and
folded at the fides: they are feemingly without hair, but examined
with a microfcope they appear a little hairy, efpecially in the under
part : the body, properly fo called, is compofed of eight moveable
Tings, which are furrowed from one end to the other: they are bred
from worms fhaped aim oft like real Caterpillars. Thefe flies are mod
common in the hot countries, fuch as Spain, Italy, and the fouthern
parts of France ; however there are fome in all parts of Europe at cer-
tain times of the year.

The Glow-worm is by Dale affirmed to be the female of the Cicindela,
from the experience and examination of a phyfician in his neighbour-
hood. It has indeed no wings at all, and is confequently a creeping
infect ; but as it is a female of one of the Beetle kind, it could not be
well omitted in this place : the fhield and .fhape of the breaft, as well
•as the folds and wrinkles of the body, plainly fhew that lhe belongs to
this kind : the body has eleven joints, or rather incifures, the firft of
which lies on the fliield of the breaft, and is of a half oval fhape, flat-
ted, marginated, and truncated at the hinder part: the head is placed
under this, and is very fmall ; and the three laft joints of the body are
•of a yellowilh colour, which frrine or look like fire in the dark. It is
often feen under hedges by travellers in the night, and if carefully taken
up and laid upon a graffy turf, will continue to ftiine for feveral nights.

The Cantharis with blackifh cafes of the wings, and a red breaft, is
of the largeft kind, being above an inch and a half long, and about a
quarter of an inch in diameter. It is fofter to the touch than moft
other infects of the Beetle kind, and has a flattifh head and back, ex-
cept under the eyes, where it is a little reddifh: the mouth is fmall and
forked, and the feelers at the mouth are very fhort and fmall ; but
there are others half the length of the body, and confift of eleven joints,
reddifh near the root, and brown every where elfe : the breaft is de-
preffed behind, and in the fhape of a heart ; but the edges are fome-
■what prominent, and the whole is reddifh, except a black fpot on the
upper part, clofe to the head : the cafes of the wings are plain, fmooth,
and oblong, but very foft and flexible, feeling like filk, and of a brown-
ifh black colour: the body is brown, except the laft joint, which is
reddifh, and there is a tincture of the fame colour along the fides,
which are comprefTed all the way : the joints are folded in fome fenfe
over each other, and their extremities are foft, being covered with a »
fort of pimples. It is common about houfics in the country, and under
hedges.

The red-breafted Cantharis with red cafes of the wings, is a fmall
fort, having a black body, and the cafes of the wings of a bright ele-

E 2 gant

36 NATURAL HISTORY.

gant red, as well as the breaft, only there is a black fpot thereon : the
feelers are ilender, and the cafes of the wings are very foft, filky, and
flexible, and the wings are thin and brown. This is not very common
with us.

The Cantharis with black cafes of the wings marked with two red
tranfverfe lines, is not much bigger than a loufe, and the legs and feel-
ers are black, but the head and breaft of a greeniih colour: the cafes of
the wings are of a deep gloffy black, marked with two tranfverfe red
ftreaks, one of which is near the bafe, and the other near the point or
extremity : the fides of the body are reddith. It is not uncommon
under hedges and pafture grounds.

Linnaus takes notice of ten forts of Catharides ; the firft of which he
calls the Female Cantharis, without wings, and it is ufually found up-
on juniper trees. He fays he has never feen the male, though he does
not queftion but there is one, becaufe this fhines in the night time, as
he thinks with an intent to let the males know where to find her : this
is the fame as the Glow-worm, and in fome meafure confirms what
JDale has faid about her.

2. The Cantharis with teftaceous cafes of the wings, and a red breaft
without fpots, It is found in the fame places as the former, and is of
the fame fhape and fize, refembling it in all things except the colour
of the cafes of the wings, which are of a pale yellow colour ; likewife
the breaft is without fpots, and the eyes are black.

3. The Cantharis with black cafes of the wings, and a red breaft
marked with a white fpot. It is called the Tree-beetle by fome, of 2
blackifh- brown colour, with flender cafes of the wings.

4. The Cantharis with red cafe* of the wings, and a red breaft mark-
ed with a black fpot ; this is found in different places, and fometimes
among heaps of iron ore : it is lefs by one half than the former, and
the body is entirely black : the feelers are very flender, and the cafes
of the wings are of a deep red, of faffron colour, flightly ftreaked, but
the wings themfelves are brown.

5. The green copper coloured Cantharis with the cafes of the wings
red on the outfide : this is found on large nettles, and other plants ; it
is of a middle fize, and has the head, breaft, feelers, the rings of the
belly, the lower part of the cafes of the wings, and the inner edges, of
a greenifh copper-colour ; but the hinder pait of the cafes of the wings
near the point, as well as the fides, are red, and the remainder of a
greenifh copper-colour ; but the wings themfelves are brown.

6. The Cantharis of a greenifh copper colour, with the point of the
cafes of the wings red, is much fmaller than the former, and the wings
are of a blackifh brown, and the feelers quite black: the breaft, head,
and cafes of the wings, are of a deep green, inclining to a copper-colour,
with red or faffron coloured points : the belly is longer than the cafes,
and beneath is of a copper colour; but the infide of the wings are red:
this fort varies with regard to the cafes of the wings, which are fome-
times blue, and at other times red.

7. The Cantharis with black cafes of the wings, marked with two
red ftreaks, is no larger than a loufe: the head and the breaft are green,

8. The Cantharis with black cafes of the wings with yellow points,
ajid a black breaft, is of the fize of the former, but the head and the

breaft

NATURAL HISTORY. 37

bread are quite black : the end of the cafes of the wings is yellow, or
of the colour of fulphur, and the fides of the belly are yellow.

9. The brown Cantbaris with the cafes of the wings yellow at the
point, and a red bread. It is of the fize of a loufe, and the bread is of
a rufty red, with a black fpot ; the cafes of the wings are brown, and
do not reach half way on the- belly ; but their points are yellow: the
thighs are black, the legs pale, and the fegment on the belly yellow on
the edges.

10. The black Cantbaris with livid cafes of the wings, is the leaft of
thefe kind of flies, and is found upon plants.

Moufet informs us that the Cantharides of the (hops, have a pretty
large, oblong, thick body, not much unlike a grain of wheat, and that
there are tranfveife gold coloured lines on the cafes of the wings ; but
thefe lines are not common to all, for in fome they are of a ihining
green, and in others of a muney or ruddy colour; but they have all a
a fort of fplendor, and are agreeable to look upon : that they live upon
pull'e and corn, particularly wheat, in which laft cafe, he affirms their
virtues are mod confiderable : they fmell like tar, and tafte like ce-
dar-wood. As for their ufe in medicine, it is too well known to infift
upon it in this place.

The Stinking Beetle, called by fome the Tenerio, from its hating the
light, is a pretty large infedt , which is all over of a coal black : tha
body is of fuch a form, that any one would conclude it was a winged
infect, and that it had cafes for wings ; and yet Moufet affures us, that
upon examination he could not find any, though by fome it is called
the black Tenebrio with accumulated wings : the legs and thighs are
flender, and the feelers are pretty long, being compofed of joints,
which are longifh, except the laft, that is round : the bread is marked
with fmall fpecks, and has a rim. What fome take for the cafes of
the wings, are wrinkled : it walks very flowly, and keeps in the deep
holes of dunghills in the day time, but comes out in the night : it has
a filthy fmell; which is very naufeous in places where they abound :
it is a folitary animal, for even fo much as two are feldom or never
feen together.

The black Tenebrio with the cafes of the wings rounded behind, is a
pretty large infedl, and has a back a little prominent, with a fmall
head, and long legs. It is all over of fine deep black, with a purplifh
ead, and is fiequent about the hot-beds in gardens.

The black Tenebrio with prominent jaws, is not much bigger than a
common fly, and the colour is of a deep dull black : the legs are long,
and the feelers flender, and pretty long: it may be found on the half-rot-
ten branches of trees. Linnaus tells us, that this kind of infed has feelers
like fmall threads, and that the upper part of the body, which appear
like cafes of the wings, are united together ; for they have no wings at
all ; though it mud be obferved, that he mentions no more than the
istinking Beetle.

The Oil- Beetle, called by Moufet and l^innaus the Profcarabaus, has a
foft body, of a dufky-blue colour, with a Ihining blackiih cad:. On
the fhoulders there are two wings, or rather the rudiments of wings,
which it makes ufe of much like Oftriches, to help their running, and
not for flying: the circles which furround their backs and bellies in the
young, are greenifii, but in the adult more blue : upon the flighted

motion

3« NATURAL HISTORY.

motion or touch, they flied a fort of an oil, not unlike liquid honey.
Mouftt informs us, it is never feen except in May; but fince the change
of the ftile, it may now appear in the beginning of June.

Lintueus affirms, that the feelers are like fmall threads, and it has no
"wings, but there are a fort of cafes for them, not above half as long in
proportion, as in others of the Beetle kind.

The Necydalis, fo called by hinnaus, is an infect of the Beetle kind,
with feelers like briftles, and the cafes of the wings that reach but half
way, leaving the rings partly naked. He has only one fort, which he
calls the Necydalis with globous knees. Another author fays it is
hardly bigger than a loufe, but has a fmall black head, with yellow
jaws, and a yellow breaft ; that the cafes of the wings are black, ex-
cepting the middle, where they are brownifh, and a yellow fpot at the
extremities. The wings themfelves are black, and twice the length of
the cafes, lying one over another like a crofs. The feelers are almoft
as long as the body, and are yellowifh, at the bafe, but black elfewhere;
the body is brown, with a yellowifh caft on the fides, and the lower
part of the legs are alfo yellowifh: this infect is not commonly met
with.

The Necydalis with a white line on the extremities of the cafes of the
wings, has a black head and breaft, and is of an oblong, but fome-
what depreffed lhape : there are two white fpots on the breaft, and the
cafes of the wings are grey, being fcarce half fo long as the body : the
wings themfelves are half naked, and the feelers are twice as long as
the body, and of a grey colour : the legs are alfo grey, and thick in
the upper part : they are often met with in hedges.

The Ear-wig, is called by Linn&us Forficula, and has feelers like
briftles, a forked tail, and cafes of the wings which reach but half way,
though they entirely cover the wings themfelves : the feelers confift of
thirteen or fourteen joints, and the covering of the breaft is flat, it be-
ing truncated on the fore part, rounded behind, black in the middle,
and paler about the edges: the cafes of the wings are of a pale reddifh
brown, and at the extremity of the wings themfelves there is a white
oval fpot: the body is of a reddifh-brown : this is a very common
infect, and generally known : there is another fort, about half the fize
cf the former, but in other refpects differs very little from it.

The Staphylinus, fo called by Unnaus, is an infeft of the Beetle kind,
with feelers like threads, and two veficles over the tail : the cafes of
the wings reach but half way, and the wings themfelves are covered.
Linnaus mentions fifteen forts of thefe infects, namely,

1. The hairy black Staphylinus with the throat and lower belly yel-
low. It is very common in Friezland.

2. The hairy aih-coloured Staphylinus clouded with black, is found
in horfe dunghills.

3. The black fmooth Staphylinus with jaws as long as the head. It
is called by L.ijler the greater black Beetle, with biting nippers ; and
by Ray the Staphylinus that is entirely black: this feems to be the fame
as one hereafter mentioned. It lives in woods upon infers.

4. The black Staphylinus with red cafes of the wings and feet. It is
found in dunghills.

5. The black Staphylinus with a brafs- coloured fhining bread, and
$he cafes of the wings of a blackiih-blue.

NATURAL HISTORY. jf

€. The reddifh Staphylinus with a head, wings, and hinder part of
the belly black.

7. The duiky Staphylinus with the future of the cafes of the wings,
the belly and feet of an iron-grey colour. It is found among rotten
wood.

8. The black fmooth Staphylinus with red feet.

9. The black fmooth Staphylinus with red feet, and the edges of the
cafes of the wings yellow : this is a very fmall infe<5t, being no bigger
than a flea.

10. The black Staphylinus, with the cafes of the wings grey on the
fore part, and red legs. It is found in moift fand on the banks of
rivers, where it produces its young.

11. The black Staphylinus with blood-coloured cafes of the wing%
It is found in no particular place, but in all alike.

12. The teftaceous Staphylinus, fo called by a Swedi/h naturalift, is
found on plants and dunghills.

13. The black Staphylinus with the bread, cafes of the wings, and
feet, a little teftaceous.

14. The black Staphylinus with the cafes of the wings, feelers and
feet, of ;m iron-grey colour.

15. The black Staphylinus with the cafes of the wings and legs of a
dufky colour.

The common Staphylinus with long jaws, is about an inch in lengthy
and the head, bread, and cafes of the wings, are of a fhining black, and
fmooth, though the cafes are fometimes variegated with grey : the body
is of a deep black, but not very gloffy, and the legs are long and black %
and there are two hard, long,, very fharp horns, on the forehead. It
is common under fhady hedges.

The reddifh-brown Staphylinus is about the fize of a common Ant,
and the body is of a pale red, with a little mixture of brown, but the
head, and the three or four laft rings of the body are black: the cafes
of the wings are of a deep blue, and the legs reddifh, with black joints %
the feelers confift of eleven joints, and are of a pale colour, except a£
the ends, where they are black. It is fometimes met with near the
banks of brooks and rivers.

The hoary Staphylinus has an oblong body, of a greenifh colour, with
a br?.fly caft, and clouded with black fpots : the head is large, and
fomewhat flat, and the mouth is forked \ the feelers confift of nine
joints, and the cafes of the wings are fhort, of a greyilh-black colour,
with a braffy caft: the tail is furnifhed with two plumous hairs, an!
on prefling the body, two white hooks will be thruft out from the tail,
It is an inhabitant of the dunghills.

The black Staphylinus is about half an inch in length, and has a long
flattilh body, with a black gloffy head : the cafes of the wings are of a
deep blue, with a mixture of black, and are bright and glofty : ther
have a metalline caft, and have many fmall fpecks : the feelers confift
of nine joints j but the principal diftinftion is the fpots on the brealt,
which are ten in number, and a little hollowed. It may be fometimes
met with among decayed trees in the woods.

The Mill beetle, has feelers like briftles, two horns on the tail, mem-
braneous cafes of the wings, and a flattilh, roundifh, marginated breath
It is of the fize of a Cricket, and is of a deep iron colour, approaching

to

4o NATURAL HISTORY,

to black : the fhield that lies over the breaft is plain and oval, and thtf
cafes of the wings are alfo of an oval fhape ; they are fomewhat fhortef
than the body, and a little tranfparent : there are three Itreaks upon
each, the middlemoft of which is raifed, and the more inward hollow
and crooked : there are two prickles on the tail, and the legs are alfo
prickly : the female has only the rudiments of the wings, and their
cafes. It never appears in the day time, and therefore is laid to be
a hater of the light. It is very common in mills and bakers houfes.
L'tnnxus calls this a Blatta.

The yellow Blatta is not much larger flian a flie, and the fhield that
covers the brealt is membranaceous, of an oval lhape, and marginated.
The cafes of the wings are membranaceous and tranfparent, of a brown-
ifh colour, and have raifed ftreafcs, with black fpots thereon : the legs
look like horns, and are prickly, and the feelers are long ; there are
alfo two articulated horns or prickles above the vent. It is not met
with in England, but is common in Lapland, for which reafon, it is cal-
led by L'mmzus the Lapland Blatta.

The American Blatta or Cock-roach, is of a reddifh-brown colour.
It is a very troublefome deftructive infect, and are fo numerous and vo-
racious, that it is impoffible to keep victuals of any kind from tjeing de-
voured by them, without clofe covering : they eat not only leather, but
linen and paper : they difappear in winter, and are moft numerous in the
hotteft days of fummer ; but what mifchief they do is chiefly in the night.
Thefe infects lay their eggs in heaps, which they wrap all round in a
bag or web, in the manner of fome fpiders. When the eggs are hatch-
ed, the young ones appear quite perfect, and run out of their fhells
very nimbly. At firft they are no bigger than Ants, for which reafon
they creep through cracks and key-holes, and into boxs and chefts,
where they gnaw and fpoil every thing they can come at. They have
two very long horns or feelers, fix hairy legs, with two claws at the
ends like forks, and the head is black, with a reddifh round circle
on the upper parts. When it is arrived at its full growth, it calls
its fkin, which burfts on its back, and then the Cock Roach is perfectly
formed. The wings are foft and tender, being at firft whitifh, and
after of a reddifh colour ; but the head, horns, and the remaining parts,
are of the fame fhape and colour as before its fkin was thrown off.

The infects that hinnaus places under the name of Gryllus, has briftly
feelers, membranaceous covers of the wings, which are narrow, and
in the fhape of the infects of the Flie kin«J, and their legs are proper
for leaping.

The Houfe-cricket is a very inoffenfive and pretty animal. Though
there be a fpecies of this infect that lives entirely in the woods and fields,
yet that with which we are bcft acquainted is the Houfe-cricket, whofe
voice is fo well known behind a country fire in a winter's evening.
There is fomething fo unufual in hearing a found while we do not fee
the animal producing it, nor difcover the place from whence it comes,
that among the country people the chirping of the cricket is always
held ominous ; and whether it defer ts the fire-fide, or pays an unexpec-
ted vifit, the credulous peafantry always find fomething to be afraid of.
In general, however, the killing of a cricket is confidered as a moft un-
lucky omen ; and though their company is not much defired, yet no
methods muft be taken to remove them.

The

NATURAL HISTORY. 4*

The cricket very much refembles the grafshopper in its mape, its
manner of ruminating, its voice, its leaping, and methods of propaga-
tion It differs in its colour, which is uniformly ol a rudy brown ; in
its food, which is more various ; and in its place of refidence, which is
moft ufually in the warmed chinks behind a country hearth. They
are in fome meafure, obliged to the bad mafonry employed in mak-
ing peafants houfes for their retreats. The fmalleft chink lerves to give
them fhelter ; and where they once make their abode they are fure to
propagate. They are of a moll chilly nature, feldom leaving the fire-
fide ; and, if undifturbed, are feen to hop from their retreats, to chir-
rup 'at the blaze in the chimney. The wood-cricket is the mod timo-
rous animal in nature ; but the chimney-cricket, being ufed to nodes,
difregards not only thofe, but the appearance of people near it. Whe-
ther the voice of this animal is formed in the fame manner with that
of the grafshopper, by a fine membrane at the bafe of the wings, which
is moved by a mufcle, and which being coiled up, gives a found like a
quail-pipe is not yet afcertained ; nor do we well know the ufe of this
voice, fince anatomical inlpedion has not yet been able to difcover the
fmalleft organs of hearing. Still, however, we can make no doubt of
their power' of didinguifhing founds, though probably not in the fame
manner with the more perfect ranks of Nature. Certain it is that I
have often heard them call, and this call was as regularly anfwered by
another, although none but the males are vocal.

As the cricket lives chiefly in the dark, fo its eyes feem formed for
the gloominefs of its abode ; and thofe who would furprife it, have only
to light a candle unexpectedly ; by which it is dazzled, and cannot find
the way back to its retreat. It is a very voracious little animal, and
will eat bread, flower, and meat ; but it is particularly fond of fugar.
They never drink, but keep for months together at the back of the
chimney, where they could poffibly have had no moifture. The
■warmth of their fituation only ferves to increafe their mirth and loqua-
city. Except in the very colded weather, they never ceafe their chir-
ruping, but continue that little piercing note, which is as pleafing to
fome as it is difagreeable to others. The great Scaliger was particu-
larly delighted with the chirruping of crickets, and kept feveral of them
for his amufement, enclofed in a box, which he placed in a warm fitu-
ation. Others, on the contrary, think there is fomething ominous and
melancholy in the found, and ufe every endeavour to banifh this infecT:
from their houfes. Ledelius tells us of a woman who was very much
incommoded by crickets, and tried, but in vain, every method of ba-
niihing them from her houfe. She at lad accidentally fucceeded ; for
having one day invited feveral gueds to her houfe, where there was a
wedding, in order to increafe the fedivity of the entertainment, die
procured drums and trumpets to entertain them. The noife of thefe
was fo much greater than what the little animals were ufed to, that
they indantly forfook their fituation, and were never heard in that

manfion more.

The Field Cricket is of a blackifh colour, and the male has a longer
body than the female ; the head in proportion to the body, is large,
and the eyes big and prominent : the forehead is furnifhed with two
feelers without joints, but it can turn them any way it pleafes : it has
fix feet or le?s, the fame colour as the body, and thofe behind are the
longed, that it may leap the better : the wings feem to be lightly varie-

F Sateci

4 NATURAL HISTORY.

gated with fculptures, feeming almod to cover the whole body, and1
the tail is forked : the bulk of the body of the male is lefs than that of
the female, for this lad has a larger belly, and grafs-green eyes, with
led feelers, and a tail like a trident : they are found in the fields in the
fummer time, making holes in the ground, where they build their ned,
and where they lie concealed in a mild winter, but in one that is fevere,
they die in their holes : they make a particular fort of noife with their
wings, which is plain from this; namely, that when their wings aie
taken off the noife ceafes : they fing day and night, and they delight
in the fun, fitting at the mouths of their holes. They frequent padure-
grounds and meadows that are quite open, for they fhun fhady places;
They fing mod when people are at a diftance, for when they come
near they are filent, and get into their holes.

The IVater Cricket has a five cornered head, with prominent globous
black eyes, but not large ; near the mouth there are very fhort feelers,
and there are three feet on each fide ; but the hindermod are much the
longed : the wings are on the back, or at lead the rudiments of them,
and the tail is foiked : the body is of a brownifh colour, or rather of a
whitifli black. It differs from the land Cricket in having a more pn>
minent head, and fomewhat of a neck : the wings feem likewife to be
ufelefs for flying, though they help to raife this infect up. It is com-
monly feen fitting upon water-plants, and is faid to fing like the land
Crickets.

But of all the cricket kind, that which is called the Mole-Cricket is-
the mod extraordinary. This animal is the larged of all the infects -
with which we are acquainted in this country, being two inches and a
half in length, and three quarters of an inch in breadth. The colour
is of a dufky brown ; and at the extremity of the tail there are two
hairy excrefcences, refembling in fome fenfe the tail of a moufe. The
body confids of eight fcaly joints or feparate folds, is brown on the
upper part, and more deeply tinged below. The wings are long, nar-
row, and terminate in a fliarp point, each having a blackilh line run-
ning down it : however, when they are extended, they appear to be
much broader than could at fird fight be fuppofed. The Ihield of the
bread is of a firm texture, of a blackifli colour and hairy. The fore-
feet, which are this animal's principal indruments of burrowing into
the earth, are drong, webbed, and hairy ; it generally, however, runs
backward ; but it is commonly under ground, where it burrows even
fader than a mole. It is thought alfo to be amphibious ; and capable
of living under water, as well as under ground.

Of all infects this is the mod deteded by gardeners, as it chiefly re-
fides in that ground which lies light, and where it finds fufficient plenty
under the furface. Thus, in a tingle night's time, it will run along a-
furrow which has been newly fown, and rob it of all its contents. Its
legs are formed in fuch a manner that it can penetrate the earth in
every direction ; before, behind, and above it. At night it ventures
from its under ground habitation, and, like the cricket, has its chirp-
ing call. When the female is fecundated, (he makes a cell of clammy
earth, the infide of which is large enough to hold two hazle-nuts ; and
in this fhe lays her eggs. The whole ned is about the fize of a com-
mon hen's egg, clofed up on every fide, and well defended from the
finalleft breath of air. The eggs generally amount to the number of

NATURAL HISTORY. 43

an hundred and fifty, being white, and about the fize *f a carraway-
comfit. They are thus carefully covered, as well to defend them from
the injuries of the weather, as from the attacks of the black- beetle ;
that being itielf an under ground inhabitant, would, but for this pre-
caution, devour or deftroy them. To prevent this, the female mole
cricket is often pofted as a centinel near the neft, and when the black
'invader plunges in to feize its prey, the guardian infed feizes him be-
hind, and inllantly bites him in two.

Nothing can exceed the care and afliduity which thefe animals exhi-
bit in the prefervation of their young. Wherever the neft is placed,
their feems to be a fortification, avenues, and entrenchments, drawn
round it: there are numberlefs winding-ways that lead to it, and a
ditch drawn about it, which few of its infecT: enemies are able to pafs. But
their care is not confined to this only ; for at the approach of winter
they carry their neft entirely away, and fink it deeper in the ground,
fo that the froft can have no influence in retarding the young brood
from coming to maturity. As the weather grows milder, they raife
their magazine in proportion ; till, at laft they bring it as near the fur-
face as they can, to receive the genial influence of the fun, without
wholly expofing it to view : yet, lhould the froft unexpectedly return,
they fink it again as before.

Belonging to the fecond order of infects, we find a tribe of little ani-
mals, which, though differing in fize and colour, ftrongly referable
each other in figure, appetites, nature, and transformation. But
though they all appear of one family, yet man has been taught to hold
them in different eftimation ; for while fome of this tribe amufe him
with their chirpings, and banifh folitude from the fields, others come
in fwarms, eat up every thing that is green, and in a fingle night con-
vert the moft delightful landfcape into a dreary wafie. However, if
thefe animals be feparately confidered, the devouring locuft is not in
the leaft more mifchievous than the mufical grafshopper ; the only de-
ference is, that one fpecies come for food in a fwarm, the other feeds

fmgly.

That animal which is called the Srafshop;»r with us, differs greatly
from the cicada of antiquity ; for as our infeft is aclive enough in hop-
ping through the long grafs, from whence it has taken its name, the
cicada had not this power, but either walked or flew. The little huf-
fing note alfo of our grafshopper is very different from the fong of the
cicada, which was louder and far more mufical. The manner in which
this note is produced by the two animals is very different ; for the ci-
cada makes it by a kind of buckler, which the male has beneath its
belly; the grafshopper by a tranfparent membrane that covers an hole
at the bafe of its wings. There is ftill a greater variety in all thefe
with regard to fhape and colour. Some are green, fome black, fome
livid, and fome variegated ; but many of them do not fhew all their
colours till they fly. Some have long legs, fome fhort ; fome with
more joints, others with fewer. Some fing others are mute; fome are
innocent, doing no damage to the hufbandman ; while others do fuch
prodigious mifchief, that they are looked upon in fome countries as
.one of the terrible fcourges of the incenfed Divinity.

Of this variegated tribe, the little grafshopper that breeds in fuch
siienty in every meadow, and that continues its chirping through the
w * * y z fummcr,

44 NATURAL HISTORY.

fummer, is befl*known to us; and by having its hiftroy we fnall be po£
fefTed of that of all the reft. This animal is of the colour of green
leaves except a line of brown which ftreaks the back, and two pale
lines under the belly and behind the legs. It may be divided into the
head, the ccrflet, and the belly. The head is oblong, regarding the
earth, and bearing fome refemblance to that of a horfe. Its mouth is
covered by a kind of round buckler jutting over it, and armed with
teeth of a brown colour, hooked at the points. Within the mouth is
perceivable a large reddifh tongue, and fixed to the lower jaw. The
feelers or horns are very long, tapering off to a point; and the eyes are
like two black fpecks, a little prominent. The corflet is elevated, nar-
row, armed above and below, by two ferrated fpines. The back is
armed with a ftrong buckler, to which the mufcles of the legs are firmly
bound, and round thefe mufcles are feen the veflels by which the ani-
mal breathes, as white as fnow. The laft pair of legs are much longer
and ftronger than the firft two pair, fortified by thick mufcles, and
very well formed for leaping. It has four wings ; the anterior ones
fpringing from the fecond pair of legs, the pofterior from the third
pair. The hinder wings are much finer and more expanfive than the
fdremoft, and are the principal inftruments of its flight. The belly is
confiderably large,. compofed of eight rings, and terminated by a for-
Icey tail, covered with down, like the tail of a rat. When examined
internally, befides the gullet, we difcover a fmall ftomach ; and behind
that a very large one, wrinkled and furrowed within fide : lower down
there is ftill a third ; fo that it is not without reafon that all the ani-
mals of this order are faid to chew the cud, as they fo much refemble
ruminant animals in their internal conformation.

A fhort time after the grafshopper afTumes its wings, it fills the mea-
dows with its note ; which like that among birds, is a call to courtfhip.
The male only of this tribe is vocal ; and, upon examining the bafe of
the wings, there will be found a little hole in its body, covered with a
fine tranfparent membrane. This is thought, by Linnaeus, to be the
inftrument it employs in finging ; but others are of opinion the found
is produced by rubbing its hinder legs againft each other : however
this be, the note of one male is feldom heard, but it is returned by
another ; and the two little animals, after many mutual infults of this
kind, are feen to meet and fight defperately. The female is generally
the reward of victory ; for, after the combat, the male feizes her with
his teeth behind the neck, and thus keeps her for feveral hours, till
the bufinefs of fecundation is performed. They are at that time fo
ftrongly united, that they can fcarcely be feparated without tearing
afunder. Towards the latter end of autumn the female prepares to
depofit her burthen ; and her body is then feen greatly dittended with
her eggs, which fhe carries to the number of one hundred and fifty.
In order to make a proper lodgement in the earth for them, Nature has
furnifhed her with an inftrument at her tail, fomewhat refembling a
two-edged fword, which fhe can fheathe and unfheathe at pleafure :
with this fhe pierces the earth as deep as fhe is able ; and into the hole
which her inftrument has made, fhe depofits her eggs, one after the
other.

Having thus provided for the continuation of her pofterity, the ani-
mal herfelf does not long furvive ; but, as the winter approaches, fhe

dries

NATURAL HISTORY. 45

dries up, feerns to feel the effects of age, and dies from a total decay.
Some, however, afTert, that lhe is killed by the cold ; and others, that
ihe is eaten by worms : but certain it is, that neither the male, nor
female are ever feen to furvive the winter. In the mean time the
eggs which have been depofited, continue unaltered, either by the fe-
verity of the feafon, or the retardation ot the fpring. They are of an
oval figure, white, and of the confidence of horn: their fize nearly
equals that of a grain of anife : they are enveloped in the body within
a covering, branched all over with veins and arteries ; and when ex-
cluded, they crack, on being prelfed between the fingers ; their fub-
ftance within is a whitifh, vifcous, and tranfparent fluid. In this man-
ner they remain depofited beneath the furface of the earth, during the
whole winter; till the genial return of fpring begins to vivify and hatch
them. The fun, with its warmth, beginning to animate all Nature,
the infect eggs feel its benign influence ; and generally, about the be-
ginning of May, every egg produces an infect, about the fize of a flea.
Thefe at firft are of a whiciih colour ; at the end of two or three
days they turn black ; and foon after they become of a reddifh brown.
They appear, from the beginning, like grafshoppers wanning wings ;
and hop among the grafs as foon as excluded, with great agility.

Yet ftill they are by no means arrived at their ftate of full perfec-
tion; although they bear a firong refemblance to the animal in its per-
fect form. They want, or feem to want the wings, which they are at
laft feen to affume ; and can only hop among the grafs, without being
able to fly. The wings, however are not wanting, but are concealed
within four little bunches, that feem to deform the fides of the animal:
there they lie rolled up in a moft curious manner ; and occupying a
fmaller ipace than one would conceive who faw them extended. In-
deed, all infects, whatever tranfmutations they feem to undergo, are
yet brought forth with thofe \rery limbs, parts and wings, which they
afterwards feem to acquire. In the moft helplefs catei pillar, there is
ftill to be feen the rudiments of that beautiful plumage which it after-
wards expands when a butterfly : and though many new parts feem
unfolded to the view, the animal acquires none but fuch as it was from
the beginning poffefTed of. The grafshopper, therefore, though fsem-
ingly without wings, is in reality, from the firft, pofTeifed of thole inftru-
ments, and only waits for fufficient force to break the bonds, that hold
them folded up, and to give them their full expanfion.

The grafshopper, that for above twenty days from its exclufion has
continued without the ufe of its wings, which are folded up to its body,
at length prepares for its emancipation, and for a life of greater liberty
and pleafure. To make the proper difpofitions for the approaching
change, it ceafes from its grafly food, and feeks about for a convenient
place ; beneath fome thorn or thiftle, that may protect it from an acciden-
tal fhower. The fame laborious writhings and workings, heavings
■and palpitations, which we have remarked in every other infect upon
an approaching change, are exhibited in this. It fwells up its head
and neck ; it then feems to draw them in again ; and thus alternately,
for fome time, it exerts its powers to get free. At length, the fkin
covering the head and breaft is feen dividing above the neck; the head
is feen ilfuing out firft from the burfting fkin ; the efforts ftill continu-
ing, the other parts follow fucceffively j fo that the little animal, with

its

46 NATURAL HISTORY.

•its long; feelers, legs and all, works its way from the old fkin, that re-
mains fixed to the thiftle or the thorn. It is, indeed, inconceivable how
the infed can thus extricate itfelf from fo exaft a (heath as that whick
covered every part of its body.

The grafshopper, thus difengaged from its outer fkin, appears in
its perfect form ; but then fo feeble, and its body fo foft and tender, that
it may be moulded like wax. It is no longer of that obfcure colour
which it exhibited before, but a greenifh white, which becomes more vivid
as the moifture on the furface is dried away. Still, however, the ani-
mal continues to (hew no figns of life, but appears quite fpent and fa-
tigued with its labour for more than an hour together. During this
time, the body is drying, and the wings unfolding to their greateft
. cxpanfion, and the curious obferver will perceive them, fold after fold,
opening to the fun, till at laft they become longer than the two hin-
der legs. The infe&'s body alfo is lengthened during this operation,
and it becomes much more beautiful than before.

Thefe infects are generally vocal in the midft 6f fummer, and they
are heard at funfetting much louder than during the heats of the
day. They are fed upon grafs ; and, if their belly be preffed, they
will be feen to return the juices of the plants they have laft fed upon.
Though unwilling to fly, and flow in flight, particularly when the
weather is moid or cool, they are fometimes feen to fly to confiderable
diftances. If they are caught by one of the hinder legs, they quickly
difengage themfelves from it, and leave the leg behind them. This,
however, does not grow again, as with crabs or fpiders ; for as they
are animals but of a Angle year's continuance, they have not fufficient
rime for repairing thofe accidental misfortunes. The lofs of their leg
alfo prevents them from flying ; for being unable to lift themfelves in
the air, they have not room upon the ground for the proper expanfion
of their wings. If they be handled roughly, they will bite very fiercely;
and when they fly, they make a noife with their wings. They general-
ly keep in the plain, where the grafs is luxuriant, and the ground
rich and fertile : there they depofit there eggs, particularly in thofe
cracks which are formed by the heat of the fun.

Such are the habits and nature of thofe little vocal infedls, that fwarm
in our meadows, and enliven the landfcape. The larger kinds only
differ from them in fize, in rapidity of flight, and the powers of in-
juring mankind, by fwarming upon the production of the earth. The
quantity of grafs which a few grafshoppers that fport in the fields can
deftroy is trifling ; but when a fwarm of locufts, two or three miles
long, and feveral yards dgep, fettle upon a field, the confequences are
frightful. The annals of every country are marked with the devalua-
tion which fuch a multitude of infetts produces ; and though they-fel-
dom vifit Europe in fuch dangerous fwarms as formerly, yet, in fome
of the fouthern kingdoms, they are ftill formidable. Thofe which have
at uncertain intervals vifited Europe, in our memory, are fuppofed to
have come from Africa, and the animal is called the great Brown Lo-
cuft. It was feen in feveral parts of England in the year 1 748, and
many dreadful confequences were apprehended from its appearance.
This infecT: is about three inches long ; and has two horns or feelers,
an inch in length. The head and horns are of a brownifh colour ; it
k blue about the mouth, as alfo on the infide of the larger legs. The

flueH

NATURAL HISTORY. 4f

4 lield that covers the back is greenifh ; and the upper fide of the body
brown, fpotted with black, and the under fide purple. The upper wings
are brown, with fmall dufky fpots, with one larger at the tips ; the
under wings are more tranfparent, and of a light brown, tinctured with
green, but there is a dark cloud of fpots near the tips. This is that in-
fect that has threatened us fo often with its vifitations ; and that is fo>
truly terrible in the countries where it is bred. There is no animal in
the creation that multiplies fo fall as thefe, if the fun be warm, and
the foil in which their eggs are depofited be dry. Kappily for us, the
eoldnefs of our climate, and the humidity of our foil, are no way fa-
vourable to their production ; and they are but the animals of a year,
they vifit us and perilh.

The Scripture, which was written in a country where the locuft made
a diftinguifhed feature in the picture of Nature, has given us feveral
very ftriking images of this animal's numbers and rapacity. It com-
pares an army, where the numbers are almoft infinite, to a fwarm or
locufts : it defcribes them as rifing out of the earth, where they are pro-
duced ; as purfuing a fettled march to deftroy the fruits of the earth,
and co-operate with Divine Indignation.

When the locufts take the field, as we are allured, they have a leader
at their head, whofe flight they obferve, and pay a ftiict attention to-
all his motions. They appear, at a diftance, like a black cloud, which,
as it approaches, gathers upon the horizon, and almoft hides the light
of the day. It often happens that the hufbandman fees this imminent
calamity pafs away without doing him any mifchief ; and the whole
fwarm proceed onward, to fettle upon the labours of fome lefs for-
tunate country. But wretched i3 the diftrict upon which they fettle 3
they ravage the meadow and the pafture ground ; ftrip the trees of
their leaves, and the garden of its beauty : the vifitation of a few mi-
nutes deftroys the expectation of a year ; and a famine but too fre-
quently enfues. In their native tropical climates they are not fo dread-
ful as in the more fouthern parts of Europe. There, though the plaift
and the foreft be ftriped of their verdure, the power of vegetation is €0
great, that an interval of three or four days repairs the calamity : but
cur verdure is the livery of a feafon ; and we muft wait till the enfuing
fpring repairs the damage. Befides, in their long flights to this part
of the world, they are famifhed by the tedioufnefs of their journey, and
are therefore more voracious wherever they happen to fettle. But it
is not by what they devour that they do fo much damage as by what
they deftroy. Their very bite is thought to contaminate the plant,
and to prevent its vegetation. To ufe the expreilion of the hufband-
man, they burn whatever they touch ; and leave the marks of their de-
valuation for two or three years enfuing. But if they be noxious while
living, they are ftill more fo when dead ; for wherever they fall, they
infeft the air in fuch a manner that the fmell is infupportable. Oro^-
fius tells us, that in the year 3800, there was an incredible number of
locufts which infefted Africa ; and, after having eaten up every thing
that was green, they flew off and were drowned in the African lea ;
where they caufed fuch a flench, that the putrifying bodies of hundreds
ef thoufands of men could not equal it.

In the y'ear 1690, a cloud of locufts was feen to enter Rufiia in tbttte
different places} and from thencs to fpread thsmfelves o»er Poland

and

48 NATURAL HISTORY.

and Lithuania, in fuch aftonifhing multitudes, that the air was darken-
ed, and the earth covered with their numbers. In fome places they
were feen lying dead, heaped upon each other four feet deep ; in others*
they covered the furface like a black cloth : the trees bent beneath
their weight ; and the damage which the country fuftained exceeded
computation. In Barbary their numbers are formidable, and their vi-
fits are frequent. In the year 1724, Dr Sbaw was a witnefs in that
country of their devastation. Their firft appearance was about the lat-
ter end of March, when the wind had been foutherly for fome time.
In the beginning of April, their numbers were fo vaftiy increafed, that
in the heat of the day they formed themfelves into large fwarms, which
appeared like clouds, and darkened the fun. In the middle of May they
began to difappear, retiring into the plains to depofit their eggs. In
the next month, being June, the young brood began to make their ap-
pearance, forming many compact bodies of feveral hundred yards
fquare ; and afterwards marching forward, climbed the trees, walls,
and houfes., eating every thing that was green in their way. The
inhabitants, to (lop their progrefs, laid trenches all over their fields
and gardens, filling them with water. Some placed large quantities
of heath, ftubb'e, and fuch like combuftible matter, in rows, and fet
them on fire on the approach of the locufts. But all this was to no
purpofe ; for the trenches were quickly filled up, and the fires put out
by the vaft number of fwarms that fucceeded each other. A day or
two after one of thefe was in motion, others that were juft hatched
came to glean after them, gnawing off the young branches and the very
bark of the trees. Having lived near a month in this manner, they
arrived at their full growth, and threw off their worm-like ftate, by
calling their ikins. To prepare themfelves for this change, they fixed
their hinder feet to fome buih or twig, or corner of a ftone, when im-
mediately, by an undulating motion ufed on this occafion, their heads
would firft appear, and foon after the reft of their bodies. The whole
transformation was performed in feven or eight minutes time ; after
which, they were a little while in a languifhing condition ; but as foon
as the fun and air had hardened their wings, and dried up the moiflure
that remained after carting off their Houghs, they returned again to
their former greedinefs, with an addition both of Strength and agility.
But they did not continue long in this ftate before they were entirely
difperfed ; after laying their eggs, directing their courfe northward,
and probably perifhing in the fea. It is faid that the holes thefe ani-
mals make, to depofit their eggs in, are four feet deep in the ground ;
the eggs are about fourfcore in number, of the fize of carraway comfits
and bundled up together in clufters.

It would be endlefs to recount all the mifchiefs which thefe famifhed
infecls have at different times occafioned ; but what can have induced
them to take fuch diiiant flights, when they come into Europe, is not
fo eafy to be accounted for. It feems moft probable, that by means
of a very dry feafon in the heart of Africa, they are propagated in fuch
numbers, that the vegetables of the fpot where they are produced are
not fufficient to fuftain them. Thus being obliged to find out other
countries, they traverfe the fandy deferts, where they can find no fuf-
tenance ; ftill meeting with nothing to allure them from their height,

they

NATURAL HISTORY. 4d

they proceed forward acrofs the fea, and thus come into Europe, where
they alight upon the flrft green pallures that occur. *

In i'ome parts of the world, the inhabitants turn what feems a plague
to their own advantage. Locufts are eaten by the natives in many
kingdoms of the eaft ; and are caught in fmall nets provided for that
.purpofe. They parch them over the fire in an earthen pan ; and when,
their wings and legs are fallen off, they turn reddilh, of the colour of
boiled fhrimps. Dampier has eat them thus prepared, and thinks therri
a tolerable diih. The natives of Barbafy alfo eat them fried with fait;
and they are laid to tafte like cray-filh.

There is a Iocuft in Tonquin, about the bignefs of the top of a man's
fincer, and as long as the firft joint. It breeds in the earth, in low-
grounds ; and in the months of January and February, which is the
feafon for taking them, they iffue from the earth in vaft fwarms. At
firft they can hardly fly, fo that they often fall into the rivers in great
numbers : however, the natives in th -fe months watch the rivers, and:
take them up in multitudes in fmall nets. They either eat them frefh,
broiled on the coals, or pickle them for keeping. They are considered
as a great delicacy in that part of the world, as well by the rich as the
poor. In the countries where they are eaten, they are regularly brought
to market, and fold as larks or quails in. Europe. They mult have
been a common food with the Jews, as Mofes, in the book of Leviti-
cus, permits them to eat four different kinds of this animal, which he
takes care to lpecify. This diih, however, has not yet made its way
into the kitchens of the luxurious in Europe : and though we may ad-
mire the delicacies of the Eaft, we are as yet happily deprived of the
power of imitation.

Of all animals, however, of this noxious tribe, the Great We ft- Indian
Locuft, individually confidered, is the molt formidable. It is about
the thicknefs of the barrel of a goofe-quill, and the body is divided in-
to nine or ten joints, in the whole about fix or feven inches long. It
has two fmall eyes, (landing out of the head like thofe of crabs, and
two feelers like long hair. The whole body is ftudded with fmall ex-
crefcences, which are not much bigger than the points of pins. The
fhape is roundilh, and the body diminifhes in circumference to the tail,
which is forked into two horns. Between thefe, there is a fort of a
fheath containing a fmall dangerous fting. If any perfon happens to
touch this infect he is lure to be ftung ; and is immediately taken with a
fhivering and trembling all over the body ; which, however, may foon
be put a flop to, by rubbing the place that was affected with a little
palm oil.

Nieuhojf informs us, that in the Eajl- Indies there are Grafshoppers and
Locufts of feveral kinds, one of which is as long as a man's finger, but
no thicker than a goofe quill. The body is diftinguiihed into feveral
joints, and they have fix feet, with two fmall horns or feelers. Other
Locufts have brown wings, with a yellow belly, and two feelers, and
they can leap a great way. They are likewiie feen flying together in
great fwarms. There is another fort, of the fame fhape, but green,
and of the length of a man's finger; but they come in fuch prodigi-
6us fwarms, that they devour every thing that is green in the places
where they fettle ; infomuch that the inhabitants of Batwoia are often
♦b'iged to change their habitations, for want of their uilial iulienance.

G L;

5o NATURAL HISTORY.

Le Bruin informs us, on the 9th of Oftober near Rama in the Hofy
Land, there was a fouth-eaft wind, which blew over the wildernefs, and
caufed a violent heat, that lafted feveral days. He is of opinion, that
it is to this wind, that the prodigious number of Locufts are owing,
which flock thither in certain years, and cover the furface of the earth.
In the fpace of two hours, they devoured all the grafs and herbs round
about Rama. There are many birds that feed upon them, and parti-
cularly dorks. At the time when the locufts engender, they make
holes in the earth, about four feet deep, where they lay their eggs,
which are about the fize of caraway comfits, there being bundles of
them together,, at lead four-fcore in number. In fifteen or fixteen days
time, they become young Locufts, and are all over black, when firft
hatched ; but in twenty-four hours they change, and become green ;
however it is three weeks before they can ufe their wings. In many
places where thefe infects die upon the ground, there arifes fuch a ftenclv
from theif bodies, that it often breeds a dreadful plague.

CHAP. III.

OF TOUR WINGED INSECTS.

OF thefe there are feveral forts, the firft of which mentioned by Lin'
naus, is the Cicada, by which Dale underftands a Bawm Cricket $'■
but he means an infect that has a fnout bent downwards, very fhort
feelers, four cruciated wings, feet proper for leaping, a convex back,
and a roundifh breaft.

The Cuckoiu-Spit infect, called by Swammerdam the Flea-Locuft, and
by others the Froth Worm, has an oblong, obtufe"body, and a large-
head, with fmall eyes : the external wings are of a duiky brown co-
lour, marked with two white fpots, and there is a broad, tranfverfe,
double line of the fame: the reft of the body is of a dulky brown, and
the head is black. It is ufually covered over with a frothy matter,
refembling fpittle, which it does not difcharge at the mouth, but at
the vent, and at other parts of the body.

The Cicada with green wings and a yellow head, is as big as a large
flie, but very narrow in proportion to its length : the external wings
are of a fine deep green, and the internal of a blueifh grey ; the cover-
ing of the breaft is alfo green, but paler than the wings, and the head
is yellow, marked with two large fpots on the hinder part, and feveral
fmall ones at the fides: there are alfo tranfverfe ftreaks on the forehead,
and the body is of a blueifii-grey, with yellow legs. It is commonly
feen about water-plants in autumn, /fay- calls it the third flea Locuft.

The Cicada with yellow external wings, is about the (ylq of a com-
mon flie, is all over of a beautiful yellow, except when the wings are
clofed, and then a longitudinal black line appears on each fide the back,
which is fo divided in the middle, to form as it were two lines, the
one running from the breaft, and the ether from the tail to the middle,
where they are obliquely feparated : the two upper parts of thefe lines

join-

NATURAL HISTORY. 51

Tio'tn -near the breaft, and there is on each fide, a black fpot on the head
and breaft, but they both unite into one: the feelers are ihort, the
fore-head is a little furrowed tranfverfely, and the body, when the
wings are extended, appears to be yellow on the middle, and black on
each fide. It may be met with in pafture grounds in June.

Linnaus has eight forts of Cicada, which he calls the American La-
ternaria, the Chinefe Laternaria, the Ranatra, the flea Locuft, the Ci-
cada with a double homed breaft, the Cicada bearing manna, the Ci-
cada of the elm-tree, and the Cicada of the rofe.

Other authors have the Italian or true Cicada, which is an inch long,
more than half an inch broad, and of a dufky-brown colour: the fmaller
Italian Cicada: the brown Cicada, with wings fpotted with paler brown,
and with punctated nerves: the black Cicada with three equal tranfverfe
■white lines : the yellow Cicada with wings fpotted with brown, and
marked with four black ipots, but yellow on the hinder part: the
whitiih Cicada with a black longitudinal line on each fide : the black
Cicada with white eyes : the black Cicada with the edges of the exter-
nal wings white: the black Cicada with a white head : the yellow com-
preffed Cicada : the Cicada with greenifh yellow wings, with the ex-
tremities black, and gilded : this is the elm Cicada mentioned by L«i-
tiaus : the yellow Cicada with the exremity of the wings white and
membranaceous": the leaft white Cicada.

The proper Cimex is generally underftood to mean only a common
Bug; and Linnxus defines it to be an infect: with a fnout bending down-
wards, and feelers that have four joints, four cruciated wings, feet
proper for running, a flat back, and a marginated breaft.

This is one of thofe naufeous infects that intrude upon the retreats
of mankind ; and that often banifh that fleep, which even forrow and
anxiety permitted to approach. This, to many men, is, of all other
infects, the moft troublefome and obnoxious. The night is ufually the
feafon when the wretched have reft from their labour ; but this feems
the only feafon when the bug iiTues from its retreats, to make its de-
predations. By day it lurks like a robber, in the moft fecret parts of
bed ; takes the advantage of every chink and cranny, to make a fecure
lodgment; and contrives its habitation with fo much art, that fcarce
any induftry can difcover its retreat. It feems to avoid the light with
great cunning ; and even if candles be kept burning, this formidable
infect will not iftue from its hiding-place. But when darknefs promi-
fes fecurity, it then iftues from every corner of the bed, drops from
the tefter, crawls from behind the arras, and travels with great affi-
duity to the unhappy patient, who vainly wifhes for reft and refrefli-
ment. It is generally vain to dei'.roy one only, as there are hundreds
more to revenge their companion's fate; fo that the pcrl'on who thus
is fubject to be bitten, remains the whole night like a centinel upon
duty, rather watching the approach of frefh invaders, than inviting the
pleating approaches of Heap.

Nor are thefe infects le'fs difagreeable from their naufeous flench, than
their unceaiing appetites. When they begin to crawl, the whole bed
is infected with the fmell ; but if they are accidentally killed, then it is
infupportable.

Thefe are a part of the inconveniences that refult from the perfecution
ef thefe odious infects; but happily for Great Britain, they multiply left

G z in

5* NATURAL HISTORY.

in thefe iflands, than in any part of the continent. In France and Ttafy
the beds, particularly in their inns, fwarm with them; and every piece
of furniture feems to afford them a retreat. They grow larger alfo
with them than with us, and bite with more cruel appetite.

This animal, if examined minutely, appears to conlift of three prin-
cipal parts ; the head, the corlelet, and the belly. It has two brown
eyes, that are very fmall and a little prominent, befides two feelers,
with three joints : underneath thefe there is a crooked trunk, which is
its inftrument of torture, and which, when in motion, lies clofe upon
the breaft. The bread is a kind of ring, in which are placed the two
firft pair of legs. The belly confifts of nine rings ; under which are
placed two pair of legs more, making fix in all. Each leg has three
joints, which form the thigh, the leg, and the foot, which is armed
with a crooked claw, like an hook. The body is fmooth, except a few
fhort hairs, that may be feen by the microfcope, about the vent, and
on the two laft rings. Its motion is flow and unwieldy ; yet its fight
is fo exquifite, that the inftant it perceives the light, it generally makes
good its retreat ; and they are feldom caught, though the bed fwarms
■with them.

If we examine this infect internally, we fhall find the great artery,
which in all infects performs the functions of the heart ; we fhall find
the apertures of the lungs on the right fide and the left, through which
the animal breathes ; we fhall find a (tomach and inteftines. which, as
in other animals, run from the mouth to the anus. If the infect has
been kept long fading, there will be a mucus found in its body, like
the white of an egg; but if crufhed after a full meal, the human blood,
which it has fucked in, will appear a little darkened by having pailed
through the infecVs body.

The male and female of thefe animals are plainly diftinguifhable
from each other; and the parts of generation are obvious enough.
They are often found coupling tail to tail ; and in this ftate are very
eafily defiroyed. The female has an ovary filled with eggs, joined to-
gether like a bunch of grapes ; each egg being obiong, almolt cylin-
drical, inclining to white, and pretty tranfparent. In about two.
days after impregnation by the male, fhe depofits her eggs to the num-
ber of about an hundred and fifty, in fome convenient place where
they are likely to receive no dillurbance. There they continue for
fome months ; during which time, neither cold nor heat, neither
rnoifture nor fumigation, can in the lead retard their exclufion ; but
they come forth active, and ready for mifchief. It is this haidinefs in
the fhell that feems to continue the breed ; as the old ones die every
•winter, or are eafily defiroyed by any fumigation that is ufed for that
purpoie. But the eggs feem incapab'e of defiruction ; even thofe men
who make a livelihood by killing thefe naufeous infects, though they
can anfwer for the parent, can never be fure of the egg. For this
jeafon they ufually pay thofe houfes to which they are called a fecond
or a third vifit, and at lali exterminate them by perfeverance.

The manner of deltroying them feems rather the effects of afliduity
than antidote ; for the men called in upon this occafion, take every
wart of the furniture afunder, brufh every part of it with great afliduity,
anoint it with a liquid which I take to be a folution of corrofive fubli-

niate^

NATURAL HISTORY. 5J

riate, and having performed this operation twice or thrice, the vermin
are mod ufually deftroyed.

Cleanlinefs, therefore, feems to be the beft antidote to remove thefe
naufeous infects ; and wherever that is wanting, their increafe feems
but a juft puniihment. Indeed, they are fometimes found in inch
numbers among old furniture, and neglected chambers, expofed to the
i'outh, that, wanting other fuftenance, they devour each other. They
are alfo enemies to other vermin, and deftroy fleas very effectually ; fo
that we feldom have the double perfecution of different vermin in the
fame bed. Of the bug kind Linnaeus reckons up forty.

The dpbis or Plant Loufe, has a bended fnout, two horns on the
hinder part of the body, four erect wings, and feet proper for walking.
Limiaus has fixteen forts, namely, that of the Currant-buih ; that of the
Llm-tree ; that of the Elder ; that of the Mapple ; that of the Lime-
tree ; that of the Biich ; that of the Pine ; that of the Rofe ; that of
the Parfnip ; that cf the Dock ; that of the Carduus Benidictus ; that
of Mug- wort ; that of Saw-wort ; that of Chick-weed ; that of the Lily,
and that of the Cabbage.

The Currant Loufe is about the fize of a common loufe, and of a
brownilh- green colour: the legs are green, and the joints of the knees
commonly ftand up above the body and are brown ; the feelers are (len-
der, ftrait, and have a joint, at which they are bent near the head,
and are of a black colour : the hinder part of the bread is blackifh,
and the fides of the body are variegated with fmall black fpots ; the
wings are erect and whitifh, only they have a few black veins, and two
of them are very fmall, but the vent is prominent, and has two briftly
appendages lhorter than the wings.

This is fufficient to give a fpecimen of their fhape, for as they be-
long to particular trees and plants, they may be readily feen thereon
when the leaves are in perfection : there are doubtlels many more than
thole already mentioned, which belong to particular, trees.

The Coccus, fo calied by Linuaus, has the trunk on its bread, and
the body is hairy or downy behind.

The Coccus of the berry-bearing Ilex, a fort of an oak, is what is
known in the druggifts (hops, by the name of Kermes. It appears to
be a membranaceous bladder, of the fize of a pea, fmooth, and fhin-
ing, and of a brownifh red colour, covered with very fine down or
afh-colouied powder, fwelling with reddifh eggs or infects, which be-
ing rubbed with the fingers, pour out a crimfon liquor. It is only met
with in pretty hot countries, in the months of May and *Jvne. In
March there is fir ft perceived a fort of infect lefs than a millet- feed,
and of an oblong oval form, only a little narrower towards the tail :
the upper part is convex, red, and marked with exceeding minute gol-
den lpecks, and a few tranfverie wi inkles. It has fix feet, and two
moveable feelers, which almoft equal the length of the body ; it has alfo
black eyes, and a double tail of the fame length as the body. It ad-
heres to the trunk, branches, and leaves of the tree, and becomes tor-
pid and immoveable, fwelling or growing bigger very fenfibly. If at
that time its body is beheld with a microfcope, it appears of a crimfon
colour, fhining with golden fpecks, and lying in a fort of whitilh down,
which in fome places of the back, under and about the belly, riles up
b flocks like a fort of neft ; the back riles very high, and is round, and

ia

54 NATURAL HISTORY.

in the forepart of the body, which is inftead of a head, three protube-
rances are perceived, of which the middle is thickifh and roundifh, but
thole on the fides more flender and crooked about the middle.

In the month of slfril, this infect becomes of the fize and fhape of a
pea, and its membrane or fkin is firmer, and the down, which at the
beginning lay in bands on the fkin, covers the whole furface like a fort
of powder, and then it feems to be no longer an animal, but a bladder
full of pale and watery blood.

About the middle or end of May, the inner part of the bladder, under
the belly of the animalcula, is furnifhed with oval grains, about half the
fize of white peppy feeds, of a pale reddifh colour, fpeckled with gold ;
they confift of a thin, white, tranfparent fkin, full of a pale reddifh
liquor: they are about two thoufand in number on each bladder, and
the eggs of the former infect, which being fhaked off, becomes exactly
the lame as thofe that run about the branches and leaves of the Ilex.
In the following fpring, they fix themfelves in the divifions of the trunk
and branches, where they afterwards lay their eggs. When this in-
fect has attained its proper fize, the fkin of the belly or lower part, is
pulled up towards the back, leaving a vacant fpace between the belly
and the down, infomuch that they have the appearance of Hog-lice
half rolled up. It is in this fpace that they lay their eggs, which done
the animal dies, and is dried up. They live upon the juice of the
leaves, which they fuck in with the fnouts or trunks.

They are of two fexes, and the females have been hitherto defcribed
but the males are very diftinct from the former, and are a fort of fmall
flies like gnats, with fix feet, of which the four forward are fhort, and
the two backward long, divided into four joints, and armed with three
crooked nails : there aie two feelers on the head a line and a half long,
which are moveable, flreaked, and articulated : the tail at the back
part of the body is half a line long, and foiked : the whole body is co-
vered with two tranfparent wings, and they leap about in the manner
of fleas. The harvell of the Kermes is greater or lefs, in proportion
to the feverity of the winter ; and the women gather them before fun-
rifing, tearing them off with their nails ; for fear there fhould be any
lofs from the hatching of the infects, they fprinkle them with viuegar,
and lay them in the fun to dry, where they acquire a red colour.

There is another fort of Kermes mentioned by other authors, which
the country people call worms, and which as they affirm, lay whitilh
eggs, from which proceed infects of the fame colour, full of filver
fpecks. It feems to be an infect of the fame fpecies as the former, little
differing from the red Kermes.

There is another blackilh Kermes, found near Leghorn in Tufcanyt
upon the dwarf Ilex, like the red kind, only when it comes to maturi-
ty, it is full of a whitifh liquor, and eggs ; from thefe a fort of infects
proceed, not unlike the true Kermes, but whitifh. Hence it appears
there are feveral kinds of Kermes, which only differ in colour; but the
red only is ufed in medicine, and for dying. Doctor Lifter has found
an infect analogous to this, on the twigs of the cherry, and other trees j
for it cannot be faid to be the fame.

Cochineal, or the grains of the Indian fig, as they appear in our (hops,
when brought from America, are of an irregular fhape, convex on one
Gde, and a little concave on the other \ but are both marked with tranf-

verfe

NATURAL HISTORY. 5S

verfe ftreaks or wrinkles : they are of a fcarlet colour within, and with-
out of a blackilh red, and fometimes of a white reddifh a(h colour,
which are accounted the beft, and they are brought to us from Mexico*
They have been a long while taken for fruit, but they are now known
to be infects adhering to the prickly pear-tree or fhrub.

The Cochineal fnfecl, is of an oval form, of the fize of a fmall pea,
with fix feet, and a fhout or trunk, and brings forth its young alive,
and is nourished by fucking the juice of the plant. Its body confifts of
feveral rings, and when it is once fixed on the plant, it continues im-
moveable, being fubject to no change. Some pretend there are two
forts, the one domeftic, which is bell, and the other wild, that is of a
vivid colour, however they appear to be the fame, only with this dif-
ference ; that the wild feed upon cultivated trees, without any affift-
ance ; whereas the domeftic are carefully at a ftated feafon, removed
to cultivated trees, where they feed upon a purer juice. Thofe who
take care of thefe infects, place them on the prickly pear- plant, in a
certain order, and are very induftrious in defending them from other
infects ; for if any other kind come among them, they take care to brulh-
them off with foxes tails.

Towards the end of the year, when the rains and cold weather are
coming on, which are fatal to thefe infers, they take off the leaves or
branches covered with cochineal, that have not attained their utmoft
degree of perfection, and keep them in their houfes till the winter is
paft. Thefe leaves are very thick and juicy, and fupply them with
fufficient nourifhment, while they remain within doors. When the
milder weather returns, and thefe animals are about to exclude their ■
young, the natives make them nefts, like thofe of birds, but lefs, of
tree-mofs, or foft hay, or the down of cocoa-nuts, placing twelve in
every neft. Thefe they fix on the thorns of the prickly pear-plant, and
in three or four days time, they bring forth their young, which leave
their nefts in a few days, and creep upon the branches of the plant, til!
they find a proper place to reft in taking their nourifl:ment ; and when-
the females are fecundated by the males, they produce a new offspring p
fo that they have a harveft, as it were thrice a year.

When the native Americans have gathered the cochineal, they puE
them into holes in the ground, where they kill them with boiling water,
and afterwards dry them in the fun, or in an oven, or lay them upon
hot plates. From the various methods of killing them, arife the dif-
ferent colours which they appear in when brought to us. While they
are living, they feem to be fprinkled over with a white powder, which"
they lofe as foon as the boiling water is poured upon them. Thofe
that are dried upon hot places, are the blacked. What we call cochi-
neal, are only the females ; for the males are a fort of fly, as in the
Kermes. They are ufed both for dying, and in medicine, and are laid
to have much the fame virtue as the Kermes ; though they are now
feldom ufed alone, but are mixed with other things, for the fake of the
colour.

The Polijh Scarlet Grain, is, when full grown, of the Cv/.e cf a final!
pepper-corn, and is of a roundilh fhape, there being but little iign of
an animal. It fticks to the root of the tree on which it feeds, and is
of a deep purple colour, tinged with blue. It lies in a rough cup, ibme-
what refcmbling that of au acorn, when they are gathered for ufe»

The-?

55 NATURAL HISTORY.

They feem to be excrefcences upon the root where they produce thek
young, which at firft are evidently real infects, having fmall, and fome-
what longilh flattifh bodies, which confilt of feveral fegrnents ; and
they have fix legs, which are lhort and {lender, and two fine feelers :
they are alfo of a purple colour, but not fo deep as that of the parent.'
When thefe are grown to their full fi/.e, they fix themfelves to the root
of the plant, and appear as above defcribed : the young ones are brecf
in the cafe or (kins of the old ones, after they are dead : the male is a
flie with two wings, as in the kinds already mentioned.

The Pol'ijh Cochineal is a fort of Kermes found at the roots of the tree
called Polonian knawel, which are full of a purple juice, and worms
of the fame colour : this plant is very common in the Ukrain, efpecially
in the moft defart places. The Armenians and the Turks dye the wool,
filk, and hair therewith, as well as the manes and tails of their horfes.

Thefe infects are placed by Linnaus in the number of thofe with hair
wings, that have the mouth placed in the breaft, and the belly hairy
below ; however it is only the male that has wings.

The Gall InfeSs are bred in a fort of bodies, adhering to a kind of
oak in Afia, which differ with regard to their colour, fi'ze, roughnefs,'
fmoothiwfs, and fhape, and which we call galls: they are not fruit as
fome have imagined, but preternatural tumors, owing to the wounds'
given to the buds, leaves, and twigs of the tree, by a kind of infects
wherein they breed and lay their eggs. When the Galls are ripe and
opened while frefh, a fort of worms are found therein, fometimes one,
and fometimes more, near the center in cells, which after fome time
turn to flies : they make themfelves a paffage out, by eating the fub-
ftance of the gall, and making a round hole therein, they get abroad
and fly away. However we do not meet with any author that has
given a minute defcription of them.

The green flove Bug is a fmall infect of an oval flat fhape, which
firmly adheres to the bark or leaves of trees : the back is a little pro-
minent, and its belly hollowed ; and the forepart is blunt, but that be-
hind forked. It appears in a kind of fhell or covering, which inclofes'
the body of the infect ; it has fix very (lender legs, and the eyes fmall
and black, and the feelers very {lender. It is of a greenifh colour, and
can thruft out its legs at pleafure, fometimes moving about though
flowly ; however it generally adheres to the leaf of the tree, continuing
in the fame place, and fucking out the juice. The male is a fmall flie,
and not nearly fo big as the female, having a {lender oblong body, and
long legs : the feelers are fhort, and the wings white. The female is
common here in England, on the oiange and lemon trees preferved in
ftoves in green-houfes ; and is probably the fame which Linnaus calls
the Coccus of the citron tree, or the fhielded Loufe.

The water Coccus has a body of an oval figure, rounded on the back,
and flat on the belly ; and its colour is brown. It thrufts out a fort of
white hairy beard from its hinder part, which is cloven in two, and
near it there is placed a blunt tubercle, and towards the other extremity
another that is blunt. It is common on the leaves of water-plants,
and fhews its legs but very feldom, which are (lender, and fomewhat
downy. The male is a fmall flie, with filky whitifh wings, fpotted
with brown.

..■> «. .•• .

NATURAL HISTORY.

57

The Coccus of the birch tree, is larger than the former, and has an
bblong body, fomewhat downy, which is compofed of feveral rings or
joints. It is of a deep dufky olive- colour, with fhort legs, and very (len-
der feelers- It is common on feveral tiees in woods, where it fixes to the
divifion of the branches. The male is a little fiie with dufky brown
•wings.

The Coccus of infects is very fmall, and is found on the bodies of the
larger kind of Beetles, where it is fixed almoft during its whole life :
the body is of an oval fhape, with a (harp edge; and is fomewhat con-
vex, and of a reddifh brown colour : the furiace of the whole body is
fmooth, but not gloily, and the legs are very ihort, as well as the feel-
ers, which are fcarce vifible.

Befides thefe LinnaUs has the Coccus of the common Moufe-ear ; that
of Canary-grafs ; and that of the Birch tree ; and there are probably
other kinds not yet difcovered.

The 'T/jrips, fo called by Linmsus, has little or no fnout, and the bo-
dy is of a linear fhape, with four ftrait wings lying on the back.

The Thrips with blueiih wings and a black body, is not fo big as a
flea, and its wings mull confequently be fmall and delicate : it has fir
legs, two near the neck, and four on the bread; the feelers are flender*
black, and confill of fix joints, the external wings are of a greyifh co-
lour, and hairy at the extremities, and at the edges. It flies very fel-
dom, but runs very fwiftly, twifting its body into various fhapes.

The black bodied 'Thrips, is about the fize of a Loufe, and has an
oblong {lender body: the external wings are very beautiiu1, variegated
with nine alternate tranfverfe llreaks of black and white, there being
three of each colour : it is found en the flowers of the larger hawk-
tveeds, and runs very fwift, but feldom flies.

The Thrips with a brown body, and fnow white wings, is of the
fame fize as the former : its brown appearance is owing to the wings,
for the colour of the body is coal black : the legs are fhort, and the
feelers very flender, conlilling of five joints : it is fometimes found on
the Bermudas cedars, which are planted in our gardens.

CHAP. IV.

®F 1NSSECTS WITH MEMBRANACEOUS WINGS, WHICH ARE FOUR IN NUM-
BER, AND RETICULATED WITH VEINS.

THE Panorpa, fo called by Linnsus, is the Scorpion Flie : that-
taken notice of by Moufet, is about the fize of a common file,
and of the colour of honey * only the top joint of the tail is black, and.
armed with a double (ting : the wings are like thofe of the Grafidiop-
per, and its walk is like that of a crab : that which other authors call
a Scorpion Flie, has an oblong roundifh body, and a fmall head, and
a hard horny oblong fnout, bending downwards: the feelers are briflly,
black, and confift of thirty joints: the back is brown, the fides yellow,
and the wings white, with ibme dufky fpots difpofed in tranfverfe rows,

H forming

5* NATURAL HISTORY.

forming a fort of line: the tail is articulated, and is terminated by s:
weapon refembling that of a Scorpion: this is doubtlefs the fame infeft
with that of Moufet. Linnaus fays that it has a horny cylindric fnout,
and a lhelly tail.

The Raph'ulia or (harp-tailed Flie, has a horney flattifh head, and a
briftly (harp tail, and is of the fame fize as the Scorpion Flie, pretty
much refembling it in (hape : the head" is black, fmooth, and narrow
on the hinder part, and the breaft is narrow, rounded, and black; the?
feelers are (lender, white, and confift of a great number of joints ; the
body is (lender, oblong, and of a brown colour, variegated with tranf-
verfe white lines : the wings are thin and membranaceous, being reti-
culated, and having each an oblong brown fpot towards the edge.
From the hinder part of the body of the female, there grows a long,
(harp, (lender, and bended weapon. It is common in the meadows
near the waters, in July.

The Chryfops or Golden-Eye, by fome called the Stinking Flie, is a
yery beautiful infedt, and is about three quarters of an inch in length?
its body is very (lender,, and of a greenifh yellow colour; the wings are
very large and tranfparent, except the larger ribs or fibres that are of
a fine green, which are pretty numerous : the eyes are very large, and
have the appearance of gold ; but when this rnfed is crufhed, it fends
forth an intolerable (tench, for which reafon it is called the ftinking flie.
It is produced from a worm that feeds upon the plant-lice, upon which
account it is named the plant-loufe Lion.

The Formica Leo, or Ant Lion, is- of the length of the common hogi
loufe, but fomewhat broader; and it has a pretty long head, and a
roundilh body, which becomes a little narrower towards the tail . the
colour is a dirty grey, fpeckled with black, and the body is combed
of feveral flat rings, which (lip one upon another: there are fix feet, four
of which are fixed to the breaft, and two to the neck: the head is'fmali
and flat, and before there are two little fmooth horns or feelers, which
are hard, two lines in length, and crooked at the ends. At the bafes
of the feelers, there are two fmall black lively eyes, by which it can
fee the fmalleft objetf. Other animals have wings or feet, which en-
able them to advance towards their prey, but this can only run back-
wards, for it would fooner die than take the leaft ftep towards it ; for
which reafon the prey moft come to it, or rather into the fnare provid-
ed for it ; which is the only means this infect has to live.

It chufes a dry and fandy place, at the foot of a wall, or under'
feipe (helter, in order to preferve its work from the rain : the dried
fand is the moft proper for it, becaufe any other would defeat its la-
bour. When it goes about to dig the hole where it takes its prev, it
begins to bend its hinder part, which is pointed, and begins to work
upon the fand backwards,, making after feveral attempts, a circular
furrow, whofe diameter is always equal to the depth of the hole or pit.
On tne edge of this firft furrow it digs a fecond, then a third, and
afterwards others which are always lefs than thofe preceding ; then it
begins to fink deeper and deeper into the fand : which it throws with
its horns or feelers towards the edges, and farther marching always
bac.cwards m a fpiral line, in proportion as it finks into the fand • tho
repeated motions of its head, throw the fand out of the circle, till the
pit is quite made. It always defcribes a perfect circle, and traces a

fpiraS

NATURAL HISTORY. .<$

(Spiral line without compaffes ; and the pit itfelf refembles the infide of
a funnel turned upfide down.

When this infect is newly hatched, the firft pit it makes is very fmallj
but as it grows bigger, it makes them larger, one of which is about
two inches and upwards in diameter, and about as much deep: the
work being finifhed, it places itfelf in ambufcade, hiding itfelf at the
bottom under the fand, in fuch a manner, that its two horns exact-
ly embrace the point, which is the bottom and middle of the pit. It
then waits for its prey ; and if by misfortune, a hog loufe, an ant, or
other infect, begins to walk round the edge of the precipice, which is
made (helving on purpofe to make them fall into the trap, which they
generally do, the Ant-Lion never fails to feize upon them. When the
fall of a few grains of fand gives notice of the approach of its prey, it
begins to fhake the bottom of the fand, which never fails to fall down
together with the prey. But if die prey is fo nimble, as to run or fly
away fpeedily, it fhoots up the fand, which falls down again like hail
upon it, and it being blinded and overwhelmed therewith, it is dragged
by the motion of the fand to the center of the hole, where it falls be-
tween the two feelers or nippers of the enemy, and is foon buried in the
fand, where the Ant-Lion feeds upon it. When there remains nothing
but the fhell of the body, this infect takes it up with its feelers, and
throws it at leaft fix inches from the edge of the pit ; and then it goes
to work again to repair the damage that has been done. It is won-
derful to confider that this infect will wait patiently for its prey, fome-
times a week, or even a month, without ftirring from its place, and
confequently without eating. Some of thefe that have been kept in a
box with fand, have lived fix months and upwards, without feeding at
all. However it muft be owned, that thofe that feed, become much
larger, and more ftrong.

When the Ant-Lion attains a certain age, in which it is to change
into another form, then it leaves off making pits ; but it continues to
make furrows in the land, though in an irregular manner, probably
with a defign to put itfelf in a fweat ; after which it hides itfelf under
the fand. Either the fweat, or a gummy liquor that proceeds from
the body, unites the grains of fand, which form a fort of cruft all over
it, and then it appears like a ball, half an inch in diameter ; but fo as
to leave room enough for the infect to move, but it muft be obierved,
that the gummy liquor alfo condenfes into a thread, finer than thofe
of the filk-worm, which it firft fixes to one place, then to another, crof-
fing and recroffing it in fuch a manner, as to line the infide of its re-
treat with a fine filky fluff work, of a pearl colour, extremely delicate,
and perfectly beautiful. But though the work is fo curious and com-
modious on the infide, without it appears to be nothing but fand, info-
much that it cannot eafily be diftinguilhed from that which lies next it,
and fo it efcapes the fearch of birdb, that might otherwife prey upon it.

This infect continues thus fhut up for fix weeks, or two months, and
gradually parts with its eyes, its feelers, its feet, and its fkin ; and all
the flough falls to the bottom of the ball like a rag : then there re-
mains a Nymph, which has other legs, other feet, and other entrails; as
alfo wings which are wrapped up in a fkin, which feems to be nothing
elfe but a liquor dried on its outfide, in the fame manner as it hap-
pens to all forts of Butterflies. When the members of this new in-

H 2 k&

6o NATURAL HISTORY,

feet have acquired the necelTary confidence and vigour, it tears its
lodging, and breaks through it* wall. For this purpole it has two
teeth, like thofe of Grafshoppers, with which it eats through, and en-
larges the opening, till it gets quite out. Its body which is turn-
ed like a fcrew, takes up no more than the fpace of a quarter of
an inch ; but when it is unfolded, it becomes half an inch in length ;
then its fore wings likewife unfold, and in two minutes time, be-
come longer than the body. In ihort it becomes a large and beau-
tiful Flie, laying afide its barbarity, and rapacious difpofnion : it has
then a long flender body, or a brown colour, a i'mall head, with
large bright eyes, and h>ng, fiender, pale brown legs, with four large
reticulated wings : it greatly refembles the Golden Eye in all things,
except its colour, which is not quite fo agreeable: it is common in molt
parts of Europe; there are other infects akin to this, which only differ
in their fize and colour; but the progreis of their metamorphufis has
not been defcribed.

The Summer Flie has a prominent palate, with two feelers on each
fide, which are twice as long as the body, and blueifn-black wings ;
the body is oblong, and of a dufky brown ; but his legs, which are
flender, are ol a dufky greyilh black. While it is a worm, it may be
frequently feen at the bottoms of fmall clear brooks, hid in a cafe of
ftraw: and when it turns to a flie, it comes out of the water, and roves
over or about the fame dreams : that mentioned by Moufet, has four
■wings, of a brown colour, an oblong body, and two fhort feelers, with
a forked tail, or rather with two briftles proceeding from it. How-
ever there are a great many others of this kind, which leave fufficient
joom for curious enquirers to enlarge the hiftory of thefe infects.

Linnem takes notice of feveral kinds of the Water Flies, and he calls
the firit, the black Phryganea with white wings, Ureaked and fpeckled
with white : this flie has four wings, and is of the fize of the Scorpion
Fhe; the wings are longer than the body, white, pointed, and Ureaked
with brown veins. It is found in dirty fplalhy paths.

2. The Phryganea or Water Flie, with teifaceous wings,, and nervous
itreaks ; the feelers are placed forwards. It is found in the lame pla-
ces as the former.

3. The grey Phryganea with the upper wings clouded, and marked
with a black fpot in the margin. It is of a middle fize, and is found
an wnters.

4. The Phryganea with afiVcoloured teftaceous wings, and two lon-
gitudinal black lines, with a *«hite point.

5. The Phryganea with dellexed flat wings of a yellowifh-colour, and
marked on the edge with a rhomboidal white fpot.

6. The Phryganea with dulky wings, and a double yellow Toot on
She edges. r

7. The Phryganea with reticulated wings, without a weapon in the
tad, and yellow edges on che bre^ft: this keeps very it ill upon the waters.

S. 1 he / hryganea with wings reticulated with veins, and a brown
tail. It is called in the Upfal trar/factions, the Summer Flie, with a
tail that has two hairs, and am coloured wings reticulated with veins.
It is a large water Flie, which appears in fummer.

9. The Phryganea (with blueifh, black wings, and feelers twice as long as
Vic tody. ix, l5 c-uled by Ray a fmall f0Ur winged Hie, with very long

(eelers^

NATURAL HISTORY. 61

feelers, in proportion to the body. It is found fluttering among the
reeds, and in cloudy weather great fwarms of them may be feen in the air.

10. ''he Phryganea with cloudy upper wings, and feelers three times
as long as the body.

i i. The leaping Phryganea with feelers as long as the body, and the
wings marked with a green and white loot.

I 2. The black Phryganea with incumbent cloudy afli- coloured wing;,
and three blunt hairs at the tail. It may be met with every where in
the beginning of the fpring.

13. The dufky Phryganea without fpots, is found at Fahlun in Sweden.

The Ephemera is a Flie fo called, becaufe it has been faid to live bat
a day, which is in fyme fenfe true ; though there are a fort that never
enjoy the benefit ol the fun at all ; for they do not come into the world
till after the fun is fet, and die before its rifing : they are in general
very pretty flies, and might be ranked among Butterflies, on account
of their lhape and their wings : thefs laft are fiiorter and broader in
proportion, than thofe of the common flies, and have a large bafe ; but
they differ from thofe of Butterflies, in not being covered with the duit
that renders them opaque ; tor they are very tranfparent, and very
thin : they have four wings, the uppermoft of which are much the lar-
ger!:. When this infect is at reft, it generally lays its wings one over
the other on the back ; and the body is long, being formed of fix lings
that are larger at the origin than near the extremity, and fiom this a
tail proceeds, that is longer than all the rett ot the flie, and confifts
fometimes of three thieadb of an equal length, and fometirnes of two
long threads, and one fhcrt.

All Ephemeras were at fir ft worms, and then Aurelias ; and under
thefe forms they grow very {lowly in the w*ater ; for Sivammerdam thinks
that fome of this kind continue three years under the water. Mr Reau-
viur has known them that have been two years there, and many that
have been one. But when the flies that proceed from thefe worms,
come to be inhabitants of the air, they all die almoft immediately,
though Mr Reaumur allerts, that fome flies of this name live for feveral
Days.

The infect that is to become the flie called Ephemera, has fix fcaly
legs, fixed on the coiilet, which in fome of thefe kinds is double, or
as it were, divided into two parts : the head is triangular, and a little
flatted above and below; the eyes, which are placed before, maybe dil-
tinguifhed by their largeneis and colour : they are brown in moll of
thefe infects, and near the bafe of each, there is a feeler on the inner
fide ; the mouth is furniihed with teeth, and the body confiiis of fix
rings ; that next the corflet is the largeft, and they grow lefs and lefs
i to the end ; and the laft ring is the fhorteft, from which the three
threads proceed, which are as long as the whole body.

Thefe infects live in different places, for fome have fixed habitations,
and fome wander abont : thofe that have fixed habitations, lye in holes
on the furface of the earth, under the water of rivers and flow ftrearns.
One of thefe feldom leaves its hole, unlefs through neceffi'ty, and then
it makes another : thofe that wander about, fometimes fwim, and fome-
times creep on bodies that are under the water ; fometimes they hide
themfelves among the 1 nines, or under pieces of wood, and at otb .l
times become quiet and ilill cu the feme bodies.

Among

4t NATURAL HISTORY.

Among thofe that do not change their place, there are a fort of tufts
on each fide, which fome have taken for fins ; but Mr Reaumur found by
the help of a microfcope, that they are the gills of this infect, which,
fie affirms to be a real fiffi : the number of the gills is not the fame in
different kindb, for Szvammerdam tells us, there are fix on each fide,
and Reaumur feven.

While thefe infects continue in the flate of worms, th«y are of a
fiefli-colour, and the Aurelias, when they have been juft transformed,
are the fame ; but when they are ready to become flies, they turn to a
pretty ftrong yellow, and the corflet is brown : the Ephemeras of Hol-
land appear about St John's day, when clouds of them may be feen ;
whereas they do not appear about Paris till the middle of Augujt*
Some make their appearance about fix o'clock, that is about two hours
before fun-fet, while others are not feen till the fun is juft ready to dis-
appear.

Though the lives of thefe flies are fo fhort, they have fufficient time
to perform the end of their production ; for they are no fooner meta-
xnorphofed into flies but they begin to lay their eggs, which fome do
in rivers, and others on any fubftance that they meet with ; and they
are faid to lay more at a time than any other infect whatever ; for each
bunch of eggs is faid to confift of three hundred and fifty, and there
are generally two bunches.

There are feveral forts of flies, belonging to this clafs, that live fe-
deral days, as was before obferved ; one kind of which are in a condi-
tion different from all other flies, for they have ftill another cafe or
fkin to get rid of: thefe are to be feen in the fields, and in woods dif-
tant from any water; but it is more common to find them among
thofe that are neareft. Some of thefe may be feen flicking upon walls
and trees, and often with the head downwards, without changing place,
or having any fenfible motion ; for they wait for the moment when
they fhall be diverted of their laft incommodious garment ; but fome-
times this does not happen till twenty-four hours are expired.

L.innaus places them among flies that have nervous wings, and takes
notice of fix different forts. The firft kind of Ephemera has wings
fpotted with brown, the tail confiding of three threads ; and this is
found near lakes.

2. The fecond has white wings that are ftreaked, and has a forked
tail. It is called in the tranfactions of Upfal, the Ephemera with wings
of a whitifh fiefh -colour : they are feen fluttering in f warms by the fides
of waters.

3. The Ephemera with white ftreaked wings, may be diftinguifhed
from all others of this kind, by that mark only.

4. The brown Ephemera with a tail confifting of two threads, with
white wings.

5. The Ephemera with white wings, having a thick Jjlackifh edge,
and a tail confifting of two threads. It is called in the Upfal tranfae-
tions, the leaft Ephemera with white wings.

6. The. black Ephemera with white lower wings.

The Ephemera with white reticulated wings, and two hairs at the tail,
is a pretty large flic, with an oblong flender whitiih body, except to*
wards the tail, where it is brown : the head is fmall, and on its top
£here are two prominences, which have the appearance of eyes, but

3T?

NATURAL HISTORY. Sy

ire really placed above them : the bread is compreffed, and the two-
hairs of the tail are twice as long as the body ; and between them there
are two fhort crooked ones ; the legs are white as fnow, but thofe before
are longer than the reft. It is commonly feen flying over waters in
the fummer months.

The Ephemera with ftreaked wings, is a fmall flie, with an oblong
Sender brownifh body, and a blunt tail without hairs : the wings are
large, white, and ftreaked, and fo formed, as to appear like net-work ;
there are two prominent tubercles on the head that are fmaller than
the eyes, and the male has a black breaft, and a tranfparent body ; but
that of the female is of a reddifh brown.

The brown Ephemera is about the fize of a Gnat, and has an oblong:
flender body, and of a dufky brown, with a black breaft, and long and
{lender legs .- the wings are large and tranfparent, and fomewhat of s,
whitifh colour; and the tubercles above the eyes are very large, being
ef a deep blueifh black ; there are alfo two hairs at the tail, which are
as long as the body.

The Liiellula, fo called by ~L.inn.itus, is a fort of water flie, for which,
reafon they are called water Nymphs by the Germans, and fometimes
Dragon Flies.

The blueifh green bodied Ubcllula is a beautiful infect, and has a body
almoft an inch in length, which is of a fine green, with a blueifh caft ;
the head is large, as well as the eyes, whieh are prominent; and the
legs are flender and black : the wings are brownifh, with a yellowifh
tincture, and have each an oblong white fpot near the edge : the male
has a blue body, and blueifh wings, and is commonly feen flying over
waters.

The red bodied \jlelhla has a body nearly as long as the formeT j
but it is more flender, and of a bright red colour, with a large head,
and large prominent eyes : the legs are flender, and there are fame:
black lines near the fegments of the belly ; but the wings are pellucid
and brownifh, and have each a brown fpot near the edge. It is com-
mon about fifh-ponds.

The \jbellula with a double fpot on the edge of each wing, is near
an inch and a half long, and confiderably thick ; but it is larger at the
two extremities than in the middle : the breaft is thick, of a greyifh
colour, and hairy on the upper part ; the wings are yellowith towards
the bafe, and whitifh elfewhere, except the double fpots, which are of
a dufky brown : the body itfelf is of a fhining green, and a little hairy
on the fides, and the tail has two appendages. It is common about
rivers.

'Linnaus likewife divides thefe infects into the middle fized, die fmall,
and the great.

i. The firft of the middle fized is called by the author the Utlellula
■with a filky fhining body, and wings of a yellowifh dufky colour. It
is termed by Ray the middle fized Libella with a blueifh green body,
and dun wings without fpots. It frequents the fides of rivers, and the
colour is blue, inclining a little to black; the wings are of a yellowifh
brown, without any fpeck on the external edges of the wings, which
all other kinds are marked with, except the two following.

z. The Likllula with a blue fhining body,, and wings of a blueifh-
green* duflcy at the point, and without fpots on the edge. - It is called

64 NATURAL HISTORY.

by Ray the middle fized Libella, with a blue body, and the greate&
part of the wings of a blackifh blue. This likewife frequents rivers,
and is of the fize and fhape of the former, but the wings are of a black-
ifh blue, with the points of a pale brown, and the tail hofny at the end.

3. The Libellula with a greenifh-blue body, dufky wings, and a white
fpot upon the edge. It is termed by Ray the middle fized Libella,
with a green body, and wings of a dunnilh colour, marked with fmall
fpots, that, are white near the extreme angle: the body is of a green
mining colour, with black feet and brown wings, which are marked on
the edges with an oblong white fpot. Some think it is the female of
the former.

A. The Libellula with a filky mining body, and the wings of a dufky
gold colour, marked with a black fpot. It is termed by Ray the mid-
dle fized Libella, with a body partly green, and partly blue, and the
wings marked in the middle with very large blueiih black fpots : the
body is of a bright blue, the feet black, and half the wings next the
point, of a blueilh-black, with points of a gilt brown ; the other half
of the wings near the bafe, are of a gold colour.

Of the Libellula of the laft kind are,

1. That with a filky body, and the wings marked on the edge with
a dufky lpot. It is called by Ray the leffer Libella with reticulated
wings, a green back, and whitilh furrows : this flte flutters on the fides
of marfhes, and has a back of the colour of copper, with gilded fhining
wings, marked on the edge with arhomboidal brown fpeck 5 the wings
are compofed of two nerves, which are particular to this infect ; and
the breaft, belly and fides, are of a livid colour; the eyes are of an
afh-colour, but brown above, and the head, as far as the back, is of
the colour of copper : the feelers are black, fhort, and thick at the laft
joint.

2. The Libellula with a flefh-coloured body, and wings with a dufky
fpot on the edges. It is termed by Ray the middle fized Libella, with
two black fpots near the incilures : it is very like the former, both in
fize and fhape ; but near the furrows of the belly there are black lines
or characters, and a brown fpot on the edge of the wings.

3. The L'tbellula with a filky body, and the edge of the wings mark-
ed with a black fpot, is named by Ray the Libella with a blueifh livid
body : it has white wings, and the upper part of the body is of a green-
ifh fhining blue, without mixture.

4. The Libellula with a blue body variegated with afh-colour, and a
black fpot on the edges of the wings ; Ray terms it the lefTer Libella
with fhort wings, and a blue body, marked with tranfverfe brack ipots.
It is of the fame fize and (hape as the three former, and the wings are
white ; the joints of the belly, viewed before, are of an afh colour, and
behind of a fhining blue.

Of the large kind of Libellula, there are,

:. That with a double fpot on the edges of the wings, called by Ray
the greateft. Libella, with a long, fhining, {lender, fmboth, greenilh.
belly, at the beginning, and fwelling nea/the end. It is diftinguilhed
from the left, by having two fpots on the wings, that are white, but
yellow towards the bafe, and black underneath the yellow colour.

2. The Libellula with white wings, but yellow at the bafe ; it is
named by Ray the greateft Libella, with a broad, fhort, yellow belly.

1%

NATURAL HISTORY. 65

It is yellow on the back, but black underneath ; and on each fide there
are two oblique yellow lines I the forehead is green, the eyes grey, the
feet black, and the wings of a rufty colour at the bafe.

3. The Libellula with a dufky bodyj and white wings, is called by
Ray the greatelt Libella with a yell >w narrow body, and no dufky fpots
at the root of the wings : the body is black, the wings white, with a
reddith brown fpeck on the edges, and the vent without any appendage.

4. The Libellula with yellow fides and white wings, is commonly
feen on waters, and the fides of the bread and belly are of a yellow
colour ; the fpecks on the edges of the wings are of a brown rufty colour.

5. The Libellula with a green fhining brealt, yellow lines, pale wings,
and a black belly. It is termed by Ray the great Libella with a fhort
blue belly : the head and breaft are of a (hining green, the eyes brown,
and there are two yellow lines on the fides of the breaft ; but the wings
are whitifh yellow at the bale, and the marginal fpot is brown.

6. The Libellula of a gilded green, with pale wings and black feet,
is like the former, only it differs from it in the male, which has a den-
tated tail, and in the female, whofe tail confifts of leaves, in the fhape
of a lance.

7. The grey Libellula with yellowifh wings, and the fides of the
breaft marked with yellow lines, with a tail confifting of two leaves,
it is called by Ray the great Libellula with a long flender belly, and
yellowifh wings.

8. The Libellula with the breaft of a yellowifh green, with black lines,
and a blackifh belly, with yellow marks.

CHAP. V.

OF MEALY WINGED INSECTS, WITH A SPIRAL MOUTH.

IF we take a curfory view of infects in general, Caterpillars alone,,
and the Butterflies and Moths they give birth to, will make a third
part of the number. Wherever we move, wherever we turn, thefe
infects, in one fhape or another, prefent themfelves to our view. Some,
in every ftate, offer the moft entertaining fpectacle ; others are beauti-
ful only in their winged form. Many perfons, have an invincible aver-
fion to caterpillars, and worms of every fpecies : there is fomething
difagreeable in their flow crawling motion, for which the variety of their
colouring can never compenfate. But others feel no repugnance at ob-
ferving, and even handling them with the moft attentive application.

There is nothing in the butterfly ftate fo beautiful or fplendid as
thefe infects. They ferve, not lefs than the birds themfelves, to baniih
i'olitude from our walks, and to fill up our idle intervals with the molt
pleafmg fpeculations. The butterfly makes one of the principal orna-
ments of oriental poetry ; but, in thofe countries, the infect is larger
and more beautiful than with us.

The beauties of the fly may therefore very well excite our curiofity
2o examine the reptile. But we are ftill more ftrongly attached to this

i tribe,-

45 NATURAL HISTORY.

tribe, from the ufefulnefs of one of the number. The filk worm- Is,
perhaps, the mod ferviceable of all other animals ; fince, from its la-
bours, and the manufacture attending it, near a third part of the world
are clothed, adorned, and fupported.

Caterpillars may be eafily diftinguilhed from worms or maggots, by
the number of their feet ; and by their producing butterflies or moths.
When the fan calls up vegetation, and vivifies the various eggs of in-
fers, the caterpillars are the firft that are feen, upon almoft every ve-
getable and tree, eating its leaves, and preparing for a ftate of greater
perfection. They have feet both before and behind ; which not only
enable them to move forward by a fort of fteps made by their fore and
hinder parts, but alfo to climb up vegetables, and to ftretch themfelves
out from the boughs and (talks, to reach their food, at a diftance. All
of this clafs have from eight feet at the leaft, to fixteen ; and this may
fei ve to diftinguifh them from the worm tribe, that never have fo many.
The animal into which they are converted, is always a butterfly or a
moth ; and thefe are always diftmguifhed from other flies, by having
their wings covered over with a painted duft, which gives them fuch
various beauty. The wings of flies are tranfparent, as we fee in the
common flefh fly ; while thofe of beetles are hard, like horn : from fuch
the wing of a butterfly may be eafily diftinguifhed ; and words would
obfcure their differences.

From hence it appears, that caterpillars, whether in the reptile ftate,
or advanced to their lafl ftate of perfection into butterflies, may eafily
be diftinguifhed from all other infects ; being animals peculiarly form-
ed, and alfo of a peculiar nature. The tranfmutations they undergo,
are alfo more numerous than thofe of any infect hitherto mentioned j
and, in confequence, they have been placed in the third order of chan-
ges by Swammerdam, who has thrown fuch lights upon this part of
natural hiftory. In the fecond order of changes, mentioned before,
we faw the grafshopper and the earwig, when excluded from the egg,
affume a foim very like that which they were after to preferve ; and
feemed arrived at a ftate of perfection, in all refpects, except in not ha-
ving wings ; which did not bud forth until they were come to maturity.
But the infects of this third order, that we are now about to defcribe,
go through a much greater variety of transformations : for, when they
are excluded from the egg, they affume the form of a fmall caterpillar,
which feeds and grows larger every day, often changing its fkin, but
ftill preferving its form. When the animal has come to a certain mag-
nitude in this ftate, it difcontinues eating, makes itfelf a covering or
hvjk, in which it remains wrapped up, ieemingly without life or mo-
tion!; and after having for fome time continued in this ftate, it once
more bur (Is its confinement, and comes forth a butterfly. Thus we
fee this animal put on no lefs than three different appearances, from
the time it i; firft excluded from the egg. It appears a crawling cater-
pillar ; thtn an infenfible aurelia, as it is called, without life or motion 5
and laftly, a butterfly, varioufly painted, according to its different kind.
Having thus diftinguifhed this clafs of infects from all others, we will
fii ft furvey their hiftory in general ; and then enter particularly into
the manners and nature of a few of them, which moft deferve our cu-
-iofity and attention.

Whea^

NATURAL HISTORY. 67

When winter has difrobed the trees of their leaves, Nature then feems
to have loft her infects. Ther. are thcufands of different kinds, with
and without wings, which, though fwarming at other leaions, then en-
tirely difappear. Our fields are re- peopled, when the leaves begin to
bud, by the genial influence of fprir.g ; and caterpillars, of various forts,
are feen feeding upon the prornife of the year, even before the leaves
are completely unfolded. Thofe caterpillars, which we then fee, may
ferve to give us a view of the general means which Nature employs to
preferve fuch a number of inlects during that feafon, .when they can
no longer find fubfiftence. It is known, by united experience, that all
thefe animals are hatched from the eggs of butterflies ; and thofe who
obferve them more clofely, will find the fly very careful in depofiting
its eggs in thofe places where they are likely to be hatched with the
greateft fafety and fuccefs. During winter, therefore, the greateft
number of caterpillars are in an egg ftate ; and in this lifelefs fituation,
brave all the rigours and the humidity of the climate ; and though of-
ten expofed to all its changes, ft ill preferve the latent principles of life,
which is more fully exerted at the approach of fpring. That fame
power that pufhes forth the budding leaf, and the opening flower, im-
pels the infect into animation j and Nature at once feems to furnilh the,
guelt and the banquet. When the infect has found force to break its
fhell, it always finds its favourite aliment provided in abundance be-
fore it.

But all caterpillars are not fent off from the egg in the beginning of
fpring ; for many of them have fubufted during the winter in their
aurelia ftate : in which, as we have briefly obferved above, the animal
is feemingly deprived of life and motion. In this ftate of infenllbility,
many of thefe infects continue during the rigours of winter ; fome en-
clofed in a kind of fhell, which they have fpun fcr themfelves at the
end of autumn ; fome concealed under the bark of trees ; others in the
chinks of old walls ; and many buried under ground. From all thefe,
a variety of butterflies are feen to ilfue, in the beginning of fpring ; and
adorn the earlieft part of the year with their painted flutterings.

Some caterpillars do not make any change whatloever at the ap-
proach of winter ; but continue to live in their reptile ftate, through all
the feverity of the feafon. Thefe chufe themfelves fome retreat, where
they may remain undifturbed for months together ; and there thev con-
tinue quite motionlefs, and as infenfible as if they were actually dead.
Their conftitution is fuch, that food, at that time, would be ufelefs ;
and the cold prevents their making thofe diffipations which require re-
floration. In general, caterpillars of this kind are found in great num-
bers together, enclofed in one common web, that covers them all, and
ferves to protect them from the injuries of the air.

Laftly, there are fome of the caterpillar kind, whofe butterflies live
all the winter ; and who, having fluttered about fcr fome part of the
latter end of autumn, feek for fome retreat during the winter, in order
to anfwer the ends of propagation, at the approach of fprir.g. Thefe
are often found lifelefs and motionlefs in the hollows of trees, or the
clefts of timber; but, by being approached to the fire, they recover
life and activity, and feem to anticipate the defires of fpring.

In general, however, whether the animal has fubfified in an egg
ftate, during the winter j or whether as a butterfly, bred from an au-

J z relia4

£* NATURAL HISTORY.

relia, in the beginning of fpring ; or a butterfly that has fubfifted du-
ring the winter, and lays eggs as foon as the leaves ot plants are (hot
forward, the whole fwarms of caterpillars are in motion to fhare the
banquet that Nature has provided. There is fcarce a plant that has
not its own peculiar infecls ; and fome are known to fupport feveral of
different kinds. Of thefe, many are hatched from the egg, at the foot
of the tree, and climb up to its leaves for fubfiftence : the eggs of o-
thers, have been glued by the parent butterfly to the leaves ; and they
are no fooner excluded from the (hell, but they find theinfelves in the
midft of plenty.

When the caterpillar nrft burfts from the egg, it is fmall and feeble ;
its appetites are in proportion to its fize, and it feems to make no great
consumption : but as it increafes in magnitude, it improves in its ap-
petites ; fo that, in its adult caterpillar ftate, it is the moft ravenous of
all animals whatfoeyer. A fingle caterpillar will eat double its own
weight of leaves in a day, and yet feems no way disordered by the
meal.— What would mankind do, if their oxen or their horfes were fo
voracious !

Thefe voracious habits, with its flow crawling motion, but ftill more
a flinging like that of nettles, which follows upon handling the greatefl
number of them, make thefe infecls not the molt agreeable objects of
human curiofity. However, there are many philoibphers who have
fpent years in their contemplation ; and who have not only attended
to their habits and labours, but minutely examined their ftru&ure
and internal conformation.

The body of the caterpillar, when anatomically confidered, is found
compofed of rings, whole circumference is pretty near circular or oval.
They are generally twelve in number, and are membraneous; by which
caterpillars may be diftinguifhed from many other infecls, that nearly
reftmble them in form. The head of the caterpillar is connected to
the nrft ring by the neck; that is generally io fhort and contracted,
that it is fcarce vifible. All the covering of the head in caterpillars
feems to confift of a (hell ; and they have neither upper nor under jaw,
for they are both placed rather vertically, and each jaw aimed with a
large thick tooth, which is fingly equal to numbers. With thefe the
animals devour their food in fuch amazing quantities ; and with thefe,
fome of the kind defend themfelves againft their enemies. Though
the mouth be kept fhut, the teeth are always uncovered; and while
the infed is in health, they are feldom without employment. What-
ever the caterpillar devours, thefe teeth ferve to chop it into fmall pieces,
and render the parts of the leaf fit for fwallowing. Many kinds, while
they are yet young, eat not only the fucculent part of the leaf, and
leave all the fibres untouched ; others, however, attack the whole leaf,
and eat it clean away. One may be amufed, for a little time, in ob-
ferving the avidity with which they are feen to feed ; fome are feen.
eating the whole day; others have their hours of repaft; fome chufe the
night others the day. When the caterpillar attacks a leaf, it places it*
body in iuch a manner that the edge of the leaf fhall fall between its
feet, which keeps it fleady, while the teeth are employed in cutting it;
thefe fall upon the leaf, fomewhat in the manner of a pair of garden-
er's fheers ; and every model is fwallowed as foon as cut. Some ca-
terpillar!

NATURAL HISTORY. 69

terpillars feed upon leaves fo very narrow, that they are not hroader
than their mouths; in this cafe the animal is feen to devour it from the
point, as we would eat a raddifh.

As there are various kinds of caterpillars, the number of their feet
are various ; lbme having eight, and fome fixteen. Of thefe feet the
fix foremoft are covered with a fort of fhining griftle ; and are there-
fore called the fhelly legs. The hindmoft feet, whatever be .their num-
ber, are fr.ft and flexible, and are called membranaceous. Caterpillars
alio, with regard to their external figure, are either fmooth, or hairy.
The fkin of the fir ft kind is foft to the touch, or hard, like fhagreen ;
the fkin of the latter, is hairy, and as it were thorny ; and generally,
if handled, ftings like nettles. Some of them even caufe this Hinging
pain, if but approached too nearly.

Caterpillars, in general, have fix fmall black fpnts placed on the
circumference of the fore ring, and a little to the fide of the head.
Three of thefe are larger than the reft, and are convex and tranfparenti
thefe Reaumur takes to be the eyes of the caterpillar ; however, molt
of thefe reptiles have very little occafion for fight, and feem only to be
directed by their feeling.

But the parts of the caterpillar's body which mod juftly demand our
attention, are the ftigmata, as they are called ; or thofe holes on the
fides of its body, through which the animal is fuppofed to breathe.
All along this infect's body, on each fide, thefe holes are eafily dif-
coverable.- They are eighteen in number, nine on a fide, rather nearer
the belly than the back ; a hole for every ring, of which the animal's
body is compofed, except the fecond, the third, and the laft. Thefe
oval openings may be confidered as fo many mouths, through which
the infect breathes ; but with this difference, that as we have but one
pair of lungs, the caterpillar has no lefs than eighteen. It requires no
great anatomical dexterity to difcover thefe lungs in the larger kind of
caterpillars; they appear, at firft view, to be hollow cartilaginous tubes,
and of the colour of mother-of-pearl. Thefe tubes are often feen to
unite with each other ; fome are perceived to open into the inteftines ;
and fome go to different parts of the furface of the body. That thefe
vefTels ferve to convey the air, appears evidently, from the famous
experiment of Malpighi ; who, by flopping up the mouths of the ftig-
mata with oil, quickly fuffocated the animal, which was feen to did
convulfed the in If ant after. In order to afcertain his theory, he rub-
bed oil upon other parts ot the infect's body, leaving the ftigmata free;
and this feemed to have no effect upon the animal's health, but it con-
tinued to move and eat as ufual : he rubbed oil on the ftigmata of one
fide, and the animal underwent a partial convulfion, but recovered
foon after. However it ought to be obferved, that air is not fo ne-
ceifary to thefe as to the nobler ranks of animals, fince caterpillars will
live in an exhaufted receiver for feveral days together; and though they
feem dead at the bottom, yet, when taken out, recover, and refume
their former vivacity.

If the caterpillar be cut open longitudinally along the back, its in-
teftines will be perceived running directly in a ftraight line from the
mouth to the anus. They refemble a number of fmall bags opening
into each other ; and ftrengthened on both fides by a flefhy cord, bv
Which they are united. Thefe infe&s are, upon many occanons, feen

t<*

7« NATURAL HISTORY.

to cad forth the internal coat of their inteftines with their food, in the
charges which they fo frequently undergo. But the inteftines take up
but a fmall part of the animal's, body, if compared to the fatty fub-
ftance in which they are involved. This fubftance changes its colour
■when the infecYs metamorphofis begins to approach ; and from white
it is ufually feen to become yellow. If to thefe parts, we add the ca-
terpillar's implements for fpinning, (for all caterpillars fpin at one
time or another) we fhall have a rude fketch of this animal's confor-
mation : however we fhall referve the defcription of thofe parts, till we
come to the hiftory of the filk-worm, where the manner in which thefe
infects fpin their webs, will moil properly find place.

The life of a caterpillar feems one continued fucceflion of changes ;
and it is feen to throw off one fkin only to affume another; which alfo
is diverted in its turn : and thus for eight or ten times iucceffively.
We mult not, however, confound this changing of the fkin with the
great metamorphofis which it is afterwards to undergo. The throw-
ing off one fkin, and affuming another, feems, in comparifon, but a
flight operation among thefe animals : this is but the work of a day ;
the other is the great adventure of their lives. Indeed, this faculty of
changing the fkin, is not peculiar to caterpillars only, but is common
to all the infect kind; and even to fome animals that claim a higher tank
in Nature. We have already feen the lobfter and the crab out- grow-
ing their firft fhells, and then burfting from their confinement, in order
to affume a covering more roomy and convenient. It is probable that
the loufe, the flea, and the fpider, change their covering from the
fame neceffity ; and growing too large for the cruft in which they have
been for fome time inclofed, burft it for another. This period is pro-
bably that of their growth ; for as foon as their new fkin is hardened
round them, the animal's growth is neceffarily circumfcribed, while it
remains within it. With refpecT: to caterpillars, many of them change
their fkins five or fix times in a feafon ; and this covering, when caft
off, often feems fo complete, that many might mi (take the empty
fkin for the real infect. Among the hairy caterpillars, for in fiance,
the call fkin is covered with hair ; the feet, as well griftly as mem-
braneous, remain fixed to it ; even the parts which nothing but a mi-
crofcope can difcover, are vifible in it ; in fhort, all the parts of the
head ; not only the fkull but the teeth.

In proportion as the time approaches in which the caterpillar is to
caft its old fkin, its colours become more feeble, the fkin feems to wither
and grow dry, and in fome meafure refembles a leaf, when it is no
longer fupplied with moifture from the flock. At that time, the infect
begins to find itfelf under a neceffity of changing ; and it is not effect-
ed without violent labour, and perhaps pain. A day or two before
the critical hour approaches, the infect ceafes to eat, lofes its ufual ac-
tivity, and feems to reft immoveable. It feeks fome place to remain
jn fecurity ; ar.d no longer timorous, feems regardlefs even of the
touch. It is now and then feen to bend itfelf and elevate its back ;
again it ftretches to its utmoft extent ; it fometimes lifts up the head,
and then lets it fall again ; it fometimes waves at three or four times
from fide to fide, and then remains in quiet. At length, fome of the
rings of its body, particularly the firft and fecond, are feen to fwell
confiderably, the old fkin diftends and burfts, till, by repeated fwell-

' NATURAL HISTORY. fj

trigs and contractions in every ring, the animal difengages itfelf, and!
creeps from its inconvenient covering.

How laborious foever this operation may be, it is performed in the
fpace of a minute ; and the animal, having thrown off its old (kin, feem9
to enjoy new vigour, as well as to have acquired colouring and beauty.
Sometimes it happens that it takes a new appearance and colours very
different from the old. Thofe that are hairy, {till preferve their cover-
ing ; although their ancient fkin feems not to have loft a fingle hair :
«very hair appears to have been drawn, like a fword from the fcabbard,
However the fact is, that a new crop of hair grows between the old
fkin and the new, and probably helps to throw off the external covering.

The caterpillar having in this manner continued for feveral days
feeding, and at intervals calling its fkin, begins at laft to prepare for
its change into an aurelia. It is mod probable that, from the begin*
ning, all the parts of the butterfly lay hid in this infedt, in its reptile
ftate ; but it required time to bring them to perfection ; and a large
quantity of food, to enable the animal to undergo all the changes re-
quifite for throwing off thefe fkins, which feemed to clog the butterfly
form. However, when the caterpillar has fed fufheiently, and the
parts of the future butterfly have formed themfelves beneath its fkin>
it is then time for it to make its fir It, great, and principal change into
an aurelia, or a cryfalis, as fome have chofen to call it ; duting which,
as was obferved, it feems to remain for feveral days, or even months,
without life or motion.

Preparatory to this important change, the caterpillar moft ufually
quits the- plant, or the tree on which it fed ; or at leaft attaches itfelf
to the (talk or the ftem, more gladly than the leaves. It forfakes its
food, and prepares, by falling, to undergo its tranfmutation. In this
period, all the food it has taken is thoroughly digefted ; and it often
Toids even the internal membrane which lined its inteftines. Some of
this tribe, at this period alfo, are feen entirely to change colour ; and
the vivacity of the tints, in all, feems faded. Thofe of them which are
capable of fpinning themfelves a web, fet about this operation ; thofe
which have already fpun, await the change in the h*ft manner they are
able. The web or cone, with which fome cover themfelves, hides the
aurelia contained within from the view ; but in others, where it is more
tranfparent, the caterpillar, when it has done fpinning, ftrikes into it
the claws of the two feet under the tail, and afterwards forces in the
tail itfelf, by contracting thofe claws, and violently linking the feet one
againft the other. If, however, they be taken from their web at this5
time, they appear in a ftate of great languor ; and, incapable of walk-
ing, remain on that fpot where they are placed. In this condition they
remain one or two days, preparing to change into an aurelia ; fome-
what in the manner they made preparations for changing their fkin.
They then appear with their bodies bent into a bow, which they now
and then are feen to ftraighten : they make no ufe of their legs ; but if
they attempt to change place, do it by the contortions of their body,
In proportion as their change into an aurelia approaches, their body
becomes more and more bent; while their extenfions and convulfive'
contractions become more frequent. The hinder end of the body is;
the part which the animal firft difengages from its caterpillar fkin ; that
part of the fkin remains empty, while the body is drawn up contracled-

7* NATURAL HISTORY.

ly towards the head. In the fame manner they difengage themfervetf
from the two fucceeding rings ; fo that the animal is then lodged en»
tirely in the fore part of its caterpillar covering : that half which is
abandoned, remains flaccid and empty ; while the fore part, on the
contrary, is fwollen and dillended. The animal, having thus quitted
the hinder part of its fkin, to drive itfelf up into the fore part, (till
continues to heave and work as before ; fo that the feu!' is ibon feen
to burtl into three pieces, and a longitudinal opening is made in the
three firft rings of the body, through which the infect thrufts forth its
jiaked body with ftrong efforts. Thus at laft it entirely gets free from
its caterpillar fkin, and for ever forfakes its molt odious reptile form.

The caterpillar, thus dripped of its fkin for the laft time, is now be-
come an aurelia ; in which the parts of the future butterfly are all vi-
fible ; but in fo foft a ftate, that the fmalleft touch can difcompofe
them. The animal is now become helplefs and motionlefs ; but only-
waits for the afliftance of the air to dry up the moifture on its furface,
and fupply it with a cruft capable of refilling external injuries. Im-
mediately after being (tripped of its caterpillar fkin, it is of a green
colour, especially in thofe parts, which are diftended by an extraordi-
nary afflux of animal moifture ; but in ten or twelve hours after being
thus expofed, its parts harden, the air forms its external covering into
a firm cruft, and in about four and twenty hours, the aurelia may be
handled without endangering the little animal that is thus left in fo de-
fencelefs a iituation. Such is the hiftory of the little pod or cone that
is found fo common by every pathway, flicking to nettles, and fome-
times mining like polifhed gold. From the beautiful and resplendent
colour, with which it is thus fometimes adorned, fome authors have
called it a Chryfalis, implying a creature made of gold.

Such are the efforts by which thefe little animals prepare for a ftate
of perfection ; but their care is ftill greater to provide themfelves a fe-
cure retreat, during this feafon of their imbecility. It would feem like
erecting themfelves a monument, where they were to reft fecure, until
Nature had called them into a new and more improved exiftence. For
this purpofe, fome fbin themfelves a cone or web, in which they he fecure
till they have arrived at maturity : others, that cannot fpin fo copious
a covering, fufpend themfelves by the tail, in fome retreat where they
are not likely to meet disturbances. Some mix fand with their gummy
and moift webs, and thus make themfelves a fecure ineruftation ; while
others, before their change, bury themfelves in the ground, and thus
avoid the numerous dangers that might attend them. One would
imagine that they were confeious of the precife time of their continu-
ance in their aurelia ftate ; fince their little fepulchres, with reipect ta
the folidity of the building, are proportioned to fuch duration. Thofe
that are to lie in that ftate of exiftence but a few days, make choice of
fome tender leaf, which they render (till more pliant by diffufiHg a kind
•f glue upon it : the leaf thus gradually curls up, and withering as it
enfolds, the infect wraps itfelf within, as in a mantle, till the genial
warmth of the fun enables it to ftruggle for new life, and burft from
Jts confinement. Others, whofe time of transformation is alfo near at
hanu, fallen their tails to a tree, or to the firft worm hole they meet,
in a beam, and wait in that defencelefs fituation. Such caterpillars»
ta the other hand, are feen to lie feveral months in their aurelia ftate,

am

NATURAL HISTORY. j5

&« with much greater circumfpection. Moft of them mix their web
with fand, and thus make themfelves a ftrong covering : others build
in wood, which ferves them in the nature of a coffin. Such as have
made the* leaves of willows their favourite food, break the tender twigs
of them firft into imall pieces, then pound them as it were to powder ;
and, by means of their glutinous (ilk, make a kind of pafte, in which
they wrap themfelves up. Many are the forms which thefe animals
affume in this helplefs ftate; and it often happens, that the molt- de-
formed butterflies iffue from the moft beautiful aurelias.

In generalj however, the aurelia takes the rude outline of the parts
of the animal which is contained within it ; but as to the various
colours which it is feen to affume, they are rather the effect of accident -
for the fame fpecies of infect does not at all times affume the fame hue
when it becomes an aurelia. Tn fome, the beautiful gold colour is at
one time found 5 in others, it is wanting. This brilliant hue, which
does not fall fhort of the beft gilding, is formed in the fame manner
in which we fee leather obtain a gold colour, though none of that me-
tal ever enters into the tincture. It is only formed by a beautiful
brown varnifh, laid upon a white ground ; and the white thus gleam-
ing through the tranfparency of the brown, gives a charming golden
yellow. fhefe two colours are found, one over the other, in the au-
relia of the little animal we are defcribing ; and the whole appears gild-
ed, without any real gilding.

The aurelia thus formed, and left to time to expand into a butterfly
in fome meafure refembles an animal in an egg, that is to wait for ex-
ternal warmth to hatch it into life and vigour. As the quantity of
moifture that is enclofed within the covering of the aurelia, continues
to keep its body in the moft tender ftate, fo it is requifite that this hu-
midity fhould be dried away, before the little butterfly can burft its
prifon. Many have been the experiments to prove that Nature may in
this refpect be affifted by art ; and that the life of the infect may be re-
tarded or quickened, without doing it the fmalleft injury. For this
purpofe, it is only requifite to continue the infect in its aurelia ftate, by
preventing the evaporation of its humidity ; which will confequently
add fome days, nay weeks, to its life : on the other hand, by eva-
porating its moifture, in a warm fituation, the animal affumes its
winged ftate before its ufual time, and goes through the offices atfigned
its exiftence. To prove this, Mr Reaumur enclofed the aurelia in a
glafs tube ; and found the evaporated water, which exhaled from the
body of the infect, collected in drops at the bottom of the tube : he
covered the aurelia with varnifh ; and this making the evaporation
more difficult and flow, the butterfly was two months longer than its
natural term, in coming out of its cafe : he found, on the other hand,
that by laying the animal in a warm room, he haftened the difclofure
of the butterfly j and by keeping it in an ice-houfe in the fame manner,
he delayed it. Warmth acted, in this cafe, in a double capacity ; in-
vigorating the animal, and evaporating the moifture.

The aurelia, though it bears a different external appearance, never-
thelefs contains within it all the parts of the butterfly in perfect forma-
tion ; and lying each in a very orderly manner, though in the fmalleft;
compafs. Thefe, however, are fo faft and tender, that it is fmpoffible
to vifit without difcompoflng them. When either by warmth, or in-

K creaftngj

74 NATURAL HISTORY.

creafmg vigour, the parts have acquired the neceiTary force and folidt-
ty, the butterfly then feeks to difembarrafs itfelf of thofe bar.ds which
kept it lb long in confinement. Some infers continue under the form
of an aurelia not above ten days ; fome twenty ; fome feveral months ;
and even for a year together.

The butterfly, however, does not continue fo long under the form
of an aurelia, as one would he apt to imagine. In general, thofe ca-
terpillars that provide themfelves with cones, continue within them but .
a few days after the cone is completely finilhed. Some, however, re-
main buried in this artificial covering for eight or nine months, with-
.out taking the fmalleft fuifenance dining the whole time : and chough
in the caterpillar ftate no animals were fo voracious, when thus trans-
formed, they appear a miracle of abllinence. In all, fooner or later,
the butterfly burlls from it* prifon ; not only that natural prifon which
4s formed by the ikin of the aurelia, but alfo from that artificial one of
filk, or any other fubftance in which it has enclofed itfelf.

The efforts which the butterfly makes to get free from its aurelia
ftate, are by no means fo violent as thofe which the infecl had in chan-
ging from the caterpillar into the aurelia. The quantity of moifture
furrounding the butteifly is by no means fo great as that attending its
former change; and the ihell of the aurelia is fo dry, that it may be
.cracked between the fingers.

If the animal be fhut up within a cone, the butterfly always gets ricl
of the natural internal ikin of the aurelia, before it eats its way through
•the external covering which its own induftry has formed round it. In
order to obferve the manner in which it thus gets rid of the aurelia
covering, we muir. cut open the cone, and then we ihall have an oppor-
tunity of difcovering the infect's efforts to emancipate itfelf from its
natural fhell. When this operation begins, there feems to be a violent
agitation in the humours contained within the little animal's body. Its
fluids feem driven, by an hafty fermentation, through all the veffels ;
while it labours violently with its legs, and makes feveral other violent
ftru^gles to get free. As all the fe motions concur with the growth of
the infecVs wings and body, it is impofllble that the brittle flan which
covers it fliould longer refift : it at length gives way, by burlting into
four diftincl and regular pieces. The fkin of the head and legs firli
feparates ; then the Ikin at the back flies open, and dividing into two
regular portions, difengages the back and wings : then there likewife
happens another rupture in that portion which covered the rings of the
back of the aurelia. After irhis, the butterfly, as if fatigued with its
ftruggles, remains very quiet for fome time, with its wings pointed
downwards, and its legs fixed in the ikin which it had juit thrown off.
At firft fight the animal, juft fet free, and permitted the future ufe of
its wings, feems to want them entirely : they take up fuch little room,
that one would wonder where they were hidden. But foon after, they
expand fo rapidly, that the eye can fcarce actend their unfolding.
From reaching fcarce half the length of the body, they acquire, in a
mo A wonderful manner, their full extent and bignefs, fo as to be each
five times larger than they were before. Nor is it the wings alone that
are .thus increafed : all their fpots and paintings, before fo minute as
to be fcarce difcernible, are proportionably extended ; fo that, what a
few minutes before feemed only a number of confufed, unmeaning

points5

NATURAL HISTORY. ~r

points, now become diftindt and mod beautiful ornament?. Nor are
the wings, when they are thus expanded, unfolded in the manner in
which earwigs and grafshoppers difplay theirs, who unfurl them like a
lady's fan: on the contrary, thole of butterflies actually grow to their
natural fize in this very fhort fpace. The wing, at the inftant it is freed
from its late confinement, is confiderably thicker than afterward*; ; fo
that it fpreads in all its dimenfions, growing thinner as it becoa.es
broader. If one of the wings be plucked from the animal juft fet free,
it may be fpread by the fingers, and it will foon become as broad as
the other, which has been left behind. As 'the wings extend them-
felves fo fuddenly, they have not yet had time to dry ; and accordingly
appear like pieces of wet paper, foft, and full of wrinkles. In about
half an hour, they are perfectly dry, their wrinkles entirely difappear,
and the little animal afiumes all its fplendour. The tranfmutation be-
ing thus perfectly finifhed, the butterfly difcharges three or four drops
of a blood-coloured liquid, which are the la ft remains of its fuperfluous
moifture. Thofe aurelias which are enclofed within a cone, find their
exit more difficult, as they have ftill another prifon to break through :
this, however, they perform in a fhort time ; for the butterfly, freed
from its aurelia fkin, butts with its head violently againft the walls of
its artificial prifon ; and probably with its eyes, that are rough and like
a file, it rubs the internal furface away ; till it is at laft feen burfting
its way into open light ; and, in lefs than a quarter of an hour, the
animal acquires its full perfection.

Thus, to ufe the words of Swammerdam, we fee a little infignifi-
cant creature diftinguifhed, in its laft birth, with qualifications and or-
naments, which man, during his ftay upon earth, can never even hope
to acquire. The butterfly, to enjoy life, needs no other food but the
dews of Heaven ; and the honeyed juices which are diftilled from every
flower. The pageantry of princes cannot equal the ornaments with
which it is invefted ; nor the rich colouring that embellifhes its wings.
The ikies are the butterfly's proper habitation, and the air its element:
whiift man comes into the world naked, and often roves about without
habitation or fhelter ; expofed, on one hand, to the heat of the fun;
and, on the other, to the damps and exhalations of the earth ; both
alike enemies of his happinefs and exiftence. — A ftrong proof that,
while this little animal is railed to its greatelt height, we are as yet, in
this world, only candidates for perfection !

It has been already fnewn that all Butterflies are bred from caterpil-
lars ; and we have exhibited the various circumftances of that furprifmg
change. It has been remarked, that butterflies may be eafily diftin-
guifhed from flies of every other kind, by their wings ; for, in others,
they are either tranfparent, like gauze, as we fee in the common flefh
fly ; or they are hard and crufted, as we fee the wings of the beetle.
But in the butterfly, the wings are foft, opake, and painted over with
a beautiful dull, that comes off with handling.

The number of thefe beautiful animals is very great ; and though
Linr.asus has reckoned up above feven hundred and iixty different kinds,
the catalogue is ftill very incomplete. Every collector of butterflies
can fhew undefcribed fpecies : and fuch'as are fond of minute difcovery,
can here produce animals that have been examined only by himfelf. '
in general, however, thofe of the warm climates, are larger and more

K 2 beautiful

76 NATURAL HISTORY.

beautiful than fuch as are bred at home ; and we can eafily admit tha
beauty of the butterfly, fince we are thus freed from the damage of the
caterpillar. It has been the amufement of fome to collect thefe animals,
i'rom different parts of the world ; or to breed them from caterpillars
at home. Thefe they arrange in fyftematic order ; or difpofe fo as to
make ftriking and agreeable pictures ; and all muft grant, that this
fpecious idler.eis is far preferable to that unhappy Slate which is pro-
duced by a total want of employment.

The wings of butterflies, as was obferved, fully diftinguifh them
from flies of every other kind. They are four in number; and though
two of them be cut off, the animal can fly with the two others remain-
ing. They are, in their own fubftance, tranfparent; but owe their opa-
city to the beautiful duft with which they are covered ; and which has
been likened, by fome naturalifts, to the feathers of birds ; by others,
to the Scales of fillies ; as their imaginations were difpofed to catch the
reiemblance. In fael, if we regard the wing of a butterfly with a good
micr' fcope, we fhall perceive it ftudded over with a variety ot little
grains of different dimensions and forms, generally Supported upon a
loot ftalk, regularly laid upon the whole fur face. Nothing can exceed
the beautiful and regular arrangement of thefe little fubltances : which
thus Serve to paint the butterfly's wing, like the tiles of an houfe.
Thofe of one rank are a little covered by thofe that follow : they arc
of manv figures : on one part of the wing may be feen a fucceffion of
oval ftuds ; on another part, a duller of Studs, each in the form of ari
heart: in one place they referable a hand open ; and in another they
are long or triangular; while all are interfperfed with taller ftuds, that
grow between the reft like mufhrooms upon a ftalk. The wing itfelf is
Crmpofed of feveral thick nerves, which render the conftruclion very
flrong, though light ; and though it be covered over with thoufands of
thefe fcales or ftuds, yet its weight is very little increafed by the num-
ber. The animal is with eafe enabled to Support itfelf a long while in
air, although its flight be not very graceful. When it defigns to fly to
a confiderable diftance, it afcends and defcends alternately ; going
ibmetimes to the right, fometimes to the lelt, without any appaient
Tenfon. Upon clofer examination, however, it will be found that it
fiies thus irregularly in purfuit of its. mate; and as dogs bait and quar-
ter the ground in purfuit of their game, So thefe infecls traverfe the air,
in queft of their mates whom they can discover at more than a mile's
diitance.

If we profecute our defcription of the butterfly, the animal may be
divided into three parts ; the head, the corfelet, and the body.

The body is the hinder part of the butterfly, and is compofed of
rings, which are generally concealed under long hair, with which that
part of the animal is clnthed. The corfelet is more folid than the reft
of the body, becaufe the fore wings, and the legs are fixed therein.
The legs are Six in number, although four only are made ufe of by the
animal ; the two fore legs being often fo much concealed in the long
hair of the body, that it is fometimes difficult to discover them. If
■we examine thele parts internally, we Shall find the fame fet of veffels
in the butterfly that we obferved in the caterpillar, but with this great
difference, that as the blood, or humours, in the caterpillar, circulated
from the tail to the head, they are found, in the butterfly, to take a

diixA

NATURAL HISTORY. 77

direct contrary courfe, and to circulate from the head to the tail ; fo
that the caterpillar may be cnfidered as the embryo animal, in which,
as we have formerly feen, the circulation is carried on differently from
what it is in animals when excluded.

But leaving the other parts of the butterfly, let us turn our atten-
tion particularly to the head. The eyes of butterflies have not all the
Tame torm ; for in ibme they are large, in others fmall ; in fome they
are the larger portion of a fphere, in others they are but a fmall part
of it, and jult appearing from the head. In all of them, however,
the outward coat has a luftre, in which may be difcovered the various
colour: of the rainbow. When examined a little clofely, it will be
found to have the appearance of a multiplying glafs ; having a great
number of fides, or facets, in the manner of a brilliant cut diamond.
In this particular, the eye of the butterfly, and of molt other infects,
entirely correfpond ; and Luenhoek pretends, there are above fix thou-
fand facets on the cornea of a flea. Thefe animals, therefore, fee not
only with great clearneis ; but view every object multiplied in a fur-
prifing manner. Puget adapted the cornea of a flea in iuch a polition,
as to fee objects through it by the means of a microfcope ; and nothing
could exceed the ftrange efs of its reprefentations : a foldier, who was
feen through it, appeared like an army of pigmies ; for while it mul-
tiplied, it alfo diminilhed the object : the arch of a bridge exhibited
a fpectacle more magnificent than human {kill could perform ; the
flame of a candle feemed a beautiful illumination. It ftill, however,
remains a doubt, whether the infect fees objects fingly, as with one
eye ; or whether every facet is itfelf a complete eye, exhibiting its own.
object diftinct from all the reft.

Butterflies, as well as moft other flying infects, have two inftruments,
like horns, on their heads which are commonly called feelers. They
differ from the horns of greater animals, in being moveable at their
bafe ; and having a great number of joints, by which means the infect
is enabled to turn them in every direction. Thofe of butterflies are pla-
ced at the top of the head, pretty near the external edge of each eye.
What the ufe of thefe inllruments may be, which are thus formed with
fo much art, and by a Workman who does nothing without realon, is
as yet unknown to man. They may ferve to guard the eye; they may
be of ufe to clean it ; or they may be the organ of fome fenle which
we are ignorant of: but this is only explaining one difficulty by another.

We are not fo ignorant of the ufes of the trunk, which few infects of
the butterfly kind are without. This inftrument is placed exactly be-
tween the e>es; and when the animal is not employed in feeking its
nouriihment, it is rolled up, like a curl. A butterfly, when it is feed-
ing, flies round fome flower, and lettles upon it. The trunk is then
uncurled, and thrult out either wholly or in part; and is employed in
fearching the flower to its very bottom, let it be ever fo deep. This
fearch being repeated feven or eight times, the butterfly then pafles to
another ; and continues to hover over thofe agreeable to its taite, like
a bird over its prey. This trunk confifts of two equal hollow tubesg
nicely joined to each other, like the pipes of an organ.

Such is the figure and conformation of thefe beautiful infects, that
cheer our walks, and give us the earlieft intimations of fummer. But
\t is not by day alone that they are feen fluttering wantonly from flower

W

3$ NATURAL HISTORY.

to flower, as the greareft number of them fly by night, and expand
the molt beautiful colouring, at thofe hours when there is no fpectator.
This tribe of infects has therefore been divided into Diurnal and Noctur-
nal Flies; or, more properly fpeaking, into Butterflies and Moths:
the one only flying by day, the other moft ufiially on the wing in the
night. they may be ealily diftinguilhed from each other, by their
horns or fetors: thofe of the butterfly being clubbed, or knobbed at*,
the end ; thofe of the moth, tapering finer and finer toa' point. To
exprefs it technically — the feelers of the butterflies are clavated ; thofe
•of moths, are filiform.

The butterflies, as well as the moths, employ the fhort life affigned
them, in a variety of enjoyments. Their whole time is fpent either in
<jueit of food, which every flower offers ; or in purfuit of the female,
whofe approach they can often perceive at a very great diflance. Their
fagacity in this particular is not lefs alfonifning than true; but by what
fenfe they are thus capable of diflinguiihing each other at fuch diftan-
ces, is not eafy to conceive. It cannot be by the fight, fince fuch fmall
objects as they are muft be utterly imperceptible, at half the diflance
at which they perceive each other : it can fcarcely be by the fenfe of
imelling, fince the animal has no organs for that purpofe. Whatever
be their powers of perception, certain it is, that the male, after ha-
ving fluttered, as if carelefsly, about for fome time, is feen to take
wing, and go forward, fometimes for two miles together, in a direct
line to where the female is perched on a flower.

The general rule among infects is, that the female is larger than the
male ; and this obtains particularly in the tribe I am defcribing. The
body of the male is fmalier and flenderer ; that of the female, more
thick and oval. Previous to the junction of thefe animals, they are
feen fporting in the air, purfuing and flying from each other, and pre-
paring, by a mock combat, for the more important bufinefs of their
jives. If they be difturbed while united, the female flies off with the
nwle on her back, who feems entirely paflive upon the occafion.

But the females of many moths and butterflies feem to have afl'umed
their airy form for no other reafon but to fecundate their eggs, and
lay them. They are not feen fluttering about in queft: of food, or a
mate: all that pailes, during their ftiort lives, is a junction with the
male of about half an hour ; after which they depofit their eggs, and
die, without taking any nourifhment, or feeking any. It may be ob-
ferved, however, that in all the females of this tribe, they are impreg-
nated by the male by one aperture, and lay their eggs by another.

The eggs of female butterflies are difpofed in the body like a bed of
chaplets ; which, when excluded, are ufually oval, and of a whitifh
colour : fome, however, are quite round ; and others flatted, like a .
turnip. The covering or fliell of the egg, though folid, is thin and
tranfparent ; and in proportion as the caterpillar grows within the egg,
the colours change, and are diltributed differently. The butterfly feems
very well inliructed by nature in its choice of the plant, or the leaf,
•where it fhall depofit its burthen. Each egg contains but one cater-
pillar ; and it is requisite that this little animal, when excluded, fhould
be near its peculiar provifion. The butterfly, therefore, is careful to
place her brood only upon thofe plants that afford good nourifhment
{q its pofterity. Though the little winged animal has been fed itfelf

ppoa

NATURAL HISTORY. fg

ttpon dew, or the honey of flowers, yet it makes choice for its younj*
of a different provision, and lays its eggs on the mod unfavoury plants.;
the rag-weed, the cabbage, or the nettle. Thus every butterfly chufe.-»
not the plant mod grateful to it in its winged itate j but fuch as it has
fed upon in its reptile form.

All the eggs of butte: flies are Attached to the leaves of the favourite
plant, by a fort of lize or glue ; where they continue, unobferved, un=>
l^i carefully fought . after. The eggs are ibmetimcs placed round
the tender ihoots of plants, in the form of bracelets, confifting of above
two hundred in each, and generally furrounding the (hoot, like a ring
upon a finger. Some butterflies fecure their eggs from the injuries
of air, by covering them with hair, plucked from their own bodies,
as birds fometimes are feen to make their neiis ; fo that their eggs are
thus kept warm, and alio entirely concealed.

All the tribe of fern ale moths lay their eggs a fliort time after they
leave the aurelia ; but there are many butterflies that flutter about the
whole fummer, and do not, yfhink of laying, till the winter begins to
warn them of their approaching end ; fome even continue the whole
winter in hollows of trets, and do not provide for pofterity until the
beginning of April, when they leave their retreats, depofit their eggs,
and die. Their eggs foon begin to feel the genial influence of the fea-
, fon : the little animals burft from them in their caterpillar ltate, to be-
come aurelias, and butterflies in their turn; and thus continue the
round of Nature.

Nature, though it has rendered fome animals furorilingly fruitful,,-
yet ever takes care to prevent their too great increafe. One fet of
creatures is generally oppofed to another: and thofe are chiefly the
molt prolific, that are, from their embecility, incapable of making any
effectual defence. The caterpillar has perhaps, of all other animalsr
the greatelt number of enemies ; and feems only lo exift, by its fur-
prifing fecundity. Some animals devour them by hundreds ; others,
more minute, yet more dangerous, mangle them in various ways : fo
that, how great foever their numbers may be, their deftroyers are in
equal proportion. Indeed, if we coniider the rpifchiefs thefe reptiles are
capable of occalioning, and the various damages we fuitain from their
infaliable rapacity, it is happy for the other ranks of Nature, that there
are thoufands of fifties, birds, and even infects, that live chiefly upon
caterpillars, and make them their moft favourite repait.

When we defcribed the little birds that live in our gardens, and
near our houfes, as deftructive neighbours, fufficient attention was not
paid to the fervices which they are frequently found to render us. I;;
has been proved, that a Angle fparrow and its mate, that have young
. ones, deftroy above three thoufand caterpillars in a week ; not to men-
tion feveral butterflies, in which numberlefs caterpillars are destroyed
in embryo. It is in puriuit of thefe reptiles that we are favoured with
the vifits of many of our moft beautiful fongliers ; that amufe us du-
ring their continuance and leave us when the caterpillars diiappear.

The maxim which has often been urged againii man, that he, of all
other animals;, is the only creature that is an enemy to his own kind,
and that the human fpecies only are found to deltroy each other, has
been adopted,, by perfons who never confidered the hiftory of infects.
Same of the caterpillar kind in particular, that feem fitted only to live

upon

96 NATURAL HISTORY.

Upon leaves and plants, will, however, eat each other ; and the ftrong-
eft will devour the weak, in preference to their vegetable food. That
which lives upon the oak, is found to leize any of its companion:.,
which it conveniently can, by the firft rings, and inflict a deadly wound :
it then feafts in tranquillity on its prey, and leaves nothing of the ani-
mal but the hufk.

But it is not from each other they have mod to fear, as in general
they are inoffenfive ; and many of this tribe are found to live in a kind
of fociety. Many kinds of flies lay their eggs either upon* or within
their bodies ; and as thefe turn into worms, the caterpillar is feen to nou-
rifh a fet of intedine enemies within its body, that mull fhortly"be its
dedruction : Nature having taught flies, as well as all other animals^
the lured methods of perpetuating their kind. — " Towards the end of
Auguft," fays Reaumur, " I perceived a little fly, of a beautiful gold
colour, bufily employed in the body of a large carerpillar, of that kind
which feeds upon cabbage. I gently feparated that part of the ic &i on
which thefe infects were placed, from the reft of the plant, and placed
it where 1 might obferve them more at my eafe. The fly wholly
taken up by the bufinefs in which it was employed, walked along the
caterpillar's body, now and then remaining fixed to a particular fpot*
"Upon this occafion, I perceived it every now and then dart a ding,
which it carried at the end of its tail, into the caterpillar's body, and
then drew it out again, to repeat the fame operation in another place.
It was not difficult for me to conjecture the bufinefs which engaged this
animal fo earneftly ; its whole aim was to depofit its eggs in the cater-
pillar's body ; which was to ferve as a proper retreat fnr bringing them
to perfection. The reptile thus rudely treated, feemed to hear ;tll very
patiently, only moving a little when ftung too deeply; which, how-
ever, the fly feemed entirely to difregard. I took p:irticuhr care to
feed this caterpillar ; which feemed to me to continue as voracious and
vigorous as any of the reft of this kind. In about ten or twelve days,
it changed into an aurelia, which feemed gradually to decline, and
died : upon examining its internal parts, the animal was entirely de-
voured by worms ; which, however, did not come to perfection, as it
is probable they had not enough to fuftain them within."

What the French philofopher perceived upon this occafion, is every
day to be feen in feveral of the larger kinds of caterpillars, whofe bodies
ferve as a neft to various flies, that very carefully depofit their eggs
within them. The large cabbage catterpillar is fo fubject to it* injuries
that, at certain feafons, it is much eafier to find them with than with-
out them. The ichneumon fly, as it is called, particularly infefis thefe
reptiles, and prevents their fecundity. This fly is of all others, the
mod formidable to infects of various kinds. The fpider, that deltroys
the ant, the moth, and the butterfly, yet often falls a prey to the ich-
neumon ; who purfues the robber to his retreat, and, defpifing his nets,
tears him in pieces, in the very labyrinth he has made. This infect,
as redoubtable as the little quadruped that deltroys the crocodile, has
received the farjjjj name ; and from its dedruction of the caterpillar
tribe, is probably more ferviceable to mankind. This infect, I fay,
makes the body of the caterpillar the place for depoliting its> eggs ; to
the number of ten, fifteen, or twenty. As they are laid in thofe
parts which are not mortal, the reptile ftill continues to live, and to

feed*

NATURAL HISTORY. 9,

jfced, mewing no figns of being incommoded by its new "-uefts. The
caterpillar changes its fkin ; and fomeiimes undergoes the great change
into an aurelia : but ftill the fatal intruders work within, and fecretly
devour its internal fubftance : foon after they are feen burftino- through
its fkin, and moving away, in order to fpin themlelves a covering, pre-
vious to their own little transformation. It is indeed aftonifhin^ fome-
times to fee the number of worms, and thofe pretty large, that thus
ittue from the body of a fingle caterpillar, and eat their way through
its fkin : but it is more extraordinary ftill, that they mould remain
within the body, devouring its entrails, without deftroying its life.
The truth is, they feem inftructed by Nature not to devour its vital parts %
for they are found to feed only upon that fatty fubftance which com-
pofes the largeft part of the caterpillar's body. When this furprifing
appearance was firft obferved, it was fuppofed that the animal thus
gave birth to a number of flies, different from itfelf ; and that the fame
caterpillar fometimes bred an ichneumon, and fometimes a butterfly ;
but it was not till after more careful inflection, it was difcovered, that the
ichneumon tribe were not the caterpillar's offspring, but its murderers.
Having before mentioned the damages inflicted by the caterpillar
tribe, we now come to an animal of this kind, that alone compenfates
for all the mifchief occafioned by the reft. This little creature, which
only works for itfelf, has been made of the utmoft'fervice to man ; and
fiirnifhes him with a covering more beautiful than any other animal
can fupply. We may declaim indeed againft the luxuries of the times,
when filk is fo generally worn ; but were fuch garments to fail, what
other arts could fupply their deficiency ?

Though filk was anciently brought in fmall quantities to Rome, yet it
was fo fcarce as to be fold for its weight in gold ; and was considered
as fuch a luxurious refinement in drefs, that it was infamous for a mart
to appear in habbits of which filk formed but half the compofition. It
was moft probably brought among them from the remoteft parts of the
Eaft ; fince it was, at the time of which I am fpeaking, fcarcely known
even in Perfia.

Nothing can be more remote from the truth, than the manner iff
which their hiftorians defcribe the animal by which filk is produced,,
Paufanius informs us, that filk came from the country of the Seres, a
people of Afiatic Scythia ; in which place an infect, as large as the
beetle, but in every other refpect refembling a fpider, was bred up for
that purpofe. They take great care, as he affures us, to feed and de-
fend it from the weather j as well during the fummer's heat, as the
rigours of winter. This infect, he obferves, makes its web with its
feet, of which it has eight in number. It is fed, for the fpace of four
years, upon a kind of pafte, prepared for it ; and at the beginning of
the fifth, it is fupplied with the leaves of the green willow, of which it
is particularly fond. It then feeds till it burfts with fat ; after which-
they take out. its bowels, which are fpun into the beautiful manufacture
fo fcarce and coftly.

The real hiftory of this animal was unknown among the Romans till
the times of Juftinian; and it is fuppofed, that filkworms were not
brought into Europe till the beginning of the twelfth century, when
Roger of Sicil) brought workmen in this manufacture from Afia Minor,-
»fter his return from his expedition to the Holy Land, and fettled then*

12 NATURAL HISTORY.

m Sicily and Calabria. From thefe the other kingdoms of Europe
learned this manufacture ; and it is now one of the moft lucrative car-
ried on among the fouthern provinces of Europe.

The filkworm is now very well known to be a large caterpillar, of a
whitiih colour, with twelve feet, and producing a butterfly of the moth
kind. The cone on whidi it fpins, is formed for covering it while it
continues in the aurelia ftate ; and feveral of thefe, properly wound off,
and united together, form thofe ftrong and beautiful threads, which
are woven into filk. The feeding thefe worms, the gathering, the
winding, the twifting, and the weaving their filk, is one of the princi-
pal manufactures of Europe ; and, as our luxuries increafe, feems every
day more and more neceffary to human happinefs.

There are two methods of breeding fiik-worms ; for they may be
left to grow, and remain at liberty upon the trees where they are hatch-
ed ; or they may be kept in a place built for that purpofe, and fed
every day with frefti leaves. The firft method is ufed in China, Ton-
ouin, and other hot countries ; the other is ufed in thofe places where
the animal has been artificially propagated, and ft ill continues a ftran-
ger. In the warm climates, the iilk worm proceeds from an egg,
which has been glued by the parent moth upon proper parts of the
mulberry-tree, and which remains in that fituation during the winter.
The manner in whidh they are fituated and fixed to the tree, keeps
them unaffeded by the influence of the weather ; fo that thofe frofts
which are fevere enough to kill the tree, have no power t» injure the
filkworm.

The infect never proceeds from the egg till Nature has provided it a,
fufficient i'upply ; and till the budding leaves are furnifhed, in fufficient
abundance, for its fupport. When the leaves are put forth, the worms
feem to feel the genial fummons, and burfting fiom their lictle eggs,
crawl upon the leaves, where they feed with a moft voracious appetite.
Thus they become larger by degrees ; and after fome months feeding,
they lay, upon every leaf, fmall bundles, or cones of filk, which ap-
pear like fo many golden apples, painted on a fine green ground. Such
is the method of breeding them in the Eaft : and without doubt it is
beft for the worms, and leaft troublefome for the feeder of them. But
it is otherwife in our colder European climates ; the frequent changes
of the weather, and the heavy dews of our evenings, render the keep-
ing them all night expofed, lubject to fo.many inconveniences, as to
admit of no remedy. It is true, that by the afiiftance of nets, they
may be preferved from the infults of birds ; but the fevere cold wea-
ther, which often fucceeds the firft heats of fummer, as well as the rain
and high winds, will deftroy them all ; and, therefore, to breed them in
Europe, they mull be iheltered and protected from every external injury.
For this purpofe, a room is chofen, with a fouth afpedl; and the
windows are fo well glazed, as not to admit the leaft air : the walls
are well built, and the planks of the floor exceeding clofe, fo as to ad-
mit neither birds nOr mice, nor even fo much as an infect. In the
middle theie ihould be four pillars erected, or four wooden pofts, fo
•alaced as to form a pretty large fquare. Between thefe are different
Itories made with ofier hurdles ; and under each hurdle there fhould be
a floor, with an upright border all round. Thefe hurdles and floors
aiu;i hang upon pullies, fo as to be placed, or taken down at pleafure.

When

NATURAL HISTORY. . %$

When the worms are hatched, fome tender mulberry leaves are pro-
vided, and placed in the cloth or paper box in which the eggs were
laid, and which are large enough to hold a great number. When they
have acquired ibme ftrength, they mull; be diftributed on beds of mul-
berry leaves, in the different ftories of the fquare in the middle of the
room, round which a perfon may freely pafs on every fide. They will
fix themfelves to the leaves, and afterwards to the flicks of the hurdles,
when the leaves are devoured. They have then a thread-, by which
they can fufpend themfelves on occafion, to prevent any fhock by a fall ;
but this is by no means to be confidered, as the filk which they
fpin afterwards in fuch abundance. Care muft be taken that frelh
leaves be brought every morning, which muft be ftrewed very gently
and equally over them ; upon which the filk worms will forfake the
remainder of the eld leaves, which muft be carefully taken away, and
every thing kept very clean ; for nothing hurts thefe infects fo much as
znoilture and uncleanlinefs. For this reafon their leaves muft be
gathered when the weather is dry, and kept in a dry place, if it be ne-
.cefTary to lay in ftore. As thefe animals have but a iiiort time to live,
they make ufe of every moment, and almoft continually are fpinning,
except at thofe intervals when they change their lkins. If mulberry
leaves be difficult to be obtained, the leaves of. lettuce or holyoak will
fuftain them ; but they do not thrive fo well upon their new diet; and
their filk will neither be fo copious, nor of fo good a quality.

Though the judicious choice, and careful management of their diet,
is abfolutely neceilary, yet there is another precaution of equal impor-
tance, which is to give them air, and open their chamber windows, at
fuch times as the fun fhines warmed. The place alfo muft be kept as
clean as poflible ; not only the feveral floors that are laid to receive
their ordure, but the whole apartments in general. Thefe things well
obferved, contribute greatly to their health and increafe.

The worm, at the time it burfts the died, is extremely fmall, and of
a black colour ; but the head is of a more fhining black than the reft of
the body : fome days after, they begin to turn whitifh, or of an afh-
coloured grey. After the fkih begins to grow too rigid, or the animal
is ftinted within it, the infect throws it off, and appears clothed a-new :
it then becomes larger and much whiter, though it has a greenifh caft :
after fome days, which are more or lefs, according to the different heat
of the climate, or to the quality of the food, it leaves off eating, and
feems to deep for two days together : then it begins to ftir, and put
itfelf into violent motions, till the fkin fall off the fecond time, and is
thrown aflde by the animal's feet. All thefe changes are made in three
weeks or a month's time ; after which it begins to feed once more, ftill
in its caterpillar form, but a good deal differing from itfelf before its
change. In a few days' time it feems to deep again ; and, when it:
awakes, it again changes its clothing, and continues feeding as before.
When it has thus taken a fufficiency of food, and its parts are difpofed
for affuming the aurelia form, the animal forfakes for the laft time, all
food and fociety, and prepares itfelf a retreat to defend it from exter-
nal injuries, while it is feemingly deprived of life and motion.

This retreat is no other than its cone, or ball of filk, which Nature
J14S taught it to compoie with great art ; and within which it buries

L z itfelf,

g4 NATURAL HISTORY.

Itfelf, till it affumes its winged form. This cone or ball is fpun from
two 'little longifh kinds of bags that lie above the interlines, and
are filled with a gummy fluid, of a marigold colour. This is the
fubflance of which the threads are formed; and the little animal
is furnilhed with a furprifing apparatus for fpinning it to the degree of
finenefs which its occafions may require. This inftrument in fome
xneafure refembles a wire-drawer's machine, in which gold or filver
threads are drawn to any degree of minutenefs ; and through this the
animal draws its thread with great affiduity. As every thread proceeds
from two gum bags, it is probable that each fupplies its own ; which,
however, are united, as they proceed from the animal's body. If we
examine the thread with a microfcope, it will be found that it is flatted
on one fide, and groved along its length : from hence we may infer,
that it is doubled juft upon leaving the body; and that the two threads
flick to each other by that gummy quality of which they are poileffed.
Previous to fpinning its web, the filkworm feeks out fome convenient
place to erect its cell, without any obftruction. When it has found a
leaf, or a chink fitted to its purpofe, it begins to wreathe its head in
every direction, and fattens its thread on every fide to the fides of its
retreat. Though all its firft eiTays feem perfectly confuted, yet they
are not altogether without defign : there appears indeed, no order or
contrivance in the difpofal of its firft threads ; they are by no means
laid artfully over each other, but are thrown out at random, to fervp
as an external flielter againft rain ; for Nature having appointed the
animal to work upon trees in the open air, its habits remain, though it
is brought up in a warm apartment.

Malphigi pretends to have obferved fix different layers in a fingle
cone of filk: but what eafily may be obferved is, that it is compofed exter-
nally of a kind of rough cotton-like fubftance, which is called flofs ; within
the thread is more diftinct and even ; and next the body of the aurelia.,
the apartment feems lined with a fubflance of the hardnefs of paper,
but of a much ftronger confidence. It muft not be fuppofed, that the
thread which goes to compofe the cone, is rolled round, as we roll a.
bottom ; on the contrary, it lies upon it in a very irregular manner,
and winds off now from one fide of the cone, and then from the other.
This whole thread, if meafured, will be found about three hundred
yards long ; and fo very fine, that eight or ten of them are generally
rolled off into one by the manufacturers. The cone, when completed,
is in form like a pigeon's egg, and more pointed at one end than the
other ; at the fmaller end, the head of the aurelia is generally found ;
and this is the place that the infect, when converted into a moth, is
generally feen to burft through.

It is generally a fortnight or three weeks before the aurelia is chan-
ged into a moth ; but no fooner is the winged infect completely form-
ed, than having divefted itfelf of its aurelia fkin, it prepares to burft
through its cone, or outward prifon : for this purpofe it extends its
head towards the point of the cone, butts with its eyes, which are
rough, againft the lining of its cell, wears it away, and at laft pufhes
forward, through a paflage which is fmall at firft, but which enlarges
as the animal increases its efforts for emancipation ; while the tattered
remnants of its aurelia fkin lie in confufion within the cone, like a bun?
die of dirty linen.

NATURAL HISTORY. 8$

The animal, when thus fet free from its double confinement, ap-
pears exhaufted with fatigue, and feems produced for no other purpoie
but to tranfmit a future brood. It neither flies nor eats ; the male only
feeking the female, whofe eggs he impregnates ; and their union con-
tinues for four days, without interruption. The male dies immediately
after feparation from his mate ; and fhe furvives him only till (he has
laid her eggs, which are not hatched into worms till the enfuing fpring.

However, there are few of thefe animals fuffered to come to a ftate
pf maturity ; for as their burfting through the cone deltroys the nlk,
the manufacturers take care to kill the aurelia, by expofing it to the
fun, before the moth comes to perfection. This done, they take off the
fiofs, and throw the cones into warm water, flirring them till the firft
thread offers them a clue for winding all off. They generally take
eight of the filken threads together; the cones ft ill kept under water,
till a proper quantity of the filk is wound off: however, they do not
take all ; for the latter parts grow weak, and are of a bad colour. As
to the paper-like fubflance which remains, fome ftain it with a variety
of colours, to make artificial flowers, others let it lie in the water, till
the glutinous matter which cements it is all diifolved : it is then carded
like wool, fpun with a wheel, and converted into filk fluffs of an infe-
rior kind.

CHAP. VI.

OF FLY INSECTS WITH FOUR MEMBRANACEOUS WINGS.

THE Tenthredo is diftinguifhed from others of this kind, by the
female having a ferrated weapon or fting at the tail, and the
worm from which it proceeds, has feveral feet. Linnaus diftinguifhes
them into that clavated with feelers ; that of the willow- tree ; that of
the poplar-tree; that of fig-wort; that of the rofe ; and that of the
birds cherry-tree.

The black Tenthredo with clavated feelers, is nearly of the fize of a
Hornet, and the body is black and hairy, only the third, fourth, and
fifth joints, are of an iron-grey. The wings are thin and tranfparent,
and the legs black, but the feet are yellow within, and the feelers are
yellow, except at the loweft joint, which is black. There are a few
dark grey nerves in the wings, and the wings themfelves are of a brown-
ifh tincture towards the outer edge. The worm it proceeds from, is
fmooth and green, only there is a black lift down the back, edged with
yellow ; it has twenty-eight legs, and often rolls itfelf up.

The black Tenthredo with feelers that have eleven joints, is of the
fize of a common Flie, and the wings have feveral veins ; there are
two black fpots, on the uppermoft of which, that neareft the bread, is
in the ftiape of a half moon, but the other is round, and near it, to-
wards the top, there is one that is white.

The yellow- legged Tenthredo is not much larger than a Flea, though
the flender feelers are ccxrtpofed of ten joints. The head and break are

below,

56 NATURAL HISTORY.

black, and bunched, and the body is of an oval fhape, of an Iron-grey
below, and black towards the vent: the wings are larger than the body,
Of a whitifh colour, and without fpots.
The Other fpecies of the Tenlhredo are,

1. The black Tenlhredo with clavated feelers, an oval body, and iron-
grey wings.

2. The black Tenthredo- whh iion grey legs, and a fmall horn at the

vent.

3. The black Tenthredo with iron-grey legs, and a deprefled fharp

point at the vent.

4. The Tenthredo with feelers confifting of feven joints, with a yel-
low body, with the head and middle of the breaft black ; as alfo an
oval fpot on the wings.

5. The Tenthredo with feelers confiding of feven joints, and a yellow
body, but black on the hinder part.

6. The Tenthredo with feelers confifting of feven joints, and a yellow
body, and a black ftreak on the wings.

7. The yellow Tenthredo with an iron-grey fpot on each wing.

8. The black Tenthredo with yellow legs, and yellow marks on the

breaft.

9. The black Tenthredo with ftiort feelers.

10. The Tenthredo of the willow, which proceeds from a worm of z,
blueiflvgreen, and has the breaft and tail yellow.

n. The black Tenthredo with feelers that confift of feven joints, and
has the edges almoft, and the fegments of the body, yellow.

12. The Tenthredo with feelers confifting of feven joints, and a black
back, marked with pale, trar.fverfe, crooked lines.

13. The Tenthredo with feelers confifting of eighteen joints, and iron-
rrey legs, the hinder part being variegated with black and white.

14. The Tenthredo with black feelers, confifting of twelve joints, and
the body is of an iron-grey below, and the legs yellow.

15. The Tenthredo with a braffy green breaft, and the body of a gold
yellow colour.

1 6. The braffy-blue Tenthredo with legs of a pale colour.

17. The black Tenthredo with the upper part of the breaft greenifh,
gnd the legs proper for hopping.

1 8. The Tenthredo with a ftiining green breaft, and a brown body,
having a pale belt at the bafe, and yellow legs.

iy. The Tenthredo with a black body, and yellow legs.

20. The black Tenthredo with white legs.

21. The Tenthredo proceeding from the gall of the willow leaf.

22. The Tenthredo proceeding from the gall of the beach leaf.

23. The Tenlhredo proceeding from the gall of the Ilex.

24. The Tenlhredo proceeding from the gall of ground-ivy.

25. The Tenthredo proceeding from the gall of the hairy hawk-weed.
Ltnnzus calls thefe infedts that proceed from galls, Cynips, of which he
makes five kinds.

The Ichneumon File is diftinguifhed from others, by having a weapon
with three forks at the tail, and are,

1. The common Ichneumon File with red legs, has along, flender, black
body, and the head, breaft, feelers, and weapon at the tail, are of the
foms colour j but the legs are reddifh, long, and fiender, and the wings

ar§

NATURAL HISTORY. 87

are tranfparent, only there is a black fpot near the edge. The weapon
at the tail is longer than the body, and confifts of three parts like hairs,
the two outermolt of which are black, and the middlemoft red. It is
called by Ray the Wafp Ichneumon, with a flender, longilh body, and
three very long briftles at the tail.

2. The yellowifh Wafp Ichneumon with large wings, is all over of
the fame colour, and the body is of a crooked fhape, but narrow at the
bafe ; the feelers are equal to the body in length, and are compofed of
a great number of joints ; the eyes are large and black.

5. The Ichneumon Flie with filver-coloured wings, has an oblong
black body, only it is of a blackifti red in the middle, and it has two
black feelers ; the wings are marked near the upper edge with a black*
i(h fpot, and the legs are reddiih, and at the tail there are three long'
hairs, and it flies very fwiftly : this is nearly like that firfl defcribed.

4. The whitifh Ichneumon File is all over white, except four black
fpots on the wings, of which the outermoft are greateft, and the in»
nermoft leaft. It keeps its wings when fitting, erect, and has fix feet}
whereof the four legs are fixed to the body, and the pair before which
are greater and black, take their rife clofe to the neck. It has two
globous prominent black eyes, and two black fhort feelers : the body
is flender, round, and as long as the breadth of a man's finger, and iU
has three briftles at the tail, as long as the body, which in flying it
keeps of a triangular form. It appears in May and June, before and
after rain. It ufes the fore feet as feelers, and feems to extend therri
as fuch.

5. The Ichneumon Flie with filver wings and a black body, has a fork*
ed and crooked mouth, or fnout, and on the forehead there, are two
fhort horns or feelers. It has four legs or feet, and the pair under tha
bread are flender and fhort ; but the reft below are ftronger : the tail
is oblong, with two fhort hairs, and another in the middle, which is
much longer.

6. The Ichneumon File with a black body and tail, has an oblong
body, and two wings fomewhat fhortcr than the body, with feet or
legs of a faffron colour: the tail is equal in length to the reft of the
body, and it is a very uncommon Flie.

7. The Ichneumon called the Cotton Flie, becaufe it makes a web of
the fubftance of cotton, of the fize of a pigeon's egg, and is common
among the grafs in the autumn.

8. The Ichneumon Flie whofe worm feeds on the flefh of the Caterpii-
lar of the cabbage, being bred within its body.

9. The Ichneumon Flie with a hairy blueiih black body.

10. The Ichneumon Flie with fheily thighs, and the feelers white IrT
the middle.

1 1. The black Ichneumon Flie with iron-grey legs, and feelers of tha
fame colour.

12. The black Ichneumon Flie with fhelly legs, and feelers pale on th-e
under part.

13. The black Ichneumon Flie with the hinder legs of an irongreyv
and the reft black, and the feelers white in the middle.

14. The black Ichneumon Flie with the legs and top of the breaft'
white.

I J. The black Ichneumon Flie with reddiih legs, and a paie foreheads

16,

88 NATURAL HISTORY.

1 6. The black Ichneumon Flie with reddifh legs, only the top of
thofe behind are black, and the feelers white in the middle.

17. The black Ichneumon Flie with iron-grey legs, only the hinder
pair are variegated with black and white.

18. The black Ichneumon Flie with red legs, a white forehead, and
white fpots on the body.

19. The black Ichneumon Flie with black legs, and four white fpots
on each fide of the body.

20. The Ichneumon Flie with the body and legs of an iron grey, and
the middle of the feelers white.

21. The Ichneumon Flie with the body and legs of an iron grey, and
a white ring on the feelers.

22. The yellow Ichneumon Flie with the extremity of the body black.

23. The Ichneumon Flie with an iron-grey body, only it is black at
the extremity, and there is a white circle on the feelers.

24. The Ichneumon Flie with black feelers, and the body of an iron-
grey, but black at the extremity.

25. The entirely iron-grey Ichneumon Flie.

26. The iron grey Ichneumon Flie, with the extremity of the body,
and the lower part of the bread black.

27. The yellow-bodied Ichneumon Flic, that is yellow on the fore
part, and black behind, with black joints of the legs.

28. The black and yellow Ichneumon Flie, having the body yellow on
the fore part.

29. The black Ichneumon Flie with the fore part of the body of art
iron-grey, and the top of the breaft yellow.

30. The black Ichneumon Flie with brown wings, and the forward
fegments of the body of a reddifh colour.

31. The Ichneumon Flie with the body of an iron-grey before, and
black behind, and four white fpots thereon.

32. The Ichneumon Flie with the forepart of the body of an iron-greys,
and the hinder part black, with five yellow fpots thereon, and the feel-
ers whitifh on one fide.

33. The Ichneumon Flie with the fore part of the body of an iron-
grey, and the hinder black, without fpots ; but the feeleis are marked
with a white circle.

34. The Ichneumon Flie with the fore part of the body of an iron-
grey, and the hinder black, with yellowifh incifures, and a white cir-
cle on the feelers.

35. The red and black Ichneumon Flie, the middle of the body and
the fore legs being reddifh, and the lower of thofe behind white.

36. The black Ichneumon Flie with the fecond and third fegments of
the body yellow, as well as the legs.

37. The black Ichneumon Flie with white wings, and a double tranf-
verfe line on each.

38. The long ilender-bodied Ichneumon Flie with briftly feelers as
long as the body, and clavated legs.

39. The braffy green elegant Ichneumon Flie with black fpiral feelers.

40. The great black Ichneumon Flie with the extremity of the body
red.

CHAP.

■

Natural historV. s?

CHAP. VII.

©r INSECTS OT THE BEE, OR WASP KIND, THAT HAVE STINGS IN THEIR

TAILS.

T

O give a complete hifiory of this mk& in a few pages, which
fome have exhauRed volumes in defctibing, and wh of .na-
ture and properties ftill continue in difpute, is impoffible. It will be
fufficient to give a general idea of the animal's operations ; which, though
thev have been fiudied for more than two thoufand years, are Rul bat
incompletely known. The account given us by Reaumur is fufhc.ently
minute, and, if true, fufficiently wonderful : but I find many ot the fac.s
which he relates, doubted by thofe who are molt converfant with bees ;
and fome of them actually declared not to have a real exiRence m nature.

It is unhappy, therefore, for thofe whofe method demands an hirtory
of bees, that they are unfurnilhed with thofe materials which "J* ™-
duced fo many obfervers to contradict fo great a natura hi,. His lite
was fpent in the contemplation ; and it requires an equal .hare ot at-
tention, to prove the error of his difcoveries. Without entering* there-
fore, into the difpute, I will take him for my guide ; and juR mention,
as I <ro alone, thofe particulars in which fucceedmg obfervers have be-
gun fo thinkhim erroneous. Which of the two are right, time only
tan difcover ; for my part I have only heard one fide for as yet none
have been fo bold as openly to oppofe Reaumur's dehghttui researches.

There are three different kinds of bees in every hive, hull, the la-
bouring bees, which make up the far greateft number, and are thought
to be neither male nor female, but merely born for the purpofes of
labour, and continuing the breed, by fupplying the young with provi-
fion, while yet in their helplefs Rate. The fecond on are the drones p
they are of a darker colour, longer, and more thick by one third than
the former : they are feppofed to be the males ; and there is not above
a hundred of them, in a hive of feven or eight thonfand bees. 1 he
third fort is much larger than either of the former, and flill fewer u,
number: fome alien, that there is not above one m every fwarm; but
this later obfervers affirm not to be true, there being fometimes five or
fix in the fame hive. Thefe are called queen bees, and are laid to lay
all the eggs from which the whole fwarm is hatched in a feafon.

In examining the flrufture of the common working be* the nrlc re-
markable partihat offers is the trunk, which ferves to eXtraS the honey
from flowers. It is not formed, like that of other flies in the manner
of a tube, by which the fluid is to be fucked up ; but life j a oe torn, to
fweep, or a tongue, to lick it away. The an.mal is furn.lhed aho u th
teeth! which ferve it in making wax. This fubRance » gatherec f
flowers, like honey ; it confiRs of that duft or farrna wh,ch eontnbn
to the fecundation of plants, and is moulded mto wax by the 1 ttle an
mal, at leifure. Every bee, when it leaves the hive to collefl nh^pre-
cious Rore, enters into the cup of the flower, particularly fuel as teem
charged with the greateft quant.ties of this yell "&«?«• As t£ ani-
mal'? body is covered over with hair, it rolls itfelf within the flower,-
and foon becomes quite covered with the duft, which it foon after brinnes
•f with its two hind legs, and kneads into two httle balls. In th*

9» NATURAL HISTORY.

thighs of the hind legs there are two cavities, edged with hair ; and
into thefe, as into a bafket, the animal flicks its pellets. Thus em-
ployed, the bee flies from flower to flower, increafing its ftore, and ad-
ding to its flock of vvax ; until the bail, upon each thigh, becomes as
big as a grain of pepper : by this time, having got a fufficient load, it
returns, making the beft of its way to the hive.

The belly of the bee is divided into fix rings, which fometimes fhor-
ten the body, by flipping one over the other. It contains within it,
befide the inteftines, the honey-bag, the venom bag, and the' fling.
The honey bag is as tranfparent as cryltal, containing the honey that
the bee has bruflied from the flowers ; of which the greater part is car-
ried to the hive, and poured into the cells of the honey-comb; while
the remainder ferves for the bee's own nourifhrnent : for, during fum-
mer, it never touches what has been laid up for the winter. The fling,
which ferves to defend this little animal from its enemies, is compofed
of three parts ; the (heath, and two darts, which are extremely fmall
and penetrating. Both the darts have feveral fmall points or barbs,
like thofe of a fifli-hook, which renders the fling more painful, and
makes the darts rankle in the wound. Still, however, this inftrument
■would be very flight, did not the bee poifon the wound. The fheath,
which has a fharp point, makes the firft impreflion ; which is followed
by that of- the darts, and then the venomous liquor is poured in. The
iheath fometimes flicks fo fa ft in the wound, that the animal is obliged
to leave it behind ; by which the bee foon after dies, and the wound is
confiderably infl.imed. It might at firft appear well for mankind, if
the bee were without its fling ; but, upon recollection, it will be found,
that the little animal would then have too many rivals in fharing its
labours. An hundred other lazy animals, fond of honey, and hating
labour, would intrude upon the fweets of the hive ; and the treafure
would be carried off, for want of armed guardians to protect it.

From examining the bee fingly, we now come to conflder it in fo-
ciety, as an animal not only fubject to laws, but active, vigilant, labo-
rious, and dihnterefted. All its provifions are laid up for the commu-
nity ; and all its arts in building a cell, defigned for the benefit of po-
fterity. The fubftance with which bees build their cells is wax; which
is falhioned 'mo convenient apartments tor themfelves and their young.
When they begin to work in their hives, they divide themfelves into
four companies : one of which roves in the fields in fearch of materials ;
another employs itfelf in laying out the bottom and partitions of their
cells; a third is employed in making the infide fmooth from the cor-
ners and angles ; and the fourth company bring food for the reft, or
relieve thofe who return with their respective burthens. But they are
not kept conftant to one employment ; they often change the tafks af-
iigned them : thofe that have been at work, being permitted to go a-
broad ; and thofe thai have been in the fields already, take their places.
They feern even to have figns, by which they underftand each other;
for when any of them wants food, it bends down its trunk to the bee
from whom it is expected, which then opens its honey- bag, and lets
fome drops fall into the other's mouth, which is at that time opened
to receive it. Their diligence and labour is fo great, that, in a day's
time, they are able to make cells, which lie upon each other, nume-
ious enough to contain three thoufand bees. • '

If

NATURAL HISTORY. 91

If we examine their cells, they will be found formed in the exacted:
proportion. It was faid by Pappus, an ancient geometrician, that, of
all other figures, hexagons were the moft convenient ; for, when placed
touching each other, the moft convenient room would be given, and
the fmalleft loft. The cells of the bees are perfect hexagons : thefe, in
every honeycomb, are double, opening on either fide, and clofed at
the bottom. The bottoms are compofed of little triangular panes,
which, when united together, terminate in a point, and lie exactly
upon the extremities of other panes of the fame ftiape, in oppolite cells.
Thefe lodgings have fpaces, like ftreets, between them, large enough
to give the bees a free pafTage in and out ; and yet narrow enough to
preferve the necefTary heat. The mouth of every cell is defended by a
border, which makes the door a little lefs than the infide of the cell,
which ferves to ftrengthen the whole. Thefe cells ferve for different
purpofes : for laying up their young ; for their wax, which in winter
becomes a part of their food ; and for their honey, which makes their
principal fubfiftence.

It is well known that the habitation of bees ought to be very clofe ;
and what their hives want, from the negligence 01 unfkilfulnefs of man,
thefe animals fupply by their own indullry : fo that it is their principal
care, when firft hived, to flop up all the crannies. For this purpofe
they make ufe of a refinous gum, which is more tenacious than wax,
and differs greatly from it. This the ancients called Propolis : it will
grow confiderably hard in June ; though it will in fome meafure fof-
ten by heat ; and is often found different in confidence, colour, and
fmell. It has generally an agreeable aromatic odour when it is warm-
ed ; and by fome it is confidered as a moft grateful perfume. When the
bees begin to work with it, it is foft, but it acquires a firmer confidence
every day ; till at length it affumes a brown colour, and becomes much
harder than wax. The bees carry it on their hinder legs ; and fome
think it is met with on the birch, the willow, and poplar. However
it is procured, it is certain that they plailter the infide of their hives
with this compofition.

If examined through a glafs hive, from the hurry the whole fwarm
is in, the whole at firft appears like anarchy and confufion : but the
fpectator foon finds every animal diligently employed, and following
one purfuit with a fettled purpofe. Their teeth are the inftruments by
which they model and fafhion their various buildings, and give them
fuch fymmetry and perfection. They begin at the top of the hive ;
and feveral of them work at a time, at the cells which have two faces.
If they are (tinted with regard to time, they give the new cells but half
the depth which they ought to have ; leaving them imperfect, till they
have fketched out the number of cells necefTary for the prefent occafion.
The construction of their combs, coft them a great deal of labour : they
are made by infenfible additions ; and not call at once in a mould, as
fome are apt to imagine. There feems no end of their ihaping, finifli-
ing, and turning them neatly up. The cells for their young are moft;
carefully formed ; thofe defigned for lodging the drones, are larger
than the reft ; and that for the queen-bee, the largeft of all. The cells
in which the young brood are lodged, ferve at different times for con-
taining honey ; and this proceeds from an obvious caufe : every worm,
before it is transformed into an aurelia, hangs its old fkin on the par-

M 2 titions

92 . NATURAL HISTORY.

titions of its cell ; and thus, while it ftrengthens the wall, diminifhes
the capacity of its late apartment. The fame cell in a fingle fummer,
is often tenanted by three or four worms in fucceffion ; and the next
fealon by three or four more. Each worm takes particular care to
fortify the pannels of its cell, by hanging up its fpoils there : thus, the
partitions being lined, fix or eight deep, become at laft too narrow for
a new brood, and are converted into ftore-houfes, for honey.

Tbrfe cells where nothing but honey is depofited, are much deeper
than the reft. When the harveft of honey is fo plentiful that they
have not fufficient room for it, they either lengthen their combs, or
build more ; which are much longer than the former. Sometimes
they work at three combs at a time; for when there are three work-
houfes, more bees may be thus employed, without embarraiTing each
other.

But honey, as was before obferved, is not the only food upon whick
thefe animals fubfift. The meal of flowers, of which their wax is for-
med, is one of their moft favourite repafts. This is a diet which they
live upon during the fummer ; and of which they lay up a large win-
ter provifion. The wax of which their combs are made, is no more
than this meal digefted, and wrought into a pafte. When the flowers
upon which bees generally feed, are not fully blown, and this meal or
duft is not offered in fufEcieni quantities, the bees pinch the tops of the
{lamina in which it is contained, with their teeth ; and thus anticipate
the progrefs of vegetation. In April and May, the bees are bufy, from
morning to evening, in .gathering this meal; but when the weather
becomes too hot in the midft of fummer, they work only in the mor-
ning.

The bee is furnifhed with a ftomach for its wax, as well as its honey.
In the former of the two, their powder is altered, digefted, and con-
cocted into real wax : and is thus ejected by the fame palfage by which
it was fwallowed. Every comb, newly made, is white : but it be-
comes yellow as it grows old, and alrnoft black when kept too long in
the iiive. Betide the wax thus digefted, there is a large portion of the
powder kneaded up for food in every hive, and kept in feparate cells,
for winter provifion. This is called by the country people, bee-bread;
and contributes to the health and ftrength of the animal during winter.
Thofe who rear bees, may rob them of their honey, and feed them
during the winter, with treacle ; but no proper fubftitute has yet been
found for the bee-bread; and without it, the animals become confump-
tive and die.

As for the honey, it is extracted from that part of the flower called
the nectareum. From the mouth this delicious fluid paffes into' the
gullet; and then into the firft ftomach, or honey bag, which, when
filled, appears like an oblong bladder. Children, that live in country
places, are well acquainted with this bladder ; and deftroy many bees
to come at their ftore of honey. When a bee has fufficiently filled its
firft ftomach, it returns back to the hive, where it difgorges the ho-
ney into one of the cells. It often happens that the bee delivers its
fiore to fome other, at the mouth of the hive, and flies off for a frefh
fupply. Some honey-combs are always left open for common ufe; but
jnany others are flopped up, till shere is a nsceility of opening them.

NATURAL HISTORY. 93

Each of thefe are covered carefully with wax ; fo clofe, that the covers
feem to be made at the very inftant the fluid is depofited within them.

Having thus given a curfory defcription of the infeft, individually
confidered, and of the habitation it forms, we next come to its focial
habits and inuitutions: and, in confidering this little animal attentively,
after the neceffary precautions for the immediate prel'ervation of the
community, its fecond care is turned to the continuance of pofterity.
Hew numerous foever the multitude of bees may appear in one fwarm,
yet they all owe their original to a fingle parent, which is called the
Queen-Bee. It is indeed furprifing that a fingle infect (hall, in one
fummer, give birth to above twenty thoufand young : but, upon open-
ing her body, the wonder will ceafe; as the number of eggs appearing,
at one time, amou ts to five thoufand. This animal, whole exigence
is of fuch importance to her fubjects, may eafily be diftinguilhed from
the reft, by her fize, and the ihape of her body. On her fafety de-
pends the whole welfare or the commonwealth; and the attentions paid
her by all the reft of the fwarm, evidently fhew the dependence her
fubjects have upon her fecurity. If this infect be carefully obferved,
ihe will be feen at times attended with a numerous retinue, marching
from cell to cell, plunging the extremity of her body into many of
them, and leaving a fmall egg in each.

The bees which generally compofe her train, are thought to be males,
which ferve to impregnate her by turns. Thefe are larger and blacker
than the common bees ; without ftings, and without induftry. They
feem formed only to tranfmit a pofterity ; and to attend the queen,
whenever fhe thinks proper to iifue from the fecret retreats of the hive,
where fhe moft ufually refides. Upon the union of thefe two kinds
depends all expectations of a future progeney ; for the working bees
are ot no fex, and only labour for another offspring: yet fuch is their
attention to their queen, that if Ihe happens to die, they will leave off
working, and take no farther care of pofterity. If, however, another
queen is in this ftate of univerfal defpair prefented them, they imme-
diately acknowledge her for foverign, and once more diligently apply
to their labour. It muft be obferved, however, that all this fertility
of the queen bee, and the great attentions paid to her by the reft, are
controverted by more recent obfervers. They affert, that the com-
mon bees are parents themfelves ; that they depofit their eggs in the
cells which they have prepared ; that the females are impregnated by
the males, and bring forth a progeny, which is wholly their own.

However, to go on with their hiftory, as delivered us by Mr Reau-
mur— When the qt-^en-bee has depofited the number of eggs neceffary
in the cells, the working bees undertake the caie of the riling pofterity.
They are feen to leave off their ufual employments ; to conftruct pro-
per receptacles for eggs; or to complete thofe that are already formed,
They purpofely build little cells, extremely folid, for the young ; in
which they employ a great deal of wax: thofe defigned for lodging the
males, as was already obferved, are larger than the reft ; and thofe for
the queen-bees the largeft of all. There is ufually but one egg depo-
fited in every cell ; but when the fecundity of the queen is fuch, that
it exceeds the number of cells already prepared, there are fometimes
three or four eggs crowded together in the fame apartment. But this
\§ an inconvenience that the working bees will by no means /uffer.

They

54 NATURAL HISTORY.

They feem fenfible that, two young ones, fluffed up in the fame cell,
when they grow larger, will but embarrafs, and at laft deftroy each
other : they therefore take care to leave a cell to every egg ; and re-
move, or deftroy the reft.

The fingle egg that is left remaining, is fixed to the bottom of the
cell, and touches it but in a fingle point. A day or two after it is de-
pofited, the worm is excluded from the fhell of the egg, having the
appearance of a maggot rolled up in a ring, and lying foftly on a bed
of a whitifh coloured jelly ; upon which alfo the little animal begins to
feed. In the mean time, the inftant it appears, the working bees at-
tend it with the moft anxious and parental tendernefs ; they furnifh it
every hour with a fupply of this whitifh fubftance, on which it feeds
and lies ; and watch the cell with unremitting care. They are nurfes
that have a greater affection for the offspring of others, than many pa-
rents have for their own children. They are conftant in vifiting each
cell, and feeing that nothing is wanting ; preparing the white mixture,
■which is nothing but a compofition of honey and wax, in their own
bowels, with which they feed them. Thus attended, and pleniilully
fed, the worm, in lefs than fix days time, comes to its full growth, and
no longer accepts the food offered it. When the bees perceive that it
has no further occafion for feeding, they perform the laft offices of ten-
dernefs, and fhut the little animal up in its cell ; walling up the mouth
of its apartment with wax: there they leave the worm to itfelf; having
fecured it from every external injury.

The worm is no fooner left inclofed, but, from a ftate of inaction, it
begins to labour, extending and fhortening its body; and by this means
lining the walls of its apartment with a filken tapeftry, which it fpins
in the manner of caterpillars, before they undergo their laft transfor-
mation. When their cell is thus prepared, the animal is foon after
transformed into an aurelia ; but differing from that of the common
caterpillar, as it exhibits not only the legs, but the wings of the future
bee, in its prefent ftate of inactivity. Thus, in about twenty, or one
and twenty days after the egg was laid, the bee is completely formed,
and fitted to undergo the fatigues of its ftate. When all its parts have
acquired their proper ftrength and confiftence, the young animal opens
its prifon, by piercing with its teeth the waxen door that confines it.
When juft freed from its cell, it is as yet moift, and incommoded with
the fpoils of its former fituation; but the officious bees are foon feen to
fiock round it, and to lick it clean on all fides with their trunks ; while
another band, with equal affiduity, are obferved to feed it with honey:
others again begin immediately to cleanfe the cell that has been juft
left; to carry the ordures out of the hive, and to fit the place for a
new inhabitant. The young bee foon repays their care, by its induf-
try ; for as foon as ever its external parts become dry, it difcovers its
natural appetites for labour, and induftrioufly begins the tafk, which
it purfues unremittingly through life. The toil of man is irkfome to
him, and he earns his fubfiftence with pain; but this little animal feems
happy in its purfuits, and finds delight in all its employments.

When juft freed from the cell, and properly equipped by its fellow
bees for duty, it at once iffues from the hive, and inftructed only by
Mature, goes in queft of flowers, choofes only thofe that yield it a fup-
fly, rejects fuch as are barren of honey, or have been already drained

by

NATURAL HISTORY. g

fcy other adventurers ; and when loaded, is never at a lofs to find its
way back to the common habitation. After this firft fally, it begins
to gather th mealy powder, that lies on every flower, which is after-
wards converted into wax ; and with this, the very firlt day, it returns
with two large balls ftuck to its thighs.

When bees firft begin to break their prifons, there are generally
above an hundred excluded in one day. Thus, in the fpace of a few
weeks, the number of the inhabitants in one hive, of moderate fize,
becomes fo great, that there is no place to contain the new comers ;
and they are fcarcely excluded from the cell, when they are obliged,
ky the old bees, to fally forth in queft of new habitations. In other
words, the hive begins to {warm, and the new progeny prepares for
exile.

While there is room enough in the hive, the bees remain quietly to-
gether ; it is necefllty alone that compels the feparation. Sometimes,
indeed, the young brood, with gracelefs obftinacy, refufe to depart,
and even venture to refift their progenitors. The young ones are
known by being browner than the old, with whiter hair ; the old ones
are of a lighter colour, with red hair. The two armies are therefore
eafily diftinguifhable, and dreadful battles are often feen to enfue.
But the victory almoft ever terminates with ftridt poecical juftice in fa-
vour of the veterans, and the rebellious offspring are driven off, not
without lofs and mutilation.

In different countries, the fwarms make their appearance at diffe-
rent times of the year, and there are feveral figns previous to this in-
tendeds migration. The night before, an unufual buzzing is heard in
the hive ; in the morning, though the weather be foft and inviting,
they feem not to obey the call, being intent on more important me-
ditations within. All labour is difcontinued in the hive, every bee is
either employed in forcing, or reluctantly yielding a fubmifhon ; at
length, after fome noife and tumult, a queen bee is chofen to guard
rather than condutft the young colony to other habitations, and then
they are marfhalled without any apparent conductor. In lefs than a
minute they leave their native abode, and forming a cloud round their
proteclrefs, they fet off, without feeming to know the place of their
deftination : The world before them, where to choofe their place of rejl. The
ufual time of fwarming is from ten in the morning to three in the after-
noon, when the fun fhines bright, and invites them to feek their for-
tunes. They flutter for a while in the air, like flakes of fnow, and
fometimes undertake a diftant journey, but more frequently are con-
tented with fome neighbouring afylum ; the branch of a tree, a chim.
ney-top, or fome other expofed fituation. It is, indeed, remarkable,
that all thofe animals, of whatever kind, that have long been under
the protection of man, feem to lofe a part of their natural fagacity, in
providing for themfelves. The rabbit, when domefticated, forgets to
dig holes, the hen to build a nelt, and the bee to feek a flielter, that
fhall protect it from the inclemencies of the winter. In thofe coun-
tries, where the bees are wild, and unprotected by man, they are al-
ways fure to build their waxen cells in the hollow of a tree ; but with
us, they feem improvident in their choice, and the firft green branch
that flops their flight, feems to be thought fufficient for their abode
through winter. However, it does net appear, that the queen chufes

the

9$ NATURAL HISTORY.

the place where they are to alight, for many of the flraggkrs, whe
feem to be pleafed with a particular branch, go and fettle upon it ; o-
thers are feen to fucceed, and at laft, the queen herfelf, when fhe finds
a fufficient number there before her, goes to make it the place of her
head quarters. When the queen is fettled, the reft of the fwarm foon
follow ; and, in about a quarter of an hour, the whole body feem to
be at eafe. It fometimes is found, that there are two or three queens
to a fwarm, and the colony is divided into parties ; but it moft ulually
happens, that one of thefe is more confiderable than the other, and the
bees by degrees, defert the weakeft, to take fhelter under the moil
powerful protector. The deferted queen does not long furvive this de-
feat ; fhe takes refuge under the new monarch, and is foon deftroyed
by her jealous rival. Till this cruel execution is performed, the bees
never go out to work ; and if there fhould be a queen bee belonging to
the new colony left in the old hive, fhe always undergoes the fate of
the former. However, it muft be obferved, that the bees never facri-
fice any of their queens, when the hive is full of wax and honey ; for
there is at that time, no danger in maintaining a plurality of breeders.

When the fwarm is thus conducted to a place of reft, and the policy
of government is fettled, the bees foon refume their former labours.
The making cells, ftoring them with honey, impregnating the queen,
making proper cells for the reception of the rifing progeny, and pro-
tecting them from external danger, employ their unceafing induftry.
But foon after, and towards the latter end of fummer, when the co-
lony is fufEciently ftored with inhabitants, a moft cruel policy enfues.
The drone bees, which are (as has been faid) generally in a hive, to
the number of an hundred, are marked for flaughter. Thefe, which
had hitherto led a life of indolence and pleafure, whofe only employ-
ment was in impregnating the queen, and rioting upon the labours of
the hive, without aiding in the general toil, now (hare the fate of moft
voluptuaries, and fall a facrifice to the general refentment of fociety.

The working bees, in a body, declare war againft them ; and in two
or three days time, the ground all round the hive is covered with their
dead bodies. Nay, the working bees will kill fuch drones, as are yet
in the worm ftate, in the cell, and eject their bodies from the hive,
among the general carnage.

When a hive fends out feveral fwarms in the year, the firft is always
the beft, and the moft numerous. Thefe, having the whole fummer
before them, have the more time for making wax and honey, and con-
fequently their labours are the moft valuable to the proprietor. Al-
though the fwarm chiefly confifts of the youngeft bees, yet it is often
found that bees of all ages compofe the multitude of emigrants, and it
often happens, that bees of all ages are feen remaining behind. The
number of them is always more confiderable than that of forne popu-
lous cities, for fometimes upwards of forty thoufand are found in a
fmgle hive. So large a body may well be fuppofed to work with great
expedition ; and in fact, in lefs than twenty-four hours, they will make
combs above twenty inches long, and feven or eight broad. Some-
times they will half fill their hives with wax, in lefs than five days. In
the firft fifteen days, they are always found to make more wax than
they do aftervjards during the reft of the year.

Such

NATURAL HISTORY. 97

Such are the out-lines of the natural hiftory of thefc animals, as ufu-
ally found in our own country. How they are treated, fo as to pro-
duce the greateft quantity of honey, belongs rather to the rural ceco-
nomift, than the natural hiftorian ; volumes have been written on the
fubject, and ft ill more remains equally curious and new. One thing,
however, it may be proper to obierve that a farm, or country, may be
over-ftocked with bees, as with any other fort of animal ; for a certain
number of hives, always require a certain number of flowers to fub-
fi(l on. When the flowers near home are rifled, then are thefe inuuf-
trious infects feen taking more extenfive ranges, but their abilities may
be over taxed ; and it they are obliged, in quefl of honey, to go too
far from home, they are over-wearied in the purfuit, they are devoured
by birds, or beat down by the winds and rain.

From a knowledge of this, in fome parts of France and Piedmont*
they have contrived, as I have often feen, a kind of floating bee houfe.

They have on board one barge, threefcore or an hundred bee-hives,
well defended from the inclemency of an accidental llorm ; and with
thefe the owners fuffer themfelves to float gently down the river As
the bees are continually choofing their flowery paiture along the banks
of the ftream, they are furniihed with fweets before urtrifled ; and thus
a Angle floating bee-houfe, yields the proprietor a confiderable income.
Why a method fimilar to this has never been adopted in England,
where we have more gentle rivers, and more flowery banks,' than in
any other part of the world, I know not ; certainly it might be turned
to advantage, and yield the poileflbr a fecure, though perhaps a mode-
rate income.

Having mentioned the induftry of thefe admirable infects, it will be
proper to fay fomething of the effects of their labour, of that wax and
honey, which are turned by man to fuch various ufes. Bees gather
two kinds of wax, one coarfe and the other fine. The coarfer fort i* bit-
ter, and with this, which is called propolis, they flop up all the holes and
crevices of their hives. It is of a more refinous nature than the fine wax>
and is confequently better qualified to refill the moifture of the feafon,
and preferve the works warm 2nd dry within. The fine wax is as necei-
fary to the animal's prefervation as the honey itfelf. With this they make
their lodgings, with this they cover the cells of their young, and in this
they lay up their magazines cf honey. This is made, as has been alrea-
dy obferved, from the dufl of flowers, which is carefully kneaded by the
little infect, then fwallowed, and having undergone a kind of digeltion,
is formed into the cells, which anfwers fuch a variety of purpofes. To
collect this* the animal rolls itfelf in the flower it would rob, and thus
takes up the vegetable duft with the hair of its body. Then carefully
bruihing it into a lump, with its fore paws it thrulfs the composition
into two cavities behind the thighs, which are made like fpoons to re-
ceive the wax, and the hair that lines them, ferves to keep it from falling.

As of wax, there are alfo two kinds of honey : The white and the
yellow. The white is taken without fire from the honey-combs.
The yellow is extracted by heat, and fqueezed through bags, in a prefs.
The belt honey is new, thick, and granulated, of a clear tranfparent
white colour, of a foft and aromatic fmell, and of a fweet and lively
tafte. Honey made in mountainous countries, is preferable to that o'c
the valley. The honey made in the fpring, is more highly efteemed,

N than

£«: NATURAL HISTORY.

lhan that gathered in fummer, which lad is ftill more valuable, than5
that of autumn, when the flowers begin to fade and lofe their fra-
grance.

The bees afe nearly alike in all parts of the world, yet there are
differences worthy our notice. In Guadaloupe, the bee is lefs by one
half, than the European, and more black and round. They have no
fling, and make their cells in hollow trees ; where, if the hole they
meet with is too large, they form a fort of waxen houfe, of the fhape
of a pear, and in this they lodge and (tore their honey, and lay their
eggs. They lay up their honey in waxen veflels, of the fize of a pi-
geon's egrr, of a black or deep violet colour : and thefe are fo joined
together, that there is no fpace left between them. The honey never
congeals, but is fluid, of the confidence of oil, and the colour of am-
ber. Refembling thefe, there are are found little black bees, without
a fling, in all the tropical climates ; and though thefe countries are re-
plete with bees, like our own, yet thofe form the moft ufeful and laborious
tribe in that part of the world. The honey they produce, is neither
fo unpalatable, nor fo furfeiting as ours ; and the wax is fo loft, that
it is only ufed for medicinal purpofes, it being never found hard enough
to form into candles, as in Europe.

Of infecls, that receive the name of bees, among us, there are fe-
veral ; which, however, differ very widely from that induftrious, fa-
cial race we have been juft defcribing. The Humble Bee is the lar-
geft of all this tribe, being as large as the firft joint of one's middle
finger. Thefe are feen in every field, and perched on every flower.
They build their nefl in holes in the ground, of dry leaves, mixed with
wax and wool, defended with mofs from the weather. Each humble
bee makes a feparate cell about the fize of a fmall nutmeg, which is
round and hollow, containing the honey in a bag. Several of thefe
cells are joined together, in fuch a manner, that the whole appears
like a duller of grapes. The females, which have the appearance of
wafps, are very few, and their eggs are laid in ceils, which the reft
foon cover over with wax. It is uncertain whether jhey have a queen
or not; but there is one much larger than the reft, without wings and
without hair, and all over black, like poliftied ebony. This goes and
views all the works, from time to time, and enters into the cell, as if
it wanted to fee whether every thing was done right: In the morning,
the young humble bees are very idle, and feem not at all inclined to
labour, till one of the largeft, about feven o'clock, thrufts half its bo-
dy from a hole, defigned for that purpofe, and feated on the top of
the nefl, beats its wings for twenty minutes fucceflively, buzzing the
whole time, till the whole colony is put in motion. The humble bees
gather honey, as well as the common bees; but it is neither fo fine, nor
ib good, nor the wax fo clean, or fo capable of'fufion.

Belides the bees already mentioned, there are various kinds among
us, that have much the appearance of honey-makers, and yet make
only wax. The Wood Bee is feen in every garden. It is rather lar-
ger than the common queen bee ; its body of a blueifti black, which is,
imooth and ihining. It begins to appear at the approach of fpring,
and is feen flying near walls expofed to a funny afpecl. This bee
makes its nefl in fome piece of wood, which it contrives to fcoop and
hollow for its purpofe. This, however is never done in trees that are

Handings

NATURAL HISTORY. $9

'ftanding, for the wood it makes choice of is half rotten. The holes
are not made directly forward, but turning to one fide, and have au
opening iufficient to admit one's middle finger ; from whence runs the
inner appartment, generally twelve or fifteen inches long. The inftru-
ments ufed in boaring thefe cavities, are their teeth ; the cavity is ufu-
ally branched into three or four apartments; and in each of thefe, they
lay their eggs, to the number of ten or twelve, each fepafate and
diftinct from the reft : The egg is involved in a fort of paite, which
ferves at once for the young animal's protection and nourifhment. The
grown bees, however, feed upon fmall infects, particularly a loufe, of
a reddifh brown colour, of the fize of a fmall pin's head.

Mafon Bees make their cells with a fort of mortar, made of earth,
which they build againft a wall that is expofed to die fun. The mor-
tar, which at firft is foft, foon becomes as hard as ftone, and in this
their eggs are laid. Each neft contains feven or eight cells, an egg in
every cell, placed regularly one over the other. If the neft remains
unhurt, or wants but little repairs they make ufe of them the year en-
fuing: and thus they often ferve three or four years fucceflively. From
the ftrength of their houfes, one would think thefe bees in perfect fecu-
rity, yet none are more expofed than they. A worm with very ftrong
teeth, is often found to bore into their little fortifications, and devour
their young.

The Ground Bee builds its neft in the earth, wherein they make
TOund holes, five or fix inches deepj the mouth being narrow, and
■only juft Iufficient to admit the little inhabitant. It is amufing enough,
to obferve the patience and afliduity with which they labour. They
carry out all the earth, grain by grain, to the mouth of the hole, where
it forms a little hillock, an Alps compared to the power of the artift
by which it is raifed. Sometimes the walks of a garden are found
undermined by their labours; fome of the holes running directly down-
ward, others horizontally beneath the furface. They lay up in thefe
cavities provifions for their young, which confift of a pafte that has the
appearance of corn, and is of a fweetifh tafte.

The Le-aj 'cutting Bees make their neft and lay their eggs among bits,
of leaves very artificially placed in holes in the earth, of about the
length of a tooth-pick cafe. They make the bits of leaves of a round-
iih form, and with them line the infide cf their habitations. This ta-
peftry is ftill further lined by a reddifh kind of pafte, fomewhat fweet
or acid. Thefe bees are of various kinds ; thofe that build their nefts
with chefnut leaves are as big as drones, but thofe of the rofe-tree are
fmaller than the common bee.

The Wall Bees are fo called, becaufe they make their nefts in walls
of a kind of iilky membrane with which they fill up the vacuities be-
tween the fmall ftones which form the fides of their habitation. Their
apartment confifts of feveral cells placed end to end, each in the fhape
of a woman's thimble. Though the web which lines this habitation is
thick and warm, yet it is transparent and of a whitilh colour. This
fiibftance is fuppofed to be fpun from the animal's body. The male
and females are of a fize, but the former are without a fting. To thefe
varieties of the bee kind might be added feveral others which are all
different in nature, of which hereafter.

N 2 However

ioo NATURAL HISTORY.

However fimilar many infects may be in appearance, this does not
imply a firnilitude in their hiftory. The bee and the wafp refemble
each other very itrongly, yet, in examining their manner and their du-
ration, they differ very widely ; the bee labours to lay up honey, and
lives to enjoy the fruits of its induftry ; the wafp appears equally affi-
duous, but only works for pofterity, as the habitation is fcarcely com-
pleted when the inhabitant dies. /

The wafp is well known to be a winged infect with a fling. To be
longer in proportinn to its bulk than the bee, to be marked with bright
yellow circles round its body, and to be the mod fwift and active infect
of all the fly kind. On each fide of the mouth this animal is furniihed
with a long tooth, notched like a faw, and with thefe it is enable to
cut any fubftance, not omitting meat itfelf, and to carry it to its neft.
Wafps live like bees in community, and fometimes ten or twelve thou-
fand are found inhabiting a Angle neft.

Of all other infects the wafp is the moft fierce, voracious, and moft
dangerous, when enraged. They are feen wherever flefh is cutting up,
goiging themfelves with the fpoil, and then flying to their nefts with
their reeking prey. They make war alio on every other fly, and the
fpider himfelf dreads their approaches.

Every community among bees is compofed of females or queens,
drones or males, and neutral or working bees. Wafps have fimilar
occupation ; the two firft are for propagating the fpecies, the lalt for
nuriing, defending, and fupporting the rifing progeny. Among bees,
however, there is ieldom above a queen or two in an hive ; among
wafps there are above two or three hundred.

As foon as the fummer begins to invigorate the infect tribes, the
■wafps are the moft of the number, and diligently employed either in
providing provilions for their neft, if already made, or in making one, if
the former habitation be too fmallto receive the increafing community.
The neft is one of the moft curious objects in natural hiftory, and contri-
ved almoft as artificially as that of the bees themfelves. Their principal
care is to feek out an hole that has been begun by fome other animal,
a field moufe, a rat, or a mole, to build their nefts in. They fome-
thnes build upon the plain, where they are fure of the drynefs of their
fituation, but moft commonly on the fide of a bank to avoid the rain
or water that would otherwise annoy them. When they have chofen
a proper place they go to work with wonderful afliduity. Their firft
labour is to enlarge and widen the hole, taking away the earth and
carrying it off to fome diftance. They are perfectly formed for labour,
being furniihed with a trunk above their mouths, two faws en each
fide which play to the right and left againlt each other, and fix ftrong
mulcular legs to fupport them. They cut the earth into fmall par-
cels with their faws, and carry it out with their legs or paw-s. ihis i*
the work oi feme days ; and at length the outline of their habitation is
formed, making a cavity of about a foot and an half every way.
While fome are working in this manner, others are roving the fields to
feek out materials for their building. To prevent the earth from fall-
ing down and crufhing their rifing city into ruin, they make a fort of
roof with their gluey fubftance, to which they begin to fix the rudiments
of their building, working from the top downwards, as if they were
hanging a bell, which, however, at length they clofe up at the bot-
tom,

>

NATURAL HISTORY. rot

Lorn. The materials with which they build their nefts are bits of
wood and glue. The wood the] here they can from the rails

and ports which thej meel with in the fields and elfewhere. Thefe
they faw and divide iptd i multitude of fmall fibres, of which they take
up little bundles in their claws, letting fall upori them a few drops of
gluey matter with which their bodies are provided, by the help of
which they knead the whole compoiition into a parte, which ferves
them in their future building. \\ hen the\ have returned with this to
their neft, they (tick their load of parte on that part where they make
their walls and partitions ; they tread it clofe with their feet, and
trowel it with their trunks, (fill going backwar is ak they work. Having
repeated this operation three or four times, the composition is at length
flatted out until it becomes a fmall leaf of a grey colour, much finer
than paper, and of a pretty firm texture. This done the fame wafp
returns to the field to collect a fecond load of parte, repeating the fame
feveral times, placing layei upon layer, and ilrengthening every parti-
tion in proportion to the wants or convenience of the general fabric.
Other working wafps come quickly after to repeat the fame operation
laying mere leaves upon the former, till at length, after much toil, they
have finifhed the large roof which is to fecure (hem from the tumbling
in of the earth. This dome being finifhed, they make another entrance
to then habitation, defigned either for letting in the warmth of the fun,
or for efcaping in cafe one door be invaded by plunderers. Certain
however it is, that by one of ihefe they always enter, by the other they
fally forth to their toil ; each hole being fo fmall that they can pafs but
one at a time. The walls being thus compofed, and the whole fome-
what of the lhape of a pear, the" labour at their cells, which they com-
pofe of the fame paper lik: fubftai c thai goes to the formation of the
outfide works. Their combs difFei from ihofe of bees, not lefs in the
compofition than the pofition which they are always feen to obtain.
The honey comb of the bee*, is edgeways with reipect to the hive ; that
of the wafp is flat, and the mouth of every cell opens downward.
Thus is their habitation, contrived ftory above ftory, fupported by fe-
veral rows of pillars which give firmnefs to the whole building, while
the upper ftory is flat-robfed, and as fmooth as the pavement of a room,
laid with fquares of marble. The wafps can freely walk upon thefe (lo-
ries between the pillars to do whatever their wants require. The pil-
lars are very hard and compact, being larger at each end than in the
middle, not much unlike the columns of a building All the cells of
the nelf are only deftined for the reception of the young, being replete
with neither wax nor honey.

Each cell is like that of the bee, hexagonal ; but they are of two
forts, the one larger for the production of the male and female wafps,
the other lefs for the reception of the working part of the community'.
When the females are impregnated by the males, they lay their eggs,
one in each cell, and Itick it in with a kind of gummy matter to prevent
its falling out. From this egg proceeds the infect in its worm ftate, of
which the old ones are extremely careful, feeding it from time to time
till it becomes large, and entirely fills up its cell. But the wafp com-
munity differs from that cf the bee in this ; that among the latter the
working bees take the parental duties upon them, whereas among the
wafps the females alone are permitted to feed their young, and to nurfe

I<M NATURAL HISTORY.

their rifing progeny. For this purpofe the female waits with great pati-
ence till the working wafps have brought in their provifions, which fhe
takes from them, and cuts into pieces. She then goes with great com-
pofure from cell to cell, and feeds every young one with her mouth.
When the young worms have come to a certain lize they leave off eat-
ing, and begin to fpin a very fine filk, fixing the firft end to the entrance
of the cell, then turning their heads, firft on one fide, then on the o-
ther, they fix the thread, to different parts, and thus they make a fort
of a door which ferves to clofe up the mouth of the cell. After this
they diveft themfelves of their fkins after the ufual mode of transfor.
nation, the aurelia by degrees begins to emancipate itfelf from its
fhell ; by little and little it thrufts out its legs and wings, and infenfi-
bly acquires the colour and fhape of its parent.

The wafp thus formed, and prepared for depredation, becomes a
bold, troublefome, and dangerous infecl ; there are no dangers which
it will not encounter in purfuit of its prey, and nothing feems to fatiate
its gluttony. Though it can gather no honey of its own, no animal is
more fond of fweets. For this purpofe it will purfue the bee and the
humble bee, deftroy them with its fting, and then plunder them of their
honey-bag, with which it flies triumphantly loaded to its neft to regale its
young. Wafps are ever fond of making their nefts in the neighbourhood
of bees, merely to have an opportunity of robbing their hives, and
feafting on the fpoil. Yet the bees are not found always patiently fub-
•miffive to their tyranny, but fierce battles, are ibmetimes feen to enfue,
in which the bees make up by conduct and numbers what they want in
perfonal prowefs. When there is no honey to be had, they feek for the
beft and fweeteft fruits, and they are never miftaken in their choice,
From the garden they fly to the city, to the grocers fhops, and butch-
ers fhambles. They will fometimes carry off bits of flefh half as big as
themfelves, with which they fly to their nefts for the nouriihment of
their brood. Thofe who cannot drive them away, lay for them a piece
of ox's liver, which being without fibres, they prefer to other flefh ;
and whenever they are found, all other flies are feen to defert the
place immediately. Such is the dread with which thefe little animals
imprefs all the reft of the infecl tribes, which they feize and devour
without mercy^ that they vanifli at their approach. Wherever they fly,
like the eagle or the falcon, they form a defert in the air around them.
In this manner the fummer is paffed in plundering the neighbourhood,
and rearing up their young ; every day adds to their numbers ; and
from their ftrength, agility, and indifcriminate appetite for every kind
of provifion, were they as long lived as the bee, they would foon
fwarm upon the face of Nature, and become the moft noxious plague
of man: but providentially their lives are meafured to their mifchief,
and they live but a fingle feafon.

While the fummer heats continue, they are bold, voracious, and
enterprifing ; but as the fun withdraws, it feems to rob them of their
courage and aclivity. In proportion as the cold increafes, they are feen
to become more domeftic ; they feldom leave the neft, they make but
fliort adventures from home, they flutter about in the noon-day heats,
and foon after return chilled and feeble.

As their calamities increafe, new paffions foon begin to take place ;
Che care for pofterity no longer continues, and as the parents are no

l0ng«s*

NATURAL HISTORY. 1*3

longer able to provide their growing progeny a fupply, they take the
fearbarous refolution of facrificing them all to the neceflity of the times.
In this manner, like a garrifon upon fhort allowance, all the ufelefs
hands are deltroyed ; the young worms, which a little before they fe«l
and protected with fo much affiduity, are now butchered and dragged
from their cells. As the cold increafes they no longer find fufficicnt
warmth in their nefts, which grow hateful to them, and they fly to
feek it in the corners of houfes, and places that receive an artificial heat.
But the winter is ftili infnpportable ; and, before the new year begins,
they wither and die ; the working wafps firft, the males focn following,
and many of the females fufFering in the general calamity. In every
jieft, however, one or two females furvive the winter, and having been
impregnated by the male during the preceding feafon, fhe begins irf
fpring to lay her eggs in a little hole of her own contrivance. This
bundle of eggs, which is cluttered together like grapes, foon produces
two worms which the female takes proper precaution to defend and
fupply, and thefe when hatched foon give afftftance to the female, who
is employed in hatching two more ; thefe alfo gathering ftrength, ex-
tricate themfelves out of the web that enclofed them, and become like-
wife affiftants to their mother ; fifteen days after, two more make their
appearance ; thus is the community every day increafmg, while the
female lays in every cell, firil a male and then a female. Thefe foon
after become breeders in turn, till, from a Angle female, ten thoufand
wafps are feen produced before the month of June. After the female
has thus produced her progeny, which are diltributed in different dis-
tricts, they affemble from all parts, in the middle of fummer, and pro-
vide for themfelves the large and commodious habitation, which has
been defcribed above.

Such is the hiilory of the focial wafp ; but, as among bees, fo alfo
among thefe infects, there are various tribes that live in folitude : thefe
lay their eggs in a hole for the purpofe, and the parent dies long before
the birth of its offspring. In the principal fpecies of the Solitary
Wasps, the infect is fmaller than the working wafp of the focial kind.
The filament, by which the corfelet is joined to the body, is longer and
more diftinctly feen, and the whole colour of the infect is blacker than
in the ordinary kinds. But it is not their figure, but the manners of
this extraordinary infect that claim our principal regard.

From the end of May to the beginning of July, this wafp is feen
mod diligently employed. The whole purpofe of its life feems to be
in contriving and fitting up a commodious apartment for its young one,
which is not to fucceed it till the year enfuing. For this end it is em-
ployed, with unwearied affiduity in boring a hole into the fineft earth
ibme inches deep, but not much wider than the diameter of its own
body. This is but a gallery leading to a wider apartment deftined for
the convenient lodgment of its young. As it always chufes a gravelly
foil to work in, and where the earth is almoft as hard as ftnne itfelf;
the digging and hollowing this apartment is an enierprife of no fmali
labour : for effecting its operations, this infect is furnifhed with two
teeth, which are ftrong and firm, but not fufficiently hard to penetrate
the fubftance through which it is refolved to make its way. In order
therefore to foften that earth which it is unable to pierce, it is furniih-
ed with a gummy liquor which it emits upon the place, and which ren-
ders

,o4 NATURAL HISTORY.

ders it more eafil* feparable from the reft, and the whole becoming 4.
kind of foft palle is removed to the mouth of the habitation. The ani-
mal's provifion of liquor in thefe operations is however loon exhaufted j
and it is then feen either taking up water from fome neighbouring flower
or ftream in order to fuppl) the deficiency.

At length, after much toil, a hole fome inches deep is formed, at
the bottom of which is a large cavity ; and to this no other hoitile in-
fect would venture to find its way, from the length and the narrownefs
of the defile through which it would be obliged to pafs. In this the
jfolitary wafp lays its egg, which is deftined to continue the fpecies ;
there thenafcent'animal is to continue for above nine months, unattend-
ed and immured, and at firft appearance the moft helplefs infect of the
creation. But when we come to examine, new wonders offer, no other
infect can boaft fo copioufly luxurious a provifion, or fuch confirmed

fecurity.

As foon as the mother wafp has depofited her egg at the bottom of
the hole, her next care is to furnifh it with a fupply of provifrons,
which may be offered to the young infect as foon as it leaves the egg.
To this end (he procures a number of little green worms, generally
from eight to twelve, and thefe are to ferve as food for the young one
the inftant it awakens into life. When this fupply is regularly arran-
ged and laid in, the old one then, with as much afliduity as it before
worked out its hole, now clofes the mouth of the paffage ; and thus
leaving its young one immured in perfect fecurity, and in a copious
fupply of animal food, the dies fatisfied with having provided for a fu-
ture progeny.

When the young one leaves the egg it is fcarcely vifible, and is feen
immured among a number of infects, infinitely larger than itfelf, ran-
ged in proper order around it, which, however give it no manner of
apprehenfion. Whether the parent, when fhe laid in the infect provi-
fion, contrived to difable the worms from refinance, or whether they
were at firft incapable of any, is not known. Certain it is, that the
young glutton feafts upon the living fpoil without any controul ; his
game lies at his hand, and he devours one after the other as the calls
of appetite incite him. The life of the young animal is therefore fpent
in the moft luxurious manner, till its whole flock of worms is exhauf-
ted, and then the time of its transformation begins to approach ; and
then fpinning a filken web, it continues fixed in its cell till the fun calls
it from its dark abode the enfuing fummer.

The wafps of Europe are very mifchievous, yet they are innocence
itfelf when compared to thofe of the tropical climates, where all the
infect tribes are not only numerous, but large, voracious, and formi-
dable. Thofe of the Weft Indies are thicker, and twice as long as the
common bee ; they are of a grey colour, ftriped with yellow, and arm-
ed with a very dangerous fting. They make their cells in the manner
of a honey comb, in which the young ones are hatched and bred.
They generally hang their nefts by threads, compofed of the fame fub-
ftance with the cells, to the branches of trees, and the caves of houfes.
They are feen every where in great abundance, defcending like fruit,
particularly pears, of which fhape they are, and as large as one's head.
The infide is divided into three round (lories, full of cells, each hexa-
gonal, like thofe of an honey-comb. In fome of the iflands thefe in-
fects

NATURAL HISTORY. ,05

fects are fo very numerous, that their nefts are ftuck up in this manner,
fcarce two feet afunder, and the inhabitants are in continual apprehen-
fion from their accidental refentment. It fometimes happens, that no
precautions can prevent their attacks, and the pains of their fting is
almoft infupportable. Thole who have felt it think it more terrible
than even that of a fcorpion ; the whole vifage fwells, and the features
are fo disfigured, that a perfon is fcarcely known by his mod intimate
acquaintance.

CHAP. VIII.

A MORE PARTICULAR ACCOUNT OF BEES, AND THE FRENCH METHOD OF

MANAGING THEM.

BEES being the moft profitable infers yet known, except fills
Worms, the reader will not be difpleafed to have a more particu-
lar account of them, and their management, by way of fupplement to
what has been faid before. And if any thing be repeated, that has
been mentioned before, it will be only done to render this account more
complete and uniform.

Bees in ancient times were all wild, and they inhabited the vaft fo-
refts of Poland, Rujfia, and other northern countries, lodging in hol-
low trees, holes in the rocks, and in the gound. They are infects of
a wonderful kind, and which naturalifts have treated of in diiferent
ages ; infomuch that fome pretend there have been philofophers, who
fpent the greateft part of their time, in ftudying their nature. How-
ever in this age, they are better known by much than formerly ; Stvam-
merdam in particular, has made curious refearches into their nature, as
well as Maraldi, and Reaumur, two ingenious members of the royal
academy of fciences.

We now are very certain, that in every hive, there are three diftinct
kinds of Bees ; the moft numerous of which are the common fort,
whofe bufinefs it is to gather the honey and wax, Thefe may be cal-
led the labouring Bees, and according to the moft curious obfervers,
they are neither male nor female. Another fort are the drones, and
thefe are males. Of the third fort, there is generally but one, which
was commonly called the king, but is now known to be the queen, for
it is a female, and is always the mother of a numerous pofterity.

With regard to the external parts of the common Bees, the moft re-
markable are the head, the corflet or breaft, and the body or belly.
In the head there are the eyes, placed on each fide, and two feelers,
compofed of feveral joints, and two tee.th or pinchers, and the trunk
or fnout, which is a kind of tongue, enclofed in two cafes, and of a
fubftance refembling that of a horn, or fcales, with a large mouth,
feated at the root of the tongue. The corflet is joined to the head by
a fhort neck, and on it there are four wings above, and fix legs or feet
below, of which the two hindermoft are longer than the reft, and ex-
ternally in the middle, there is a hollo wnefs, in the Ihape of a fpoon,

O boid.rsd

i66 NATURAL HISTORY.

bordered with fifteen hairs. The loweft part of each leg, which may
be called the toot, is compofed of five joints, by which they are ena-
bled to ufe them as hands, and they terminate in a kind of bruih : the
body properly fo called, or belly, is joined to the corflet by a fort of
thread, and is compofed of fix fcaly rings : the whole body of the Bee,
appears hairy to the naked eye ; and as for the reft, they differ a little
from thefe, in fize and colour.

With regard to the inward parts, upon examination, there appears
a veficle of the fize of a fmall pea, and when it is full of honey, it is
tranfparent : the fting is placed at the extremity of the body, and is
one lixth of an inch in length, terminating in a fine point. Towards
the bafe of the fting, there is a bladder, remarkable for its tranfparence
and folidity, which is oblong like an olive, and full of a very clear fluid,
terminating by a kind of excretory veifel, defigned to conduct the poi-
ibn of the refervoir into the fting, which enters and paffes out m great
fwiftnefs, by the means of certain mufcles.

The Drone may be diftinguifhed from the working Bee, Dot only
by the trunk, the teeth, and the eyes, but by the corflet, which is more
hairy than that of the common Bee, and the rings of the belly are more
fmooth. Befides the hairs of the bruihes of the hind feet, are more
crouded together, and fhorter : the body is generally larger and lon-
ger, by about a third part, and the head in particular, is more round
and more full of hair. Add to this, that at certain feafons, there are
two flefhy horns behind, about a third part as long; as the body, and
ibmetimes longer ; and between thefe two horns, there is a flefhy fub-
ftance, which riles upon the hinder part of the body, and is ciooked
like a bow : the inward parts are alfo different, for he has no fting,
and within the body, there is little elfe but thick, white, crooked vet
fels, that are pretty folid, and contain a milky fluid.

The Queen is longer, but not fo thick as the Drone, and the wings
are very fliort, in proportion to the length of the body ; for they
fcarcely cover it half way : the trunk is much fhorter, and more fleri-
der, than that of the working Bee ; but longer and thicker than that of
the Drone j the corflet is brown, and the rings of the belly are of a deep
chefnut colour : the fting is much larger than that of the common Bee ;
but inftead of being ftraight-. turns back a little towards the belly ; the
bladder of venom is proportionable thereto. Her eggs are diftributed
into two ovaries, one of which is on the right fide, and the other on the
left. Each ovary is an aftemblage of veflels, all which terminate in a
common canal, and which are full of eggs, at the time of breeding.

In the management of Bees, great care muft be taken to provide
them a proper lodging : the hives defigned for this purpofe, are of dif-
ferent forms, and different materials, in different countries ; but they are
generally a fort of bafkets, nearly of a conical figure : thofe that are mod
fkilful in the management of thefe infects, affirm, that the hives ought
to be made of plaited rye ftraw, becaufe they are mod proper to defend
the Bees againft the feverity of the winter cold, and the fcorching heat
ef fummer. Some-plaifter them over with a mortar, or with afhes,
mixed with cow dung ; by which means no rain can get into the hive ;
for all the crannies will be flopped up, by which it might enter.

The hives ought always to be placed where the fun may lhine upon
theiu the greauft part of the day, and confequently they ihould never

be

NATURAL HISTORY. I07*

he expofed to the north wind. Likewife they will be hefl to be fo pla-
ced, that the fun may thine upon them early in the morning, as alfo late
in the evening. However it mull be obferved, that though the fun is
very advantageous to Bees, yet there are times, when his beams are
too fcorching, which will render the hives too hot, lb as to diilurb the
Bees, and to melt their wax. Upon this account, it will be belt to
place them under a cover or roof, to preferve them from the extreme
heat of the fun, and from the rain. But where this cannot eafdy be
done, they may be thatched or covered with ftraw, which will have
the fame effect.

Glafs hives are a new invention, and were defigned to enable per-
fons to fee what was doing in the infide. However they are need-
lefs in the winter feafon, becaufe when there is a froft, the Bees are fo
benumbed, that any one may examine their hives, by laying them on
one fide, or even turning them upfide down. Then the Bees may be
feen heaped together, and lying as clofe to each other as pofilble.
They generally keep in the lower part of the cakes of wax, or at mod:
about the middle of the hive. But as foon as it thaws, and efpecially
if the fun fhines, fo as to render the hive warm, they then are rouzed
out of their lethargy. Hence it appears, that heat is abfolutely necef-
fary tor their prefervation ; and this they endeavour to encreafe, by their
motion, and the agitation of their wings. Likewife the more nume-
rous the bees are in a hive, the warmer they are. However when their
activity is returned, they are then under a neceffity of taking nourifh-
ment, and confequently they have recourfe to their provifions ; for then
they begin to feed upon the lower combs. Hence the milder the win-
ter is, the more honey they confume ; and they are fometimes in dan-
ger of a famine, and to die of hunger, before the flowry feafon returns.
Thus a very fevere winter, and one that is too mild, are equally dan-
gerous.

It is commonly faid, that the afhes of a fig tree, is capable of bring-
ing dead Bees to life ; but this is a miftake, for thofe Bees which are
thought to be dead, becaufe they are motionlefs, are not really fo ;
though it mull be owned, that in extreme cold weather, any perfon
may be deceived. At this time a handful may be taken, without the
danger of being (lung ; but if they are put upon warm afhes, or near
a gentle fire, they will immediately {how that they are alive.

Befides cold, hunger, and old age, Bees are faid to be fubjecT: to
fluxes, which fometimes bring on a mortality among them ; and they
are alfo fubjecT: to other difeafes ; and thofe Bees that are brought
into any clofe place, fuch as a green- houfe, during the winter, are
more fubject to difeafes, than others, that are left in the gardens,
with an aperture, by which frefh air may enter, and through which
they are at liberty to fly out when they pleafe, and when the wea-
ther is fine. However the middle practice is the bell, which is to
leave thofe hives in the open air, that are well (Wked with Bees, and
to place thofe in the green houfe, which are thin of Bees. It is the
opinion of Reaumur, that it will be the bed to put thefe laft into tubs,
open at the top, and to fill up the empty fpaces, between the fides of
the tub and the hive, with fine hay, fhort ftraw, fand, or dried earth ;
but they mud be defended from the rain, by a covering, placed at a
proper diftance over it, This he thinks is a good expedient to preferve

O 2 them

io8 NATURAL HISTORY.

them from the effects of cold, and much better than to place them in
a H'reen houfe. The charge will be little, becaufe the fame tubs will
ferve for a great number of years. Large wicker bafkets may be alfo
made ufe of in the fame manner.

The deh>n of the (lings of Bees, is not to hurt mankind, but to de-
fend them againft their enemies which are very numerous. Hornets
and Wafps will tear open the bellies of Bees, to fuck the contents.
Spiders alfo are enemies, but they are not able to do fo much harm ;
as for Ants, they want nothing but the honey ; but Lizards, Frogs,
and Toads, will eat the Bees entirely up, when they can catch them.
There is alfo a fort of Moths, that will get into their cells, and will
penetrate into a great number of them, to feed upon the wax, of which
they are extremely fond. Old Bees are fubjecl to a kind of Lice, which
are not found upon the young ; however they do not appear to be
greatly molefted by them. Field Mice and Birds, are greater enemies
to Bees, than any thing elfe ; infomuch that in one night, when they
are benumbed in the winter feafon, a fingle field Moufe is able to de-
ilrov a hive that is "very well flocked. Reaumur obferves, that thefe
anrfRals generally eat nothing but the heads and the breads. They
will ieive Birds much in the fame manner, for the young Larks have
been found near the nefts, that have nothing wanting but the head
and the neck. It is alfo faid, that among Birds, that thofe called
Bee eaters, Swallows, and Titmice, feed greatly upon Bees ; but the
Bird that does mod mifchief among them, and deftroys more than all
the reft put together, is the Sparrow. They fwallow them like grains
of corn, and they have been feen to carry three Bees at a time, to feed
their young with, that is one in their bills, and two others in their
claws.

Thofe that are accuftomed to take care of Bees, may go among
them very fafely, provided they do not anger them ; but if they do,
they muft expect the reward of their rafhnefs. They generally attempt
to fting people in their faces, and when any one is ftung, if the Bee is
forced away too foon, it always leaves its fting behind, with its appen-
dages ; but then the Bee will live but a fhort time after it. The fting
is generally more painful in fummer than in winter ; for this depends
upon the quantity of the venom, and the vigour of the Bee : befides
there are perfons which are more affected with the flings of Bees than
others. Generally fpeaking, the fting is followed with an itching, an
inflammation, a fwelling, and a fharp pain ; and if it happens to be
near the eyes, the eye-lids will fometimes clofe up for feveral days.
Authors that have wrote upon this iubjecl, pretend to give feveral re-
medies againft the flinging of Bees ; but Reaumur has tried them all,
■with little fuccefs ; however he thinks that the herb called arfe-mart,
has proved better than any thing elfe, when bruifed in a mortar, and
applied thereto. But the beft way is to take out the fting as foon as
poflible, and then apply a little water, or vinegar, to the wound, as
loon as poffible, and then the pain will vanifh ; yet it has been obfer-
ved, that it has fometimes returned again, with as much- violence as
before.

Snme have pretended, that there are certain fmells, which give
great offence to Bees ; and that they are fondeft of every thing that
is clean and pure ; but this is a miftake, for they always like ltanding

dirty

NATURAL HISTORY. ,o*

dirty water, better than that which is quite limpid. But fmoak will
caufe them to get at a diftance from it, and if they cannot readily, it
benumbs them, and makes them lye as if they were dead ; this is the
method fpme make ufe of, to get part of the honey out of the hive.
This operation is performed at different times, in different countries ;
but the bed is in the morning, after the Bees have been rendered lefs
active by the coldnefs of the night, and then it will be almoft needlefs
to fmoak them. However, in a warm feafon, when flowers are plen-
ty, they may be made to pafs out of a hive that is full of -wax and ho-
ney, into another that is quite empty ; but then the brood will be loft ;
that is, the eggs, the nymphs, and the worms ready to be changed
into nymphs. When the honey is taken away, it is but reafonable, and
even nereffary, to leave the Bees about half for their own ufe.

In fome places, when the fammer is dry, and in coniequence there-
of, the fields are lefs fruitful, then it is very difficult tor 'the Bees to
gather a fufficient quantity of wax ; but in thole countries that are full
of meadows, that are well watered, and produce a fucceffion of differ-
ent flowers ; or even if there are woods, which by their lhade, preferve
the moiftnefs and coolnefs of the air, and by that means caufe the ve-
getation of a great number of plants, in the hotteft part of fummer,
then the Bees will find every thing in plenty, neceffary for their ufe.

It was forroely a cuftcm of the Egyptians, to carry the hives up the
river Nile in boats, thai the Bees might enjoy the benefit of the flowers
that grew upon the banks; thus they removed .them from place to
place, that they might always enjoy the benefit of frefh flowers. The
nations that live near the banks of the river Po, manage their Bees
much in the fame manner, as the ancient Egyptians ; and the fame
practice has been recommended in France ; but whether it has ever
been done or not, is uncertain. Columella acquaints us, that the Greeks
were accuftomed every year, to remove the hives from Achaia into
Attica ; and the fame thing is done at this very day, in the dutchy of
jfuliers, a diftrict of Wejlphalia, in Germany. One perfon in particular,
in the territory, called Gatonis in France, has been at the pains of re-
moving his hives, after the harveft of Sainfoin, into the plains of
Btauce, where the melilot abounds, and then into Salogne, where it is
well known the Bees may enjoy the advantage of Buck-wheat, till to-
wards the end of September, tor fo long that plant retains its flowers.
However this practice cannot be very agreeable to the Bees, becaufe
their being carried in carts, difturbs them more, than if they were in
boats upon the water.

Authors have given different accounts of the length of the life of
Bees ; but they have generally maintained, that they may live feveral
years ; that is as long as a hive retains plenty of inhabitants ; but this
is a bad reafon. Some affirm that Bees will live fix or feven years,
and others upwards of twelve. Others again pretend to be certain,
that a third part in every hive, dies in autumn, and as many in the
fpring ; for which reafon they conclude, that they cannot live above a
Angle year. It is pretty certain, that the Bees of each hive, are re-
newed every year, or in two years time at moft.

It is generally acknowledged, that the habitation of Bees ought to
lie very clofe, and therefore it is their principal care, at firft when they

ars

Ufi NATURAL HISTORY.

are hived, to flop up all the crannies. They make ufe of a fort of re-.
finous gum, which is more tenaceous than wax, and differs greatly
from it. This the French call propolis. It will grow considerably
haid in June, though it will always grow foft with heat, and it varies
in confidence, colour, and fmell. It has generally an aromatic, agree-
able fmell, when it is warmed, infomuch that fome place it in the rank
of perfumes. The outward colour is of a reddifh brown ; but the in-
ward more yellowifb, and nearer the colour of wax. When the Bees
begin to work with it, it is foft ; but it acquires a firmer confiftence
every day; till at length it becomes harder than wax. The Bees carry
it on their hinder legs, and fome think it is met with on poplar, birch,
and willow trees ; but there are others that will fupply them with the
fame. It is much harder for them to get it from hence, than the pow-
der which is upon the Stamina of plants, and more difficult to manage,
the Bees make ufe of the fame fubftance to cover the flicks laid crofs-
ways, which help to fuppoit the combs; and often they plaifler a great
part of the inner fides of their hives therewith.

It is wonderful to confider how the Bees build their combs, whereia
the cells are of fo regular a form, and applied fo ingenioufly, one againft
another. Every thing feems to be difpofed with fo much fymmetry,
and fo well finiihed, that at firft fight, one may be tempted to think,
that they are the principal workmanfhip of thefe induftrious infects.
All the cells are hexagons, that is, they have fix equal fides ; and this
figure, not only takes up the leaft room, but is the moft capacious.

It is no eafy matter to fee them at work, except by the affillance of
a glafs hive. They are always ready to aflift each other, in laying the
foundation of fome new comb, or enlarging the old, though a Specta-
tor might conclude from the hurry that they are in, that there was no-
thing but confufion among them. However it is eafy to perceive, that
their teeth are the inftruments, by which they model and fafhion their
combs. They begin at the bottom of their building, and'feveral of
them work at a time, at the cells, which have two faces. But if they
are Minted with regard to time, they give the new cells but half the
depth which they ought to have, leaving them imperfect, and put off
finifhing them, till they have Sketched out the number of cells, which
are necefTary for the prefent time. The construction of their combs,
cofts them a great deal of labour, for they are not able to make them
in molds, as at firll fome might think they were. They are all bufied
in erecting, Shaping, and polishing the cells that are unfinished ; and
the ufe they make of them, is to lodge their honey, and to depofit
their brood therein, for there the eggs increafe and grow, till they are
transformed into Bees. But the cells defigned for the worms to change
into drones, ought to be larger than the reft ; and for that reafon,
they make fome with greater diameters than others. The cells of the
brood, at different times, ferve for the honey-comb ; however thofe
that were defigned for the honey only, are much deeper than the reft.
When the harvelt of honey is fo plentiful, that they have no fuffkient
room for it, they either lengthen their combs, or build more, which
are much longer than the former.

Sometimes they work at three combs at a time ; for when there are
three workhoufes, more Bees may be employed at a time, without em-
fcprraffing each other, and they can perform their bufinefs more readU

NATURAL HISTORY. rrs

Sy. The combs are generally parallel to each other, and they are
Hightly faftened to the top of the hive. There is always a fpace be-
tween two combs, which are like ftreets, that will only admit two at a
time, a breaft. Though the combs confift of very thin leaves of wax,
yet when they are full of honey, they become heavy. The Bees have
a method of connecting their eombs to the fides of their hive, for which
reafon, thofe that make them, fhould place fmall Micks acrofs each
©ther, to ferve as fupports to the combs that are to be built, this will
fave the Bees a great deal of labour.

The fubftance wherewith they make their combs, is gathered from
flowers ; but not from every fort indifferently ; for it is only the ftamina.
of flowers, that yield proper materials for making their wax ; for they
find none ready made. It is very common to fee Bees fitting upoa
flowers, with their bodies all over powder, which they could have got
no where elfe. Sometimes they are fo full of it, that they become quite
yellow, and might be miilaken, for another infect. However they take
care to clean themfelves with the brufhes of their feet ; and to make
the powder into two fmall balls, which they place in the two triangu-
lar cavities of their hinder legs. Sometimes thefe balls are as large as
a grain of pepper, a little flatted. When the flowers are not fully
blown, the Bees pinch the tops of the ftamina with their teeth, where-
in they know the grains of duft are enclofed ; and by this means they
force them open. Some of thefe balls are yellow, others red, others of
a whitifh yellow, and others again green. In April and May, the Bees
are bufy from morning to evening, in gathering the wax ; but when
the weather becomes hot, in June and July, they work only in the
morning, till about ten o'clock, becaufe then the powder of the ftami-
na, having been moiftened with the dew, or with the fluid that they
tranfpire, is of a more proper confiftance, than at other times, to be
moulded into a mafs.

Tt is laid that the fecond ftomach is the organ, by which this powder
is altered, digefted, and connected into real wax ; and is thrown out,
through the fame paifage that it went in. It is with this fort of pafte,
that they build their combs, and when it is dry, it becomes the fub-
ftance, named Bees wax. Every comb newly made is white ; but they
become yellowilh as they grow old, and the very oldeft ot all, become
ilmoft black. But all thefe do not furnilh wax equally white, as is
well known to thofe, whofe bufinefs it is to blanch it.

However as it is neceflary for Bees to make a provifion of rough
wax, there is in every hive, a pretty large portion of the combs, whofe
cells are filled with nothing but wax ; and thefe are like fo many little
magazines, where the Bees go to depofit their little balls, one after
another, while other Bees take care to knead them, prefs them, and
place them in order. The Bees fometimes come out of their hives a£
4 o'clock in the morning, and continue labouring till 8 in the evening.
They fly backwards and forwards, four or five times in a day, and
fometimes more, for this depends on the length of their journies, and.
the plenty of flowers.

It is obfervable that the Bees extract but a fmall quantity of real wax
out of the powder which they gather ; becaufe a great part of the ma-
terials of wax, ferves to feed them ; it is alfo remarkable, that the
drones never employ themfeiyes in making wax, all their nouriihmeiit

being

ii2 NATURAL HISTORY.

being honey. With regard to the honey, it is but lately taken notice
of, that there are veffels in flowers full of a fweet fluid, to which authors
have given the name of nectarium, and it is to thefe that the Bees refort,
to gather the liquor, which afterwards becomes hone) To this pur-
poie, they make ufe of their tru ks, and with thele the Bees conduct
the fluid to their mouths, caufng it to run along the upper part of
their trunks. The powder of the ftamina, is not the onlv nounihment
of Bees, for it is very well known, they do not make honey on purpofc
for us. The fweet fluid falls from the oefophagus or gullet, into the
firft ftomach, which while it U filled with hone), is in lhape like an ob-
long bladder. Children that live in country places, are well acquaint-
ed with this bladder ; and they even feek for it in the bodies of the Bees,
and more efpecially in thofe of humble Bees, to fuck out the honey.
When a Bee has fufficiently filled her firft ftomach it returns back to
the hive, where it throws up the honey into a ceil. There is reafon to
believe, that the honey does not return out of the body unchanged ;
becaufe the firft ftomach is capable of contraction, in the fame manner
as that of ruminating animals. It often happens, that the Bee, inltead
of flying back to the hive, goes back to the places where the ether Bees
are bufy in their feveral employments, and offers them honey, perhaps
to hinder them from leaving off their work, to go in fearch of food.
Some of the honey combs are always left open for common ufe, but
many others are (lopped up, till there is a necefiity of opening them ;
each of thefe are covered carefully with wax, fo clofe, that the covers
feem to be made at the fame time. This practice tends to preferve the
honey in the fame degree of fluidity, as they defign it lhould have.

The ancients were of opinion, that the generation of Bees, was oc-
cafioned by putrified fubftances, and not in a manner analogous to that
of other animals. Some who have built their faith too much on what
Virgil has faid in the fourth book of his Georgics, in the fable of the
lliepherd Arijlaws ; and have taken a bull of two years old, have flop-
ped up his notlrils, and afterwards killed him, and fo left him to putrify.
But this procedure was fo far from producing fwarms of Bees, that
they only met with thoufands of maggots, and a dreadful ftench.
Others have publifhed variety of fictitious ftoiies, to acquaint the world
in what manner thefe infects generated.

During the greater part of the year, there is but one female in every
hive, which may readily be diftinguifhed from other Bees, by the fhape
of her body ; but it is fomewhat difficult to find her out. The males,
Avho may be feen by hundreds, fpend almoft their whole lives in com-
pany with the female. For this reafon, they are feldom out of the hive,
but they lie idle therein, doing nothing at all, but feeding upon the
honey, v/hich the working Bees have gathered. Neverthelefs they are
not ufelefs, for though they do not work, they are abfolutely neceflary
for the production of other Bees. f

The Bee, called the Queen, is mod prodigioufly fertile, for fhe alone
produces all the reft of the Bees in the fame hive. Infomuch that
there is no connection that can be greater, than between the re if of the
Bees and her. It is certain, that all the Bees leave off working, and
take no farther care of futurity, after the death of the queen. She is
full of a prodigious number of eggs ; and it is for the fake of thefe,
that the Bees fee themfelves to work. Befides, if any other female Bee

be

NATURAL HISTORY. nj

be put in among them, fhe is immediately acknowledged for queen.
The life of all the reft, is nothing in comparifon of her's. They do her
all manner of lervices, and pay her all the homage, that is due from,
fubjecls to a fovereign ; for (he never goes abroad, without a numerous
guard ; they keep her body clean with theif trunks, and follow her
wherever fhe goes. When after her death the Bees continue in a ftate
of perfect idlenefs j if another queen is prefented them, they immedi-
ately apply to their labour again, tn fhort the life of the reft of the
Bees depends upon that of the queen, for in a few days after her death,
they will all fuller themfelves to die with hunger.

The working Bees are always very provident in providing cells for
the young ; and they will leave off their common employm< nt, to con-
ftruifr proper receptacles for the eggs. They build purpofely, little
cells, of a roundiih oblong fhape, and extremely folidj and they employ-
great plenty of wax in this work. This polkiofi is greatly different
from that of the other combs ; thefe fort of Bees, know, or at leaft ap-
pear to know what number of eggs the queen lays in a year, from
whence proceed other females, that give birth to feveral thousands of the
working Bees, and feveral hundred males. Sometimes they do not lay
but three or four at firft, and fometimes none at all ; but in this laft:
cafe, the hives produce no fwarms. The fecundity of this Bee is fuchjj
that in feven or eight weeks time, fhe will produce 10 or 12000 Bees
and upwards; Generally fpeaking, (he lays but one egg in each cell;
becaufe it would not be fufficient to hatch any more. In two or three
days time, according to the heat of the weather, the egg will appear
hatched at the bottom of the cell. It has the appearance of a kind of a
maggot, which is always white, and placed in the fame attitude, that
is, rolled up like a ring, lying foftly in a bed of a kind of gelly, of a
whitifh colour ; and this is what the brood feeds upon. The common
bees are a kind of nurfes to the brood, and have greater affection for it,
than the hired nurfes among mankind. They take care in vifiting each
Cell, and in examining whether any thing is wanting. They are fed
with honey and wax, prepared in the bodies of the Bees ; and in lefs
than fix days time, the worm comes to its full growth. When the Bees
perceive that the worms have no farther occafion for feeding, they fhut
them up in their lodgings, and wall them up, if the expreffion may
be allowed, with wax. Then the worm continuing in a ftate of per-
fect reft, begins to grow larger, and lines the walls of the cell with
filken tapeftry, which they fpin in the fame manner as Caterpillars, be-
fore they undergo their laft transformation. But it is obfervable, that
the Bees bring them more nourilhment than they are able to confume.
Before they fpin their covering, they eat up all their provision of gelly,
leaving the bottom of the cell clean and dry. In a day's time, or long-
er, they obtain their full growth, and then they caft off their fkins,
which ferved them in their worm ftate, and become an Aurelia Nymph.
The worms that produce Drones, are of the fame fize as thofe of the
working Bees. Thefe laft take care of them with the fame application ;
and it may well be imagined, that they are not lefs attentive to thofe
which are to be metamorphofed into female Bees ; for it has been
obferved, that they fupply them with nourifliment, in greater pro-
fuMon*

F When.

jr4 NATURAL HISTORY.

When all parts of the Aurelia have acquired the confidence proper'
to the parts of the Bee ; then that which is to appear, opens its prifon,.
by piercing with its teeth, the waxen cover about its middle. The
Bee* which perceive that which is coming to light, flock about it, and
feem to exprefs their joy, that they are going to be metamorphofed ;
and this they difeover by their good offices. Two or three of them
lick and clean all its fides with their trunks, and fome of them feed it
with honey. Others again begin immediately to cleanfe the cell that
has been juft left ; and carry away the filth out of the hive. As foon
as the external parts of the young Bee bscome dry, it begins to difeo-
ver what employment it is to have during life ; for it immediately pro-
ceeds out of the hive, and goes in queft of flowers ; and is not at all
at a lofs to find its way back to the common habitation. After this
firft fally, it begins fometimes to gather the powder of the (lamina ;
and Maraldi aifures us, that he has feen one of thefe, on the very day
it came into the world, return back with two large balls of this fub-
ftance. When the Bees firft begin to break their prifons, there is gene-
rally above i oo of them in a day ; infomuch that in the fpace of a few
weeks, the number of the inhabitants becomes fo great, that the hive
cannot contain them ; and then they begin to falley out in fwarms.
Young Bees are the browneft, with white hair ; and the old are of a
lighter colour, with red hair. The fwarm is made on purpofe to feek
out a new fettlement ; and that the head of it, is the queen ; for one
of thefe is fufficient to condutt the whole fwarm. About five or fix
days after the birth of a female Bee, fhe is ready to lay her eggs, and
confequetttly is in a condition to place herfelf at the head of thofe that,
are difpofed to follow her.

In different countries, the fwarms make their fally at different times ;■
and in the fame country, they leave the hives fometimes fooner, and
fometimes later. There ar,e feveral figns, which foretel when the Bees'
are going to fwarm; but 'the moft certain is, when the working Bees
do not fly into the fields, in their accuftomed numbers ; though the-
weather feems to invite them. The time is from 10 in the morning,
till 3 in the afternoon, that the fwarms leave the hives. When the
fun ihines bright, efpecially upon the hive, it invites the Bees to feek
their fortune ; for the heat has a great influence in this procedure, and
renders the number more considerable. In lefs than a minute, all
thofe that are to compofe the fwarm, leave the hive and flutter in the
air, like flakes of fnow. However it does not appear that the queen
chufes the place where they are to alight ; for feveral of the Bees,
which are pleafed with a particular branch of a tree, go and fettle
thereon ; and they are followed by many others, as well as the queen
herfelf; but fhe does not join them, till there are a great number to-
gether. When it comes to be pretty large, then it ioon is highly en-
creafed ; infomuch that in about a quarter of an hour, they all feem to-
be at eafe. Sometimes when they leave the hive, they rife fo high in
the air, that they get out of fight ; and to make them come down,
they throw handfuls of fand or duft after them. Some fuppofe that
the Bees take the grains of fand for drops of rain ; but it is the com-
mon method to beat brafs kettles and pans, as foon as ever they per-
ceive the fwarm ready to fly. It is pretended, that the tinkling of

thef*'

NATURAL HISTORY. 115

thefe vefTels, is taken for thunder, and that it obliges the Bees to feek
a proper place for a retreat. When the Bees are fixed, they caufe them
to enter into a hive, rubbed with the leaves of balm, m.xed with a
little honey. When thev make their firft folly, there may be feveral
females, infomuch that a fwarm has fometimes two queens, and is even
divided into two bands. But as it commonly happens, that one *t
thefe is more confiderable than the other, the Bees who are fond of
a large company, the fmalleft band dwindles by little and little, by
their ROing to join the largeft. Thus a fwarm may have two queens,
and fometimes more ; but they do not continue long, for the fupernu-
meiary queens are always killed in the hive, where the fwarm fettles ;
and till this cruel execution is performed, the Bees never fly abroad to
work If there fhould be any female Bees left in the old hive, that
did not go out with the fwarm, they always undergo the fame fate ;
that is, thofe that have been newly transformed. Hence it follows,
that there is never more than one queen in the lame hive. However
it muft be obferved, that the Bees, never facrifice any of the females,
when their hives are full of honey and wax ; and it is given as a reafon,
that there is no danger at that time, to maintain a plurality of breeders.
Bees in fome fenfe, obferve the fame rules as Wafps ; for when the
time is come, that the males are no longer neceifary, the working Bees
declare war againft them ; and in two or three days time, they make a
dreadful havock amongft them ; infomuch, that the ground all round
the hive, is ftrewed with dead bodies ; nay they will even kill thofe that
are yet in their worm flate, or of that of an Aureha. This butchery
is performed at different times ; for in fome hives, it happens in June,
and in others not till July or Augujt. _ _ '

When the hive fends out feveral fwarms in a year ; that which hrlt
proceeds therefrom, is always the beft, and moft numerous ; and then
likewife they are able to lay up the greateft plenty of honey and wax
It is remarkable, that a fwarm, always confifts of Bees of all ages
and likewife there continues in the hive Bees of all ages. The number
of them is always more confiderable, than that of the inhabitants of
many larcre cities ; for fometimes they are upwards ot 40,000. It is
wonderful to confider the activity of the Bees, when they firft enter an
empty hive ; for often in lefs than twenty-four hours time, they will
make combs, above twenty inches long, and feven or eight broad ; and
fometimes they will half fill their hives with wax m five days; info-
much that a fwarm will make more wax in the firft fifteen days, than
they do afterwards all the reft of the year. When a fwarm is confider-
able, and appears early, they fometimes fend out another the fame year.
In confideration of the care and trouble that people are at, in taking
care of the prefervation and multiplication of Bees, it appears reason-
able that they ihould partake with them, of the fruit of their labour.
But it is a kind of a barbarity to dellroy all the Bees with fulphur,
or otherwife to get all the wax or honey ; and yet we fee this is often
done, by thofe who make a trade of dealing in iuch commodities.^ In
fome countries, this practice is forbid, and particularly in Tujcany.
With proper care, a great number of hives might be faved every year,
and there cannot be too many in thofe places that greatly abound in
flowers. It muft be acknowledged, that honey is not in fuch great
requeft as formerly, before the making of fugar was found out. How-
^ ' P 2 ever

>

n6 NATURAL HISTORY.

ever it Is of great ufe ftill in many refpetfs ; and the confumption of
wax is greater than ever. In France, a good fwarm in two years, will
yield two pounds and a half of wax, and near thirty pounds of honey ;
and therefore under a good regulation, a confiderable profit may be
made of them. But Bees are Mill more beneficial, in countries that are
covered with flowers the greateft part of the year, efpecially in hot
countries, fuch as Spain, Peru, and Mexico, where tallow is always too
(oft to make candles with.

In Mufcovy, and in America, there is fometimes found in the trunks
of old trees, a fort of black wax, in round bits, of the fize of a nut-
meg. This is produced by fmall Bees, who make their combs in thefe
hollow trunks, whofe honey is of a citron colour, and of a very agree-
able tafle. This wax, when heated, has a fmell like balm, hut it is
feldom to be met with in France. The Americans make candles with
the wax, and likewife fmall vellels, which they make ufe of to gather
the balfam oi Tolu.

With regard to the medicinal qualities of Bees, it is well known,
that they are diuretic, when reduced to powder, and the dofe is half a
dram in a morning, incorporated with the extract of juniper berries; or
it may be given in a glafs of diuretic wine. The fame powder ftrowed
upon the head, will make the hair grow, and it will become thicker
;han before.

There are two forts of honey, that is, the white and the yellow.
The white is taken without fire from the honey-combs. Thefe they
break foon after they are made, and lay them upon hurdles or mats
of ofier, or on linen cloth, faftened at the four corners to as many
pofts, and then an excellent white honey will fall from the combs, and
grow hard in a fhort time. Afterwards they put it into glazed earthen
pots, this they call virgin honey. Some preis this honey out, but then
it is not fo agreable, for it will tafte of the wax. The beft fort of this
honey, that the French are acquainted with, is that of Languedoc ; and
they call it honey of Narbonne. It fhould be new, thick, granulated,
of a clear tranfparent white colour, of a foft, and fomewhat aromatic
fmell, and of a fweet and lively tafte. If it is very pure, it is almoft as
hard as fugar candy; and that which renders it different from all others,
are the many aromatic flowers, that grow in thofe parts ; and from
which the Bees gather their honey. It is always obfervable, that the
honey made in mountainous countries, where the fun has a great
power, is more fine, and more fpirituous, than that which is produced
in low grounds, not well warmed by the fun.

Yellow honey is made from all forts of honey-combs, that is, old as
well as new; and even of thofe from whence the virgin honey has been
extracted. They break the combs, and heat them with a little water
in bafons, or pots, keeping them continually ftirring ; then they put
them into bags of thin linen-cloth, and thefe they put in a prefs, to
fqueeze out the honey. The wax ftays behind in the bags, though
there is always a little of it paffes through with the honey ; for when
it is diftilled, there is always found fmall bits of wax that rife with the
fpirit. Yellow wax fhould always be of a good confidence, of a fine
yellow, and well tafied ; the French take that to be the beft, that is
made in Camphagne, becaufe the foil is dry in that country, and the
flowers aromatic. It contains a great deal of ellential or acid fait, and

phlegm*

NATURAL HISTORY. 117

phlegm, and a little oil and earth. The white honey contains the
fame principles, but not quite fo much fait.

The ancients, as has been already taken notice of, made greater
ufe of honey, than we do at prefent, becaufe fugar was not then fo
common ; but in fome cafes, it is dill preferred ; for it is more purging
in glyders, and cleanfes wounds better, upon which account it is mix-
ed with digedives. It is a greater prefervative of the compofitions into
which it enters, than fugar, on account of its clamniinefs ; and for
this reafon, it is made ufe of in Venice treacle, and mithridate. It alfo
deferves to be preferred, btcaufe it contains the moft tffential fubftance
of flowers, and may be faid to contain the quinteffence of aiomatic
plants. Honey taken in fubdance, is pectoral, laxative, and deterfive,
and is good in many difordes of the lungs, occafioned by a grofs
phlegm. It alio loofens the belly, and is made ufe of in cly Iters.
The whiteft honey is bed for inward ufe, as the yellow is for outward.
Some ufe it as an aliment, and then it is eafy of digedion, and fupplies
the blood with a new ballam of life ; however it is not good for dry
bilious conditutions. We are told in the German ephemerides, that a.
young country girl, having eaten a great deal of honey, became fo ine-
briated with it, that flie flept a whole day, and talked a little idly the
day following.

The moll common preparations of honey for drink are mead, and
jnethegelin; thefe in fnme countries are in high efteem. The common
hydromel is made with boiling an ounce and a half of honey, with a
quart of fpiing water, taking off the fcum ; after which it is drained
through a cloth, and may be ufed as common drink. This is good
againil coughs in old people, and when any perfon cannot bring up
phlegm without difficulty. Some direct it againd internal ulcers, be-
caufe they fuppofe it is an enemy to putrefaction.

Vinous hydromel is made by mixing four pounds of virgin honey,
with ten quarts of fpring water, and boiling it till about a third is con-
fumed, or till an egg will fwim thereon. Then it is to be poured into
a cafk, which mult be expofed to the heat of the fun, or in a dove for
forty days; or till the liquor will ferment no longer, lhaking it from time
to time. Then the cafk muff, be flopped up, and put in a cellar, to be
kept for ufe. This ftrengthens the ftomach, and is very well tafted.

There is kept in the fhops, other preparations of honey, namely,
fimple oxymel, and oxymel of fquills. The firfl is made by mixing
two parts of good honey, with one of white wine vinegar, and boiling
it to the confidence of a fyrup. The dofe is half a fpoonful, and it is
thought to be good to incide thick vifcous humours, that adhere to the
bronchia of the lungs, in a moid adhma. Oxymel of fquills has the
fame virtues, but much dronger.

Honey-water, made by the chymifts, has an agreeable fmell, and a
fliarpifh talk ; and it is looked upon as cordial, pectoral, and aperitive.
Some waih their heads with it, to make their hair grow, or apply it
every day with a fpunge. Spirit of honey is opening, and the oil is
good againd rotten bones.

Externally, wine mixed with honey, is very good to cleanfe ulcers,
and affid in forming a cicatrice. Honey-water is good to clear the
fight ; and take off the fpots of the cornea. Some make ufe of the
mare of Beesj which is nothing elfe than what remains after the wae

of

n8 NATURAL HISTORY.

of the combs is preffed out, to cure the pleurify. For this purpofe,
they mix it with vinegar, and lay it between two clean linen cloths ; af-
ter which they apply it as a poultice, to the pained part, and fprinkle it
with vinegar from time to time, without taking it off. It is alfo good
in cold and oedematous fwellings, which are hard to be refolved. Far-
riers alfo make ufe of it, againft bruifes in horfes.

Bees wax is compofed of two parts, namely, a great deal of phlegm,
which keeps an acid diffolved, and an oil, It mould be new, hard,
compact, a little glutinous to the touch, of a fine yellow colour, and
of a pleafant fmell, fomewhat like that of honey ; but it fhould have no
tafte at all. Virgin was, is that which is made without the help of
fire; and is nothing but a preparation of the yellow; which muft be
melted, waftied feveral times in water, divided into pieces, and layed
upon linen cloths, which muft be expofed for fix weeks or two months
to the fun, till it becomes white. Some make ufe of tartar, and chryf-
tals of tartar, by which means they render it of a very fine white.
When it is very white, clear, tranfparent, hard, brittle, taftelefs, and
will not (tick to the teeth when chewed, it is beft ; for it is then emol-
lient, and opening, as well as the yellow; but it is not fo refolutive, be-
caufe the greateft part of falts are wafhed away. Bees wax ' in fub-
flance, is feldom or never given inwardly ; though it has been ufed to
cuie bloody fluxes; but it is prepared, by putting it into a hollow fweet
apple, and which muft be roafted under hot cinders, in fuch a manner,
that the wax muft melt, and enter into the fubftance of the apple. There
muft be about two drams of wax, and the whole muft be given, thus
roafted, in the aforefaid diforder; and the pain will vanifli immediately.
The butter of wax, gained by diftiilation, is good to refolve cold tu-
mours, and for pains in the joints ; as alfo for the palfy, as well as for
parts that are frozen, and for chaps in the bread, when ufed as a lini-
ment, and applied to the part affected. Four drops of the oil of wax,
which is nothing but the butter rectified, given in a proper water, is very
diuretic, and is good in the nephritic cholic. Some give ten drops for
this purpofe.

The propolis taken notice of above, is an attenuant and refolvent,
and good to ripen boils, as well as for malignant ulcers. It is mixed
in France, in platters and in ointments, and if the vapour of it is re-
ceived into the mouth, by means of a funnel, it is faid to be very good
to mitigate inveterate coughs. The method is, to throw bits into a
cbafing-difh that has fire in it.

There are feveral kinds of wax, and of different colours, which are
occafioned by the ingredients that are added thereto. Thus green wax
is compofed of white wax, foftened with a little turpentine, and colour-
ed with verdigreafe in fine powder. This is good for corns in the feet,
being applied thereto in the form of a plafter. Red wax is made in the
fame manner, with the addition of vevmillion ; it is refolvent, when
applied outwardly.

The Bee File is a fort of fpecies by itfelf, it being of a nature between
a Bee and a common Flie, and it feeds its brood with a fort of fweet
pafte. The trunk differs from that of the common Bee, for its great-
eft part is hid in a fort of fhelly fheath ; and when it is thruft out of
it, it is accompanied with r. fort of threads, four in number; but when
it is not ufed, it lies under the teeth. Under thefe there, is a fort of a

flefhy

NATURAL HISTORY. n?

ferny feat, which is the real tongue of this Flie, with which it licks
the trunk. The body is longer than that of any other Bee, and the
rings that compofe the trunk neareft the bread-plate, are reddifh on
the upper part. They make their nefts in the earth, nine or ten in-
ches deep ; and fome of thefe Flies are armed with a fting, which are
the females ; but the males, which are larger, have none.

The Tapejiry Bees are fo called, from lining their nefts with a fort of
tapeftry, which they get from the flowers of the wild poppy, newly
blown, placing bits thereof at very fmall diftances from each other.
The places where they chufe to build their nefts in the earth, are by
the fides of highways, and the paths in corn fields. It is more hairy
than the common Bee, but much of the fame colour, only fhorter in
proportion ; when their neft is finifhed, they fill it with pafte like fome
•f the former.

There are feveral forts of foreign Bees, particularly thofe of Gauda-
hupey which are lefc by one half than the European, and they are more
black and round. They have no fting, and they make their hives in
hollow trees, where if the hole that they meet with, is too large, they
make themielves a fort of a waxen houfe, in the fhape of a pear, and
in which they lodge, place their honey, and lay their eggs. Their wax
is black, or at leaft of a deep violet-colour. They lay up their honey
in waxen veflels, of the fize of a pigeon's egg, and in the fhape of the
air-bladders of carps ; and they are fo joined together, that there is no
fpace left between them. The honey is always fluid, of the confidence
of oil, olive, and of the colour of amber. The wax is always too foft for
candles, and therefore they make ufe of it inftead of corks, to ftop up
their bottles ; and it is very good to foften corns on the feet, and warts
©n the hands, and when it has been applied for fome time, the corns
may be drawn out.

In 'Ethiopia there are little black Bees that make excellent honey, and
they have no fting. In the Canary //lands, there are fwarms of Bees
©n the mountains, which produce large quantities of honey, but they
are of different kinds. The Bees of Guiney make excellent wax, and
delicious honey. In Congo and Angola there are two forts of Bees, one
of which make their neft in the middle of woods, and the other on the
roofs of houfes. Authors and travellers take notice of feveral forts of
Bees, but as they are not particularly defcribed, nothing more needs
lo be faid about them.

CHAP. IX.

OF INSECTS OF THE ANT KINI>.

THE Ant is an infect, that keeps together in companies like the
Bees, and maintain a fort of a republic, governed by laws. The
neft is not exadtly fquare, but longer one way than the other, and in it
there are a fort of paths, which lead to different magazines. Some of
the Ants are employed in making the ground firm, by muing it with

a

ita NATURAL HISTORY;

a fort of glue, for fear it fhould crumble, and fall down upon their
heads. They may be ibmetimes feen to gather feveral twigs, which
ferve them for rafters, which they place over the paths, to fupport the
covering ; they lay others acrofs them, and upon them rufhes, weeds,
and dried grafs, which they heap up into a double declivity, which
ferves to turn off the water from their magazines. Some of thefe ferve
to lay up their provisions in, and in others they lay their eggs.

As for the provifions, they lay up every thing that is fit for them to
eat ; and you may often fee one loaded with pippin, or grain of fruit,
another with a dead Flie, and feveral together with the carcafe of a
May-bug, or other infect. If they meet with any they cannot bring
away, they eat it upon the fpot, or at leaft fo much of it, as may re-
duce it to a bulk fmall enough for them to carry. They do not rurt
about where they pleafe, at all adventures ; for fome of them are fent
abroad to make difcoveries ; and if they bring back news they have
met with a pear, or a fugar-loaf, or a pot of fweetmeats, they will run
from the bottom of the garden, as high as the third ftory of a houfe,
to come at it. They all follow each other in the fame path, without
wandering to the right or the left ; but in the fields they are more at
their liberty, and are allowed to run about in fearch of game. There
is a fort of green Flie, that does a great deal of mifchief among the
flowers, and which curl up the leaves of peach and pear-trees ; and
thefe are furrounded with a fort of glue, or honey, which the Ants
hunt after very greedily ; for they touch neither the plant nor the Flies
themfelves ; however this is fometimes thought to be done by the Ants„
which raifes them a great many enemies, who endeavour to deftroy
them, though they are really innocent of the fact.

Next to this, their greateft paffion is to lay up hoards of wheat, and
other corn, and for fear the corn mould fprout by the moifture of the
fubterraneous cells, they gnaw off the end which would produce the
blade. The Ants are often feen puftiing grains of wheat, or barley^
much larger than themfelves.

The Ants after having fpent the fummer in labour, keep clofe in the
winter, enjoying the provifions that they have laid up. However fome
think they fleep in the winter, like other infe&s, and they do not lay
in the corn for winter provifions, but to provide a (lore that is necef-
fary to feed their brood with. They feed them as foon as they pro-
ceed from the eggs, with inceffant care, which employs the whole com-
pany. The young ones, when they proceed from the egg, are no lar-
ger than grains of fand. After they have been fed for fome time, they
weave themfelves a covering of white or yellow ftuff, and then they
leave off eating, and become Chryfalides ; many people, while they
are in this ftate, take them for Ant's eggs. But they are in reality the
nymphs from whence the young Ants proceed.

In Africa., and particularly in Guiney, the Ants are exceeding trou-
blefome, and do a great deal of mifchief. They make their nefts twice
as high as a man, of earth in the fields ; befides which they build large
nefts in high trees, from which places they advance to the European
fettlements, in fuch prodigious fwarms, that they frequently oblige the
inhabitants to quit their beds in the night time. They will fometimes
attack a living fheep, which in a night's time, they will reduce to a
perfect fkeleton, leaving not the leaft thing except the bones. It is

commos

NATURAL HISTORY. izi

common for them to ferve domeftic fowls in the fame manner, and
even the rats themfelves cannot efcape them. If you place a Worm
Or a Beetle, only where one or two Ants are, they will immediately
depart, and bring with them above an hundred ; after which they feize
their prey, and march off with it in good order. Thefe Ants are of
various forts, fome gieat, others fmall, fome black, and others red ;
" the (ling of this Tad is very painful, and cau'fes an inflammation ; 'lie
white are as tranfparent as chrydal, and have fuch ilrong teeth, that
in a night's time, they will eat their way through a thick wooden cheft,
and make it as full of holes, as if it had been penetrated by hail ihot.

There are alio feveral forts of Ants in the E ajl- Indies, whofe numbers
are prodigious ; fome of them are exceeding large, and of a ruddy co-
lour, inclining to black, and fome have wings, but others have none.
They are very pernicious to the fruits of the earth, and do a great
deal of mifchief in houfes, unlefs great care is taken to prevent them.
It is remarkable, that if one Ant meets another that is loaden, it al-
ways gives way to let it pafs freely.

i. The Horfe-ant is the largeft of this kind in England, being twice
as big as- the common fort ; it has a black head, and has a bread of a
dufky iron-grey colour, only it is black towards the hinder part, and
white at the other extremity. The legs are iron-grey, and the fcale
which is placed between the body and the bread is of a roundifh oval
figure, pointed at the top, and undivided ; the body is brown, and
confifts of five fegments. It is ufually met with in hollow trees.

2. The red Ant is fmaller than the common fort, having a fmall
head, and a large bread: ; and the fcale which feparates that from the
body, is of a roundifh fhape, and {lightly dentated. The legs are {len-
der, and the wings are very thin, and of a brownifh colour. It is met
with in dry paftures, on the leaves and ftalks of the fmaller weeds.

3. The black Ant is neither fa large as the common fort, nor fo
fmall as the red Ant, its head is large, in proportion to the body, and
the breaft is flatted, being at fome diftance from the hinder part. The
fcale that feparates them, is of an oval fhape, and undivided on the
edges ; the legs are longer and {Tenderer than in the other kinds. It
is met with in heaths, and in dry paltures.-

4. The common Ant is of a dark brown or reddifh colour, witli
long legs, on the hindermod of which it will raife itfelf, as if it want-
ed to fee at a didance. It has a large head, at the upper end of
Which there are two prominent eyes, like thofe of a Fiie, but fmaller.
On the fhout there are two horns or feelers, and beyond them two in-
dented jaws,- which open fide ways, very wide, and at the ends of them
there are teeth, which Hide on the fide of each other, when the mouth'
is ihut. With thefe it is able to hold a body three times its own weight.
It ha^ fix- legs, fiiaped like thofe of a Flie, and the body confifts of three
joints or fegments, and fome of them have long wings, with which
they are enabled to fly where they pleafe. The whole body is cafed
with a fort of armour, and when viewed through a mfcrofcope, feenx
covered with multitudes of fmall white fhining bridles, and the legs,
feelers, head, and the middle part of the body, are furniihed with hairs,
that are fmaller, and of a darker colour. Some have obferved, that
as in Bees, thofe that make up the great body of the Ants,- a?e neither
male nor female, thefe lad only having wings, and the refl none. The=

m NATURAL HISTOKT.

females are the hrgeft, the males of a middle fize, and the working
Ants much lefs than either.

5. The American Ant is of a very large kind, and fo voracious, that
they will devour all ihe leaves of a tree in a night's time. They have
two crooked teeth, which meet each other like nippers, with which
the> cut the leaves of trees, and other things that they feed upon.
They fometimes cut them off, and when they are fallen to the ground^
they carry them to their nefls to feed their brood. Thefe Ants, when
they are arrived to their full growth, fhed their coats in the fame man-
ner as Flies that proceed from Caterpillars, and then become winged
infects, in which Hate they lay their eggs. They make their holes in
the earth of a great depth, and build their nefts very artificially. They
are great en^iies to all other infects, and when they rove abroad,
which is always once a year, they will go into every room of a houfe,
and kill all the Spiders, and other infects that are therein.

The American Velvet A?it is of the fiz-e of a Hornet, and the body is
elegaiitly marked with black and crimfon velvet : the breaft is fo ftrong
and hard, that though they are trod upon by men or cattle, they re-
ceive no harm : they have a long iling in their tails, which occafions
great pain and inflammation.

The Ants of Brazil in South- America, are very numerous, and de-
vour every thing chat comes in their way, whether fruit, flelh, fifh, or
infects. There is alfo a flying Ant, an inch in length, with a triangu-
lar head, and the body feparated into two parts, being only joined to-
gether by a fmall tiring. On the head there are two llender and long
horns, or feelers, and their eyes are very fmall. On the fore part or
breaft, there are fix legs, confiding of three joints, and they have four
thin tranlparent wings, the hindermoft of which are round, and are of
a bright brown colour. They dig into the ground like moles ; but
they are eaten by the negroes.

There is another large Ant, refembling a Flie, whofe body is fepa-
rated into three diiHnct parts, the hindermoft of which for fhape and
iize, refembles a barleycorn; the middlemoft is of an oblong fhape^
with fix legs, each of which is near half an inch long, and confift of
four joints : the fore part, or head, is pretty thick, and in the fhape of
a heart, wLh two horns or feelers, and as many black crooked teeth :
the eyes round the pupils, are inclining to black, and the fore and'
hind parts of the head are of a bright red colour.

There is alfo a bright black Ant with bright rough legs, near an inch
in length with a large four-fquare head, and prominent black eyes and
teeth, with two horns or feelers, near half an inch long: the body of
this is alfo feparated into three parts, the foremoft of which is of an
oblong ihape, but not very thick, with fix legs, each of which is near
half an inch long : the middle part is fmall and fquare, not exceeding
the bignefs of a luufe : that behind is the largeft of the three, and is of
an oval figure, only it is iharp at the end : the three parts are faftened
together by a fort of tiring.

The chefnut brown Ant is alfo a native of Brazil, and has a head as
1 r<?e as that of other Ants, with two horns or feelers, and two tufks
iviuc.id of teeth : the whole body is covered with hair, and is divided
into two parts, the foremoft of which has fix legs, and is fomewhat
L't:> than that behind. At certain feafons of the year it has four wings,,

the-

NATURAL HISTORY. ie3

the foremoft of which are fomewhat larger than the hindermoft, but it
lofes them again after a certain time.

Linnaus takes notice of four forts of jfnts, namely, the horfe Ant,
the red Ant, the black Ant, and the corn Ant.

CHAP. X.

of the ant.
(From Goldsmith.)

THOUGH the number of two- winged flies be very great, and the
naturalifts have taken fome pains to defcribe their characters and
varieties ; yet there is fuch a fimilitude in their forms and manners,
that in a work like this, one deicription mull: ferve for all. We now
therefore, come to a fpecies of four-winged infects, that are famous
from all antiquity, for their focial and induftrious habits, that are mark-
ed for their fpirit of fubordination, that are offered as a patron of par-
iimony to the profufe, and of unremitting diligence to the fluggard.

In the experiments, however, which have been more recently made,
and the obfervations which have been taken, much of their boalled
frugality and precaution feem denied them ; the treafures they lay up,
are no longer fuppofed intended for future provifion, and the chsice
they make in their ftores, feems no way dictated by wifdom. It is, in-
deed, fomewhat furprifing, that almoft every writer of antiquity fhould
defcribe this infect, as labouring in the fummer, and fealting upon the
produce during the winter. Perhaps, in fome of the warmer climates,
where the winter is mild, and of fhort continuance, this may take
place ; but in France and England, thefe animals can have no man-
ner of occafion for a fupply of winter provitions, as they are actually in
a (fate of torpidity during that feafon.

The common ants of Europe, are of two or three different kinds ;
fome red, fome black, fome with flings, and others without. Such as
have flings inflict their wounds in that manner; fuch as are unprovided
with thefe weapons of defence, have a power of fpurting, from their
hinder parts, an acid pungent liquor, which, it ii lights upon the ikin,
inflames and burns it like nettles.

The body of an ant is divided, into the head, bread, and belly.
In the head the eyes are placed, which are entirely black, and under
the eyes, there are two fmall horns or feelers, compofed of twelve joints,
all covered with a fine filky hair. The mouth is furnifhed with two
crooked jaws, which project outwards, in each of which are feen inci-
fures,"that look like teeth. The breaff is covered with a fine filky hair,
from which project fix legs, that are pretty flrong and hairy, the ex-
tremities of each armed with two fmall claws, which the anisnal ufes
in climbing. The belly is more red than the reft of the body, which
is of a brown chefnut colour, lhining ai glafs, and covered with ex-
tremely fine hair.

0^2 From

I?4 NATURAL HISTORY.

From fuch a formation, this animal feems bolder, and more aduve,
for its fize, than an> other of the infect tribe;, and fears not to attack
a creature, otten above ten times its own magnitude.

As foon as the winter is pad, in the firft rine day in April, the ant-
hill, that before feemed a defert, now fwarms with new life, and niy-
liads of thefe infers are feen juft awaked from their annual lethargy,
and preparing for the pleafures and fatigues of the feafon. For the
firft day they never offer to leave the hill, which may be coniidered as
their citadel, but run over every part of it, as if to examine its preient
fituation, to obferve what injuries it has fuftained during the i igours of
■winter*, while they flept, and to mediate and fettle the labours of the
day enfuing.

At the firft difplay of their forces, none but the winglefs tribe ap-
pears, while thofe furniihed with wings remain at the bottom. Thefe
are the working ants, that fir It appear, and that are always deftitute
of wings ; the males and females, that are furniihed with four large
wings each, are more flow in making their appearance.

Thus, like bees, they are divided into males, females, and the neu-
tral or the working tribe. Thefe are all eafily diftinguifhed from each
other ; the females are much larger than the males ; the working ants
are the fmalleft of all. The two former have wings ; which, however,
they fometimes are divefted of; the latter never have any, and upon
them are devolved all the labours that tend to the welfare of the com-
munity. The female, alfo may be diftinguiihed, hy the colour and
ftrutfure of her breaft, which is a little more brown than that of the
common ant, and a little bigger than that of the male.

In eight or ten days after their firft appearance, the labours of the
hill are in fome forwardnefs ; the males and females are feen mixed
with the working multitude, and puri'ued or purfuing each ocher. They
feem no way to partake in the common drudgeries of the ftate ; the
males purfue the females with great affiduity and in a manner force them
to compliance. They rem'ain coupled for fome time, while the males thus
united, fuffer themfelves to be drawn along by the will of their partner.

In the mean time, the working body of the ftate takes no part in
their pleafures, they are feen diligently going from the ant-hill, irt
purfuit of food for themfelves and aifociates, and of proper materials
for giving a comfortable retreat to their young, or fafety to their ha-
bitation. In the fields of England, ant-hills are formed with but lit-
tle apparent regularity. In the more foutheren provinces of Europe,
they are conftrucled with wonderful contrivance, and offer a fight
highly worthy a naturalift's curiofity. Thefe are generally formed in
the neighbourhood of fome large tree and a ftream of water. The one
is coniidered by the animals, as the proper place for getting food ;
the other for fupplying them with moifture, which they cannot well
difpenfe with. The fhape of the ant-hill, is that of a fugar loaf, about
three feet high, compofed of various fubftances ; leaves, bits of wood,
fand, earth, bits of gum, and grains of corn. Thefe are all united into
a compact body, perforated with galleries down to the bottom, and
winding ways within the body of the ftruclure. From this retreat, to
the water, as well as to the tree, in different directions, there are many
paths worn by conftant affiduity, and along thefe the bufy infecls are

feeu
J Mcjijoires pour fervir a/1 Hifiorie des infeftes par Charles de Geer.

NATURAL HISTORY. 12-

ieen paffing and repafilng continually ; fo that from May, or the be-
ginning ot June, according to the ftate of the fealon, they work con-
tinually, till the bad weather comes on.

The chief employment of the working ants, is in fuftaining not only
the idlers at home, but alfo finding a fufficiency of food ior themfelves.
They live upon various proviiions, as well of the vegetable as of the
animal kind. Small infects they will kill and devour ; fweets of all
kinds they are particularly fond of. They feldom, however, think of
their community, till they themfelves are firft lariated. Having found
a juicy fiuit, they fwallow what they can, and then tearing it in pieces,
carry home their load. If they meet with an infect above their match,
feveral of them will fall upon it at once, and having mangled it, each
will carry off a part of the fpoil. If they meet, in their excurfions,
any thing that is too heavy for one to bear, and yet, which they are
unable to divide, feveral of them will endeavour to force it along ;
ibme dragging and others pufhing. If any one of them happens to
make a lucky clifcovery, it will immediately give advice to others, and
then at once, the whole republic will put themfelves in motion. If ia
thefe (truggles, one of them happens to be killed, fome kind furvivor
will carry him off to a great diftance, to prevent the obllructions his
body might give to the general fpirit of induliry.

But while they are thus employed in fupporting the ftate, in feeding
abroad, and carrying in provifions to thofe that continue at home, they
are not unmindful of pofterity. After a few days of fine weather, the
female ants begin to lay their eggs, and thofe are as affiduoufly watch-
ed and protected by the working ants, who take upon themfelves to
fupply whatever is wanting to the nafcent animal's convenience or ne-
ceffity. They are carried as foon as laid, to the fafeft iituation, at
the bottom of their hill, where they are carefully defended from cold
and moitture. We are not to fuppofe, that thofe white fuottances
which we fo plentifully find in every ant-hill, are the eggs as newly
laid. On the contiary, the ant's egg is fo very fmall, that, though
laid upon a black ground, it can fcarcely be difcerned. The little white
bodies we fee, are the young animals in their maggot ftate, endued
with life long fince freed from the egg, and often involved in a cone,
which it has fpun round itfelf, like the iilk worm, 'lhe real egg when
laid, if viewed through a microfcope, appears fmooth, polifhed, and
fhining, while the maggot is leen compofed of twelve rings, and is often
larger than the ant itfelf.

It is impofhble to exprefs the fond attachment which the working
ants fhew to their riling progeny. In cold weather they take them in
their mouths, but without offering them the fmalleft injury, to the very
depths of their habitation, where they are lefs fubject to the feverity of
the feafon. In a fine day they remove them, with the fame care, nearer
the furface, where their maturity may be affilted by the warm beams of
the fun. If a formidable enemy lhould come to batter down their
whole habitation, and cruih them by thoufands in the ruin, yet thefe
wonderful infects, ftill mindful of their parental duties, make it their
fir ft care to fave their offspring. They are leen running wildly about,
and different ways, each loaded with a young one, orten bigger than
the infect that fuppcrts it. 1 have kept, fays thvammerdam, leveral of
$he workine ants in my clofet, with their young, in a glafs filled with

earth

u6 NATURAL HISTORY.

dearth. I took pkafure in obferving, that in proportion as the eartk
<Tried on the furface, they dug deeper and deeper to depofit their eggs ;
and when 1 poured water thereon, it was furprifing to fee with what
.care, affeSion, and diligence they laboured, to put their brood in fafe-
ty, in the drielt place. I have feen alfo, that when water has been
wanting for feveral days, and when the earth was moiitened after it a
little, they immediately carried their young ones to have a ftiare, wh»
ieemed to enjoy and fuck the moifture.

When the young maggot is come to its full growth, the breaft fwells
infenfibly, it cafts its fkin, and lofes all motion. All the members
which were hidden before, then begin to appear, an aurelia is formed,
which reprefents very diftin&ly, all the parts of the animal, though they
are yet without motion, and as it were, wrapped up in fwaddling-
clothes. When at length, the little infedt has paffed through all its
.changes, and acquired its proper maturity, it bur lis this la ft {kin, to
affume the form it is to retain ever after. Yet this is not done by the
efforts of the little animal alone, for the old ones very afiiduoufly
break open, with their teeth, the covering in which it is inclofed. With-
out this affittance the aurelia would never be able to get free, as Mr.
De Geer often found, who tried the experiment, by leaving the aurelia
to themfelves. The old ones not only affiil, them, but know the very
precife time for lending their affiftance, for if produced too foon the
young one dies of cold, if retarded too long it is fuffocated in its prifon.

When the female has done laying, and the whole brood is thus pro-
duced, her labours, as well as that of the male, become unneceffary,
and her wings, which fhe had but a fhort time before fo actively em-
ployed, drop off. What becomes of her when thus diverted ot her or-
naments is not well known, for fhe is feen in the cells for fome weeks
after. The males, on the other hand, having no longer, any occupation
at home, make ufe of thofe wings with which they have been furnifhed
by nature, and fly away, never to return, or to be heard of more. It
is probable they perifh with the cold, or are devoured by the birds,
which are particularly fond of this petty prey.

In the mean time, the working ants haying probably depofed their
queens, and being deferted by the males, that ferved but to clog the
community, prepare for the feverity of the winter, and bury their re-
treats as deep in the earth as they conveniently can. It is now found
that the grains of corn, and other fubftances with which they furnilh
their hill, are only meant as fences to keep off the rigour of the wea-
ther, not as provifions to fupport them during its continuance. It is
found generally to obtain, that every infecT: that lives a year after it is
come to its full growth, is obliged to pafs four or five months without
taking any nouriihment, and will feem to be dead all that time. It
would be to no purpofe therefore for ants to lay up corn for the win-
ter, fince they lie that time without motion, heaped upon each other,
and are fo far from eating, that they are utterly unable to ftir. Thus
what authors have dignified by the name of a magazine, appears to be
no more than a cavity, which ferves for a common retreat when the
weather forces them to return to their lethargic ftate.

What has been faid with exaggeration of the European ant, is how-
ever true, if afferted of thofe of the tropical climates. They build an
i.pt-hill with great contrivance and regularity, they lay up provifions,

and,

NATURAL HI-STORY. ra7

atcf, as they probably live the whole year, they fubmit themfelves to
regulations entirely unknown among the ants of Europe.

Thofe of Africa are of three kinds, the red, the green and the black ;
the latter are above an inch long, and in every refpecl a moll formi-
dable infect. Their fting produces extreme pain, and their depreda-
tions are fometimes extremely deftructive. They build an ant-hill of a
very great fize, from fix to twelve feet high ; it is made of vifcous clay,
and tapers into a pyramidal form. This habitation is conftrucled with
great artifice, and the cells are fo numerous and even, that a honey-
comb fcarce exceeds them in number and regularity.

The inhabitants of an edifice feem to be under a very (IricT regula-
tion. At the flight eft warning they will fally out upon whatever dif-
turbs them, and if they have time to arreft their enemy, he is fure to
find no mercy. Sheep, hens, and even rats are often deftroyed by
thefe mercilefs infecls, and their flefti devoured to the bone. No ana-
tomift in the world can ftrip a fkeleton fo cleanly as they, and no ani-
mal, how ftrong foever, when they haye once feized upon it, has power
to refill: them.

It often happens that thefe infects quit their retreat in a body, and
go in queft of adventures. " During my ftay," fays Smith, " at Caps
Corfe Caftle, a body of thefe ants came to pay us a vifit in our fortifi-
cation. It was about day break when the advanced guard of this fa-
miihed crew entered the chapel, where fome negroe fervants were afleeu
upon the floor. The men were quickly alarmed at the invaiion of this
unexpected army, and prepared, as well as they could, for a defence.
While the foremoft battalion of infecls had already taken polieffion of
the place, the rear guard was more than a quarter of a mile diftant,
the whole ground feemed alive, and crawling with unceaiing destruc-
tion. After deliberating a few moments upon what was to be done,
it was refolved to lay a large train of gun powder along the path they
had taken, by this means millions were blown to pieces, and the rear*
guard perceiving the deftruction of their leaders, thought proper in-
itantly to return, and make back to their original habitation."

The order which thefe ants obferve, feems very extraordinary ; when*"
ever they fally forth, fifty or lixty larger than the reft are feen to head
the band, and conduct: them to their deftined prey. If they have a
fixed fpot where their prey continues to refort, they form a vaulted
gallery, which is fometimes a quarter of a mile in length, and ye?,.
srhey hollow it out in the fpace of ten or twelve hours.

CHAR XL

OF FLYING INSECTS WITH TWO WINGS.

, ■ HESE are commonly known by the name of Flies, and have tranf-

JL parent wings like gauze, and on which is no duft, as upon thoftf

of Butterflies ; neither have they any cafes to their wings, which diftin-

guilhes them from thofc of the Beetle kind. All Flies have a dillinclt

head.

128 NATURAL HISTORY.

head, a corflet and a body ; the corflet is that part on which the wings
are placed, and the body contains the guts, the ftomach, and the parts'
of generation, with the greateft number of tracheae, that is the organs
that ferve for relpiration : the head is connecled to the corflet by a very
fhort neck, on which it will commonly turn round, as on a pivot.
Revimur obferves, that fome Flies have two corflets, diftinct from each
otli^r, of which the firft is fmalleft, and the other is that to which the
win^s are connecled. The corflet is the roundeft part, and is generally
ltrongeft and thickeft, though fometimes it is not fo broad as the body.
The Formica Leo and fome water Moths, are metamorphofed into
Flies, that have a double corflet. Many naturalifts have confounded
FJies with four wings, with thofe that have but two ; befides which,
they have often neglecled to mention the number of wings ; but Reau-
mur divides them into two general claffes, that is Flies that have two
wings, and Flies that have four wings ; and under thefe he compre-
hends four fubordinate claries. The firft clafs comprehends Flics that
have a trunk, and have neither teeth nor nippers. The fecond is com-
pofed of Flies that have a mouth without teeth. The third confifts
of Flies that have a mouth furnifhed with teeth ; and the fourth thofe
that have both a trunk and teeth. Among thofe Flies that have a
mouth and teeth, there are fome that have not only teeth on the out-
fide of the mouth, but within ; and thefe might have been placed in
a fifth clafs.

All forts of Flies that have two wings, belong to the firft and fecond
claffes, for there are none of thefe that have the characteriftics of the
two other claffes. The great blue flefh flies, and all thofe that are
fo troublefome in houfes, as well as Gnats, are of the firft clafs ; there
are alfo Flies that refemble Gnats, which have a mouth without teeth,
and thefe belong to the fecond clafs of two winged Flies. The Flies
with four wings belonging to the third and fourth, are very numerous ;
fuch as Bees which have a trunk, and two teeth above it, as well as
all forts of Wafps, which have a mouth and two teeth on the outlide.
Many forts of Flies with four wings, belong to the fecond clafs, fuch
as papillionaceous Flies, which proceed from different ions of water
Moths. Many forts of Flies with four wings, belong to the firft; clafs,-
as the pucerons, called by fome Vine-fretters, and others a-kin to thems
as well as the Grafshoppers.

Reaumur has another fort, which conftitutes a fifth clafs, and he calls
them Heads in a trunk, becaufe they have extremely long heads, from5
whence proceeds a very long fnout, which is only open at the end.
However he means that the place where the heads of other infedts ter-
minate, in thefe are prolonged, lb as to form the fhape of a trunk,,
which is ftifF, and never changes its form or pofition, without chang-
ing the head itfelf. It is at the end of this lengthened part, that the
teeth are placed, or at leaft the inftruments by means of which thefe
infects take their nourishments. One of this fort is the Scorpion Flie,
fo called, becaufe the male generally keeps the back part turned up to-
wards the back, like that of a Scorpion when it is about to (ling. There
is another beautiful Flie, which flutters about flowers, that is another
inftance of this kind.

Befides thefe claifes Reaumur eftablifh.es a fecond rank, fubordinate
t© the firft, and whofe chara&eriitics are taken from what appears at

firft-

NATURAL HISTORY. 120

ftrft fight. Thefe claffes which are under the former, are characterized
from the trunk, or from the mouch void of, or furnifhed with teeth,
and having the head made in the form of a trunk. Thefe are three in
number, the firft of which are Flies, with a fhort body, and more
broad than thick ; the fecond is thofe that have a long body, and the
third is the Flies, whether long or fhort, that have the bodies joined to
the corflet by a fingle thtead.

In order to characterize the kind of Flies which ought to be placed
under thefe dalles, Reaumur particularly attends to the conftant varie-
ties which may be taken from the carriage of their wings, the fhape of
the feelers, the carriage of their trunks, of the other external parts of
the body, and more efpecially from the hinder parts. Flies of different
kinds, may be confidered while they are at reft, or while they are creep-
ing, as well as in the different carriage of their wings, which is very evi-
dent in Entterflies. But there are more Flies that carry their wings pa-
rallel to the plane of pofition, than there are that keep them in inclined
directions.

Among thofe that carry their wings parallel to this plane, fome hold
them like oars. Their direction is perpendicular to the length of the,
body, which is not covered by them at all. Of this kind are many of
the long water Flies, and of thofe that have two wings, befides fome
kinds of Tipux. Other Flies carry their wings in fuch a manner,
that they cover one part of the body, and not the other, whether the
Flie has two wings or four, unlets one of the upper wings fenfibly in-
trenches upon the other upper wing. Among the Flies with two wings,
the blue flefh Flies, and the common houfe Flies, are instances of this kind.

The wings of feveral forts of Flies, crofs each other over the body, and
when this is done more or lefs, there arifes differences eafy to be ob-
served. The wings of feveral Flies that crofs the body, are roundifh,
and are not exactly parallel to the plane of pofition. The wing that is
the uppermoft, is more elevated over the line on the middle of the bo-
dy, than on the fides. Thus the wings of thofe are difpofed which pro-
ceed from the baftard Caterpillars. Some Flies have wings placed on the
back, oneagainft another, and they aie in a plane perpendicular to that of
the pofition. Several forts of fmall long water- flies, and feveral forts of
Pucerons, carry their wings in this manner. This is alfo obfervable in
the Flie called the Ephemera.

The wings of feveral other Flies, are applied obliquely againft the
fides, and they meet over the body, at the inner edge, forming a fore
of a root. Such is the manner of the fmall Lion Puceron. Other
Flies have their wings likewife applied to the fides, but then they bend
down over the back, making almolt a flat roof; as, many of the Flies,
which in their firft ftate, were water Moths. Laltly, other Flies keep
their wings obliquely to the plane of pofition, and in fuch a manner,
that they meet under their bellies.

Other varieties in Flies, proceed from the texture of their wings.
They are generally like a fort of fine gauze, for they have every where
a nearly equal tincture and tranfparency; however the wing's of feveral
forts of Flies are not very tranfparent, and others are quite opaque j
infomuch, that at a diftance, they might be taken for the wings of
Butterflies. Thefe are alfo called by Reaumur Papilionaceous Flies/
ihat have their wings half tranfparent. Among the Flies with four

R*" wingSj,'

tjJ NATURAL HISTORY.

tvings, there are the Papillionaceous, whofe lower wings are very tran*
fparent, while the upper are a little opaque, which is obfervable in the
Flies of feveTal water Moths. Other Flies have opaque fpots on their
fore wings, on a very tranfparent ground, thefe may be feen in Scor-
pion Fii- s There are alfo Flies with two wings, with dark fpots there-
on, feparated by tranfparent fpaces.

The feelers likewife ferve to diftinguifh the feveral kinds of Flies
from each other. For there is as much difference among the feelers of
Flies, as thofe of Butterflies. In fome fort of Flies the feelers are jointed,,
and as it were compofed of feveral grains, placed upon each other like
beads. Thefe are generally thicker at the roots than at the extremi-
ties. Other Flies have their feelers compofed of joints like the for-
mer, but then they grow thicker towards the extremities, and thefe are
called clavated feelers, that is, they are like clubs. The Flie of the
FiTmico-Leo has this fort of feelers. Several fmall forts of Flies, as
Gnats, and fome of the Tipulas, have feelers like feathers, and others
again in the fhape of prifrns ; but thefe are jointed, and more fiender
at their ends than at the middle. Some Flies have branched or forked
feelers, being compofed of two articulated parts, and fo each of them-
feem to be double; but thefe are only found in fome fort of Butterflies.
Others have their feelers very fhort, but extremely thick, and confift-
of only two or three joints, and thefe are met with in many forts of
Flies with four wings. Likewife the carriage of the feelers may ferve
for another dijtinclion ; as for inftance, the Ichneumon Flie keep the
feelers in continual agitation.

Flies may alfo be diftinguifhed by their trunks, for fome have them
fimple, and others armed with teeth or nippers. Some again have a
fheath composed of a fingle piece, while others confift of feveral pieces
joined together, and fome have fcaly fheaths, and fome have flefhy ;
iome are terminated with a fort of large lips, and others have none at
all ; but in many kinds, thefe varieties cannot be diftinguifhed without
a microfcope. However the carriage of the trunk may be plainly feen
by the naked eye ; for fome fold them up when they are not ufed, and
others, while they are in action, keep them turned downwards ; as for
inftance, Bees and Drones; in fhort others always keep them at full
length, only they can turn them to different fides, as may be feen in
Gnats, Grafshoppers, and the like. The fhape of the head of all forts
of rhes are not alike, for fome have them almoft round, others broader
than long, and of a lefs diameter before than behind. The Formica-
Leones differ from the Pucerons, not only in their feelers, but in their
double corflet. The corfiet of fome Flies is much higher than in others,
mfomuch that it obliges them to turn the head downwards, and makes
them appear hunch-backed. All Flies have but fix legs, but they dif-
fer in the fize in proportion to the body; for fome have them very Ion-,
and others very (hurt; as for inftance, the Gnats and the Tipulz feem to
be mounted upon ftiks. The legs of moft Flies are joined to the corflet,
bur m iome, one of the pairs is attached to one of the rings of the body.
Befides, the latter part of the body ferves for another diftindion of
Fiies, lor fome are armed with flings, and others have a fort of piercer,
lodged in a cafe. Others are provided with a kind of faw, which does
not appear t.li the body is preffed. Likewife fome have filings at their
UiiS, as the Ephemera.

Mo&<

NATURAL HISTORY. ,31

"Mod Flies are oviparous, that is, they lay eggs ; but there are fome
•fhat bring forth their young alive. Some herd together in companies,
as Bees and wafps, and others are folitary, being generally found
fingle. As for the lpecies of every kind, they have only flight differ-
ences, which are not fo eil'ential as betwixt the kinds tbemfelves.

The Breeze, or Gad- File, is of the fize of a common blue flelh Flie,
and has black large eyes, with feelers that confift of a long thread like
a briftle, and the body is yellow, only it is furrounded with a black
belt or ftripe ; the belly is of a tawny colour, except the laft joint,
which is black. The tail is long, bending under the belly, and the
wings are whitiih, and have a black line, with jthree black fpots upon
each. The female is faid to lay her eggs in the backs of cattle, under
the fkin, where it lives in the ftate of a Maggot all the winter.

The grey Flie, or Trumpet- File, is confiderably bigger than the com-
mon blue Flie, and the body is of a dufky-grey colour, approaching
to black ; it is fmooth, except about the brealt, which is befet with a
great number of yellow long hairs ; the wings are large and tranfpa-
rent, the body oblong, and the eyes large and black. The female
lays her eggs in the noftrils of Sheep, Deer, and fome other animals.
It is called the Trumpet- Flie, from the noife it makes in the hot days
of fummer.

Linn<eus has four forts of thefe Flies, to which he gives the general
name of Oeftrus ; namely, the Ox- Oeftrus, or Gad- Flie, the Oeftrus
that attacks the Rein-deer, the Noftril Oeftrus, and the Hemorrhoidal
Oeftrus. Others take notice of the larger Bee-like Oeftrus, the fmall-
er round-bodied Oeftrus, the large black and yellow-bodied Oeftrus,
the black and yellow Oeftrus, with black legs and tranfparent wings,
the long bodied Oeftrus with long wings, which is faid to proceed
from a worm that is bred in the guts of horfes. The large roundifh-
bodied Oeftrus with plain wings, that is faid to proceed from a worm
bred under water, and is called by fome the Tabanus Aquaticus.
The fmaller oblong Oeftrus with a pointed body/ the Oeftrus with fpot-
ted wings, a variegated body, and fhort legs ; the black and tawny
Oeftrus. Thefe fort have a ftyle with a -head under each wing, and
they are noted for making cattle run about the fields as if they were mad.

The Hornet-Flie is as big as a common Hornet, and is fo like it, that
the one may be eafily taken for the other : the head is large, the fnout
long and black, with a (harp point, and the eyes are prominent, the
breaft is large and bunched, and of a dufky colour, but the wings, le^s,
and belly, are of an iron-grey ; the body on its upper part, is black
and yellow, and confifts of feven joints, the three uppermoft of which
are black, and the reft yellow.

The Wafp File is of the fize of a common Wafp, and very much re-
fembles it in fhape and colour. The head is fmooth and yellowiih,
the body blunt, and all its joints, at the edges, are of a pale yellow,
and the fnout is long, and pointed at the end.

The Virginian Hornet File is of the fize of our largeft Flies, and has.
a black head, with a filver line that runs from the ihoulders to the
mouth; it has likewife large black eyes. It has a long and ftrong
weapon on its mouth, and the fhoulders are of a blackifh- brown, with
two fuver wings. At the back part there are feven or eight joints, of

R 2 a

i32 NATURAL HISTORY.

a whitifh colour, but the other parts are blackifh, except the belly $
which i- of a yellowifh afii-colour, with a greenilh caft.

The Mufcovite Hornet-Flie has a very long body, with oblong large
eyes, that take up the gteateft part of the head. The fnout is black,
hardifh, and divided into three parts, with which it can penetrate
through cloth, and hurt the fkin of the perfon that wears it.

Linnaus calls thefe fort of Flies Afilus. of which he has four forts,
namely, the rapacious Flie, the hairy Aldus, the Afilus with round
wings, and the Afilus that pricks the leg' through the ftockings.

Other authors have the long flender bodied great Wolf flie, the great
fmooth black and red Eajl Indian Afilus. The black legged fmooth
yellow Afilus with blue wings. The Afilus with a blue body, varie-
gated with black ftreaks. The black hairy Afilus, with brown legs
and white wings. The Afilus with the body variegated with a black
and reddifh colour. The fmooth Afilus with black wings, and a black
body. The black Afilus with roundifh iron-grey wing*. The black
Afilus with white .ftreaks and fpots. The willow Afilus with white
wings, marked with two tranfverfe black ftreaks. The fmooth Afilus
with a black body and grey wings. The fmooth oval- grey Afilus.

The common Horfe Flie is pretty large, and has a body of an oblong
fhape, and rounded at the end ; it is of a grey colour, and has a fmooth
fkin, with large eyes, and large tranfparent wings. Each of its legs
are terminated by four fliort and (harp claws, and it has a clavated,
fnout, in the fhape of a cylinder, being blunt at the end, and the
tongue is like a briftle.

The fwallow's-neft Flie is but fmall, and has a fmall head, The
breaft is fomewhat in the fhape of a cone, and the body is broadeft at
the extremity. The wings are long, but remarkably narrow, and the
legs are all terminated with fix fhoit claws. The former of thefe is
exceedingly troublefome to horfes and cattle, and fticks on firmly
wherever they lay hold ; fometimes they will make horfes almoft mad,
and the laft is frequently feen on the necks of horfes.

Linnaus calls thefe fort of Flies Hippobofca, and has only two forts,
namely, the common Hnrfe Flie, and the Sheep Flie, or rather the
Hippobofca without wings. Other authors have the long-bodied dufky-
brown Hippobofca. The black Hippobofca with an oval body, the
Hippobofca with a round body and fhort wings. The fnouts of thefe
are all al'fke.

The great Horfe Flie has a greyifh head, and large black eyes, with
large broad tranfparent wings, but of a dufky colour, and marked with
iron-grey lines. The breaft and body are giey, only the back part un-
der the wings, are a little yellowifh, and in the center of each of the
rings, all the way down the back, there is a triangular white fpot.
The thighs are black, and the legs yellow.

The F,aft- Indian Horfe-Flie is a molt pernicious infect, and it ftings
or bites moft terribly. They are about two inches broad, and as much
long, and of a brown colour, with a yellow ftreak along the body.
They build their nefts very curioufly on the rafters of barns or out-
houfes, as the Eajl-Indian Wafps do on the twigs of trees ; in thefe they,
lay their eggs, and hatch their young ones, and they feed upon fruits.
After they are killed, they have a moft difagreeable fmell.
* The

NATURAL HISTORY. i3j

The green Horfe-Flie was brought from China, and has the body
and under wings of a fine fhining green, which have the luftre of po-
lifhed metal ; the tips of their wings, and their under fides, are duiky
or black, but the upper wings are of a light brown colour, being very
thin and tranfparent.

The purple and brown Horfe-Flie is a native of the Weft- Indies, and
the wings are of a dirty purplifh brown, with fome tranfparent fpots
thereon.

The Barrel Flie has an oblong body, which is divided into three prin-
cipal parts, namely, the head, the fhoulders, and the belly, which laft
is divided into five or fix joints or rings. It is all over of a whitifh
colour, inclining to black, or rather grey, and ir. has a ftrong, braw-
ney, long fnout. In July and Augujl it is very troublefome to horfes
and cattle. Moufet gives us an inltance of a horfe that was tied with
a halter to a tree in a wood, where he was killed in fix hours time by
thefe Flies, which he fuppofed was owing to the great lofs of blood, of
which they are very fond.

Linneus calls thefe fort of Flies Tabanus, of which he has only two
forts, the common Tabanus and the Tabanus that can fee but very-
little ; but Ray has one which he calls the beautiful two- winged Flie^
with large white fpots on the wings. It is of the fize of the common
Houfe-flie, and has a brown head, breaft, and body, only there is a
yellowifh tindture under the roots of the wings : the eyes are large,
pf a bright fhining green, v.ith a few black fpecks.

Other authors have the black Tabanus, variegated with yellow, and
with brown legs : the brown Tabanus with iron-grey fides, and three
brown (freaks over the eyes : the grey f abanus with a tranfverfe line
over the eyes : the brown Tabanus with grey wings, variegated with
fmall white fpots, with green eyes, and four brown lines running over
them : the long- bodied Tabanus : the Tabanus with a fhort body, and
tranfparent wings : the black Tabanus with tranfparent wings.

The Flie with white wings, and a black fpet on each, has a red large
head, and a fhort blunt black body, and black legs ; the eyes are large,
and while fitting, it is conftantly fhaking its wings ; they are common
in orchards upon apple-trees.

The Hairy-Flie is of a large kind, and has a body of a black oval
fnape, and its extremities are covered with a great number of yellow-
ifh hairs, as well as the breaft: the head and legs are black, and the
wings tranfparent, only they are whiteft towards the bafe, and have
each a large iron-grey fpot towards the outer edge : this is not a very
common Flie.

The black Flie is pretty large, and has a body of an oval blunt
fhape, the breaft is oblong, the head and eyes large, and the legs are
black : the fides are marked each with a very large pale-coloured fpot,
and the tail is befet with black hairs ; moreover the tides of the belly
are covered with fomewhat of a fhelly fubftance.

The green Flie is as big as the blue flelh Flie, and has a black head,
with large eyes ; the breaft and body are of a beautiful green; with
fomewhat of a braiTy yellow cafe, which in fome lights appear bright
and fhining : the legs are black, the eyes brown, and there is a double
tranfverfe line on the belly ; the body is of an oval fhape, and has four
joints.

The

f§4 NATURAL HISTORY,

The grey Flie Is not unlike the common Houfe-Flie, but not half fo
iarge : the eyes are reddiih, the breaft grey, but marked with two
fmaller, and two larger black fpots : the body is greyifh, and confifts
jpf four joints ; the fir II: of which is without fpots, but the fecond has a
thrce-tO"thed mark at its bafe., and the third and fourth has fpots nearly
pf the fame kind : thi^ is a very common Flie.

There are feveral forts of thefe infects, that are properly called Flies,
which we iball range under feveral claftes. Of thofe that referable the
jpommon Houfe-Flie, are,

1. The common houfe Fhjh-Flie with a black chequered body, and
*vith oblong black ftreaks on the breaft.

2. The black Flie with a white forehead.

3. The black Flie with a fmooth gloffy body.

4. The fmooth black Flie with iron-grey eyes, and the bafe of the
thighs whitifh: this Flie proceeds from maggots in cheefe.

5. The fmooth black Flie with the edges of the wings black, and
thicker than the other part.

6. The fomewhat hairy black File with nervous wings.

7. The grey Flie with fine black marks on the breaft, and three
toothed fpots on the belly.

8. The yellow Flie with the belly brown on the upper part, and three
£>lack ftreaks on the breaft.

9. The yellow Flie with black eye?.

Of the fhining or gilded Flies there are,

1. The Flie with a fhining blue breaft, and a fhining green body.

2. The Flie with a fhining green breaft, and a fhining blue body,

3. The Flie with a black breaft and green body.

4. The Flie with a black breaft and blue body.

5. The Flie with an oblong body, of a copper-colour, and a green
head, a yellow breaft, and the wings marked with a brown fpot.

6- The oblong Flie with a braffy breaft, and the body yellow on the
fore part, and black behind.

It will not be improper to mention here the North American Flie,
ihere called the Fire-Flie, becaufe it appears like a fpark of fire in the
dark : they are as long as the Bees called Drones, but much thicker,
and are of a brownifh colour : the light proceeds from under the wings,
.and they are a ft range fight to new comers at firft. When their wing?
are broken, and they are placed on a book in a dark room, they fhine
fo much, that the letters near it may eafily be diftinguifhed : they ap-
pear in May, and are vifible ihe'greateft part of the fummer ; there
are ibmetimes fuch a multitude of them in the woods, that they yield
a very wonderful, and yet pleafmg fight ; they continue flying every
hour in the night, but are never feen by day.

The Fire-Fiies of the Eajl-Indies, are about an inch broad, and as
much in length, or longer j the head which is brown, has two fmall
horns or feelers, and the neck is red : they have four wings, and fo
do not properly belong to this clafs, the uppermoft of which are hard
^nd brown, and thofe underneath foft 5 the fhining fubftance is con-
tained in a black bag on their backs, which they hide with their wings
when they fit. In the rainy feafon there are prodigious fwarms of
jhem among the trees, and they feed chiefly upon their bloffoms §
there are feveral forts of thefe Flies in the Fall- Indies*

.

NATURAL HISTORY. iff

The Weft Indian Fire-FIie, Pere de Tertre affirms, is like a living'
&ar, of which there are great numbers, that in dark nights make the
air feem full of curious lights, which thine and fparkle more than the
liars in the fky : they do not fhine at all in the day, and therefore are
never taken notice of by any that are unacquainted with them : they
have fomewhat of the appearance of dirty Beetles, and they delight to
be among rotten wood till the fun is fet, and then they fly here and
there, feeming to be fo many lighted candles carried in the woods and
houfes, by invilible hands : they will purfue the light of a' candle, and
other things that fparkle or fhine, with fo much ardour, that they of-
ten kill themfelves, like our Moths, efpecially if a burning coal is laid
in their way. He tells us very gravely, and no doubt with fome truthj
that the poorer popifh clergy, when they want candles or orlj catch
one of thefe Flies, by whofe light they will be able to read their matins-
as eafily as if they had a lamp. Wtoile they are alive and in full health j-
a flame feems to proceed from all parts of the body; but when they are
fick, it grows weak, and when they die, it is quite extinguifhed; When
they are caught, they live but fifteen days, or three weeks at moft.

The Fire-FIie of Martinico mentioned by Pere du Tertre, is not fd
large as a common Flie : they yield a fort of fparkling golden lights
which is extremely agreeable ; but they will often hide it for a little
while, and then they begin to fhine again, and thus they continue all-
the night : this fhining refides in a fort of white fubflance, of whieh-
they are full, and they can make it appear through the chinks of their
fein, when they pleafe.

Of Flies which in a worm ftate feed upon trees and plants, and the

infecTs thereon, are,

1. The Flie with a black oval body, with two marks in the fhape of
half moons, and three yellow belts.

2. The Flie with an oval body, and three pair of whitifh half moons>
called by authors, the Elephant's trunk. It feeds in its worm-fta^
©n the pear tree.

3. The oblong yellow-bodied Flie with black tranfverfe lines.

4. The oblong yellow-bodied Flie with three pair of yellow fpots,

5. The long-bodied Flie with fix three-cornered yellow fpots.

6. The Flie with the body in the fhape of a cylinder, with fix fpotj-
in the fhape of half-moons, on the back.

7. The grey Flie with four black fpots on the back.

8. The oblong- bodied Flie whofe hinder legs are largeft.

9. The Flie whole body is marked with three yellow circular lines,?

Of Flies that have variegated bodies, there are,

1. The black Flie with the bafes of the wings cf an iron-grey.

2. The Fits with a grey brealt, and the bafe of the belly marked witfe
a yellow fpot, and having the edges of the fegments whitiflf.

3. The black Flie with all the fegments of the body, except the firfiv
yellow, and a black mark in the middle^

4. The Flie with a yellow breaft, with four yellow tranfverfe lines,/
on the belly part, the firft being larger than the reft, and interrupted,, -

5. The Flie with four yellow lireaks on the bread, and three of the?
Segments of the belly part yellcw.

6. The black Fli: with a white 'body, ar.d two black {freaks thereof!?;

j36 NATURAL HISTORY.

7. The brown and fomewhat hairy Flie, with the edge of the bt\\f
fharp, and having three yellow lines, with a triangular fpot.

8. The Bee-Flit, produced from the long tailed maggot of neceflary
houfes : the black Flie with a velvet body, marked with three tranf-
Verfe lines.

9. The black Flie with two yellow belts on the back.

10. The black Flie with iron-grey wings, and three white interrup-
ted belts on the back.

1 1. The brown Flie with iron-grey wings, and the edges of the feg-
ments of the body grey.

Of the hairy Flies there are*

1. The black Flie with the edges of the wings thin* fcalloped, and
whitifh.

2. The common hairy dung Flie with a fpot on each of the wings.

3. The black Flie with the bale of the belly-part white, and its ex-
tremity brown.

4. The Flie with a grey breaft, and the point of the belly*part white,
$nd the wings marked with an iron-grey fpot.

5. The Flie with a grey breaft, and a black body, having a dufky
iron-grey fpot, on each nf the wings.

6. The Flie with a white body, except behind, where it is black, and
having white wings, marked with a black fpot.

7. The Ylie with a yellow breaft, and a brown fpot on the wings.

8. The grey Ylie with iron-grey wings, and a brown fpot on each.

Of Flies that have variegated wings, there are,

1. The Ylie with black wings tipped with white.

2. The Ylie with two black fpots on each wing.

3. The Ylie with white wings and a fingle black fpeck on the «xtre~
mity of each.

4. The unguiculated winged Ylie, with white wings, and a black
fpot in the middle.

5. The black Ylie with the wings variegated on the fore part, witk
black and white.

6. The Ylie with grey wings, fpotted with black.

7. The g:ey Ylie with unguiculated wirgs, fpotted with brown.

8. The Ylie with white wings, whofe edges are black, and marked
•With black fpots

9. The Flie with white wings* and three brown fpecks, and a brown
fpot at the end.

10. The Flie with white wings, marked with four grey ftreaks, and
as many fmaller, running alternately between them.

1 1. The Flie with white wings, marked with four ftreaks, and having
five pair of fpots on the back.

12. The green-eyed Flie with white wings, and marked with the
letter S, in a double line, of a brown colour

13. The Flie with white unguiculated wings, marked with four
fcrown ftreaks, and having the extremity of the breaft yellow.

14. The Flie with pale wings, marked with black veins, and tw©
tranfverfe undulated brown lines, and brown tips.

15. The Flie with membranaceous wings, fpctted with black, and
t&ree rows ot black fpecks on the body.

hmnxvt

NATURAL HISTORY. ,37

■ Linnsus has only eleven fnrts of thefe Flies, namely, the water Flie,
the bummer Flie, and the Cherry tree FUe ; thefe have variegated
wings: the dung hairy Flie, the wonderful Flie, the putrid Flie; and
the Flie of the neceflary houfe : thefe three have variegated bodies : the
Elephants trunk Flie : the fleih Flie, the houfe Flie, and the Flie that
is bred in cheefe.

CHAP. XII.

of the gnat and ti?ula.
(From Goldsmith.)

THSRE are two infects which entirely refemble each other in
the;r form, and yet widely differ in their habits, manners, and
propagation. Thofe who have feen the tipula, or long legs, and the
larger kind of gnat, have moft probably miftaken the one for the other,
they have often accufed the tipula, a harmlefs infect, of depredations
made by the gnat, and the innocent have fuffered for the guilty ; in-
deed the differences in their form are {o very minute, that ic often re-
quires the affiftance of a microfcope to diliinguifh the one from the
other : they are both mounted on long-legs, both furnilhed with two
wings and a flender body ; their heads are large, and they feem to be
hump-backed ; the chief and only difference, therefore, is, that the
tipula wants a trunk, while the gnat has a large one, which it often
exerts to verv mifchievous purpcfes. The tipula is a harmlefs peace-
ful infect, that offers injury to nothing; the gnat is fanguinary and
predaceous, ever feekir.g out for a place in which to bury its trunk,
and pumping up the blood from the animal in large quantities.

The gnat proceeds from a little worm, which is ufuaily feen at the
bottom of (landing warers The manner in which the infect lays its
eggs is particularly curious ; after having laid the proper number on the
furface of the water, it furrounds them with a kind of unctuous matter,
which prevents them from (inking ; but at the fame time fallens them
with a thread to the bottom, to prevent their floating away, at the mercy
of every breeze, from a place the warmth of which is proper for their
production, to any other, where the water may be too cold, or the ani-
mals its enemies too numerous. Thus the infefb, in their ee:sr date,'

* CO '

refemble a buoy, which is fixed by an anchor. As they corne to ma-
turity they fink deeper, and at lail, when they leave the egg as worms
they creep at the bottom. They now make themfelves lodgments of
cement, which they faften to forne folid body at the very bottom of
the water, unlefs, by accident, they meet with a piece of chalk, which
being of a foft and pliant nature, gives them an opportunity of fv king
a retreat for themfel\Te>-, where nothing but the claws of a cray fait
can poffibly moleft them. The worni aftei wards changes its ionr.
It appears with .1 large head, and a tail inverted with hair, and moif-
fcened with an oleaginous liquor, which ihe mikes ufe cf as a cork, to'

# foftaiaj

i3* NATURAL HISTORY.

fuftain her head in the air, and her tail in the water, and to tranfporZ
hej from one place to another. When the oil with which her tail ij
moiftened begins to grow dry, fhe difcharges out of her mouth an
Unctuous humour, which lhe ih>. i.-. all over her tail, by virtue whereof.
fhe is enabled to tranfport herfelf where fhe pleafes, without being
either wet or any ways incommoded by the water. The gr^t, in her
fecond (late, is properly fpeaking, in her form of a nymph, which is
an introduction, or entrance into a new life. In the firft place, fhe
diverts herfeli of her fecond ik'm ; in the next fhe refigns her eyes, her
antenna?, and her tail ; in Ihort, (he actually feems to expire. How-
ever, from the fpoils of the amphibious animal, a little winged infect
cur- the air, whole every pare m active tc the laft degree, and whofe
Whole ftructare is the juft object of our admiration. Its little head is
adorned with a plume of feathers, and its whole body inverted with
fcales and hair, to fecure it from any wet or dull. She makes trial of
the activity of her wings, by rubbing them either againft her body, or
her broad fide bags, which keep her in an equilibrium. The furbelow,
or little border of fine feathers, which graces her wings is very curious,
and (hikes the eye in the moll agreeable manner. There is nothing,
however, of greater importance to the gnat, than her trunk, and that
weak implement may jullly be deemed one of Nature's roafter pieces.
Il is fo very fmall, that the extremity of it can fcarcely be difcerned
through the bell microfcope that can be procured. That part which is at
firlt obvious to the eye, is nothing but a long fcaly flieath under the throat.
At near the diftance of two-thirds of it, there is an aperture, through
which the infect darts out four flings, and afterwards retracts them.
One of which, however fharp and active it may be, is no more than the
Cafe in which the other three lie concealed, and run in a long groove.
The fides of theie flings are fharpened like two edged fwords ; they are
likewife barbed, and have a va(l number of cutting teeth towards the
point, which turns up like a hook,. and is fine beyond expreffion. When
all thefe darts are (luck into the flefh of animals, fometimes one after a-
nother, and fometimes all at once, the blood and humours of the ad-
jacent parts muil unavoidably be extravafated ; upon which a tumour
mufl confequently enfue, the little orifice whereof is clofed up by the
compreffion of the external air. When the gnat, by the point of her
cafe, which (he makes ufe of as a tongue, has tailed any fruit, flefh,
or juice, that lhe has found out; if it be a fluid, lhe fucks it up, with-
out playing her darts into it ; but in cafe fne finds the lead obltructiorr
by any flefh whatever, fhe exerts her flrength, and pierces through it,-
if poffibiy (he can* After this lhe draws back her (lings into their
iheath, which fhe applies to the wound in order to extract, as through
a reed, the juices which lhe finds inciofed. This is the implement
with which the gnat performs her work in the fummer, for during the
winter fhe has no manner of oecafion for it. Then (he ceafes to eat,
and fpends all that tedious feafon either in quarries or in caverns,
Which lhe abandon" at the return of fummer, and flies about in fearch
after fome commodious ford, or ftanding water, where fhe may pro-
duce her progeny, which would be fo.m wafhed away and loft, by the
too rapid motion of any running llream. The little brood are fome-
times £o numerous,, that the very water is tinged according to the

colour

NATURAL HISTORY. 139

icolour of the fpecies, as green, if they be green, and of a fanguine
hue, if they be red.

Thefe are circumllances fufficiently extraordinary in the life of this
little animal, but it offers fomething Hill more curious in the method
of its propagation. However fimilar inkers of the gnat kind are iu
their appearance, yet they differ widely from each other in the manner
In which they are brought forth, for fome are oviparous, and .ire pro-
duced from eggs, fome are viviparous, and come forth in their molt
perfect fo, m ; fome are males, and unite with the female ;' fome are
females, requiring che impregnation, of the male; fome are of neither
fex, yet frill luce young, without any copulation whatfoever. This
is one of ihe ftrangeft discoveries in all Natural tiiftory ? A gnat fepa-
rated from the reft, and inclofed in a glafs veffel, with air fufficient to
keep it alire, (hall prod ice young, which alfo, when feparated from
each other, (hail b'e the parents of a numerous progeny. Thus, down
for five or hx generations do thefe extraordinary animals propagate
without the ufe of copulation, without any congrefs between the male
and female, but in the manner of vegetables, the young burfting from
the body of their parents, without any previous impregnation. At the
fixth generation however, their propagation (lops, the gnat no longer
produces its like, from itfelf alone, but it requires the accefs of the
male to give it another fucceffion of fecundity.

The gnat oi Europe gives but little uneafmefs; it is fometimes heard
to hum about our beds at night, and keeps off the approaches of fleep
by the apprehenhon it caufes ; but it is very different in the ill-peopied
regions of America, where the waters ft agnate, and the climate is
warm, and where they are produced in multitudes beyond expreffion.
The whole air is filled with clouds of thofe faroilhed infects, and they are
found of all fizes, from fix inches long, to a minutenefs that even re-
quires the microfcope to have a diftinct perception of them. The
warmth of the mid-day- fun is too powerful for their conftitutions; but
when the evening approaches, neither art nor flight can fhield the
wretched inhabitants from their attacks, though millions are delfroyed,
frill millions more fucceed, and produce unceafing torment. The na-
tive Indians, who anoint their bodies with oil, and who have from their
infancy been ufed to their depredations, find them much lefs inconve-
nient than thofe who are newly arrived from Europe; they fleep in
their cottages covered all over with thoufands of the gnat kind upon
their bodies, and yet do not feem to have their flumbers interrupted by
.their cruel devcurers. If a candle happens to be lighted in one oi
thofe places, a cloud of infects at once light upon the flame, and ex-
,tinguiih it; they are therefore obliged to keep their candles in glafs lan>
^horus.; a miferable expedient to prevent an unceafing calamity.

S 2 CHAP,

140 NATURAL HISTORY".

CHAP. XIII.

of elies of the gnat kind, which have vkry slender snouts or

trunks, like threads.

(From Brookes.)

THESE fort of Flics are much more troublefome in hot climates,
than with us, though in low rnarfhy places,, our countrymen
have fufficient reafon to complain of them ; however their bite is not
near fo painful as thofe of the Gnats between the Tropics : there is
one fort in Peru, which are called Mufkitoes, that are fo fmall, they
arc almoff imperceptible, and vet their bite gives a fenfation, like the
burning of hot iron. Other Mufkitoes are like our Gnats, and are of
two forts, whofe bits are much more painful, and raife large bumps on
the fkin: they are fo numerous, that they darken the air by their multi-
tude, infomuch, that thoie who travel in the woods are obliged to have
a cotton covering, or net, to keep them off, and the pooreit American
is never without one.

Pere du Tertre obferves, that in the Carllbee-ljlands, there are Flies,
not unlike our common Gnats, and probably are the fame as thoie juft
mentioned. Whenever they get to the fkin, they fuck out the blood,
and are always bred in marines and (landing waters. At fir ft it is a
fmall worm, not thicker than a hair, and of the length of a grain of corn.
After they are changed into Gnats, there are ftich vaii numbers of
them, that they darken the air, efpecially in the morning, two hours
before the riling of the* fun, and as many after he is fet. When any
one (tops, thefe little tyrants come buzzing about his ears in fuch a
troublelbrne manner, that he often lofes all patience. If he wants to
go to fleep, they fix upon every part of his body that is uncovered, and
thruft their fmall fnoots, which aie fo fine that they can hardly be feen,
into the pores of the fkin, and as foon as they meet with a vein, they
are lure to fuck out the blood, and if they are let alone, they will fvval-
low fo much, that they can hardly fly after it: the original natives of
thefe ifiands, make a fire under their beds, that the fmoke may drive
them away ; and even fome of the European inhabitants, that live
in low grounds, and upon the edges of woods, are obliged to make
life of a remedy, and even to fmoak their houfes with burnt tobacco.
But the beft method to keep them off, is to hang cotton nets round the
bed with fmall raefhes ; for thefe fmall infecls, having large wings, are
not able to get through them. Ke alfo obferves, that fome Muf-
kitoes are no larger than pin points, and yet they always leave purple
marks on the (kin. However thefe are only met with on the banks of
livers, where the wind feldom or never blows.

It will not be improper in this place, to take notice of fome other
Flics, common in the Weft- Indies, but not known in Europe. One of
thefe is an inch and a half long, and an inch broad : they are alfo flat,
and not much unlike Beetles: they have fuch hard and firbng teeth,
that they will gnaw and eat a paffage into the heart of the very hardeft
tiees, where they make their nefts. Another fort of Flie are only feen

buzzing.

NATURAL HISTORY. Hi

buzz-ng on the furface of the earthy immediately after rain, when the
fun ('nines : they are remarkable for the manner oft] their nefts,

which art built with the leaves of trees, which they make of a round
figure with their teeth, in inch a manner, chat of two leaves they form
a fort of bafket, by laying them one upon another, taking care rhat
there be a hollow fpace between them, in which they conceal themfelves,
and lay their eggs.

And now we are fpeaking of the Weft Indies, this may be as proper
a place as any, to take notice of the Hornet-Fiie, which is not unlike
a Flying Rag, a Fiie lo called, with branched horns like a ftag : they
have a black fmall head, covered with orange- coloured hair, as foft as
filk : their eyes are round, as clear as cryftal, and the iize of fmall
peas; and they are fo hard, that there is no breaking them, without
the help of a hammer : this fmall head terminates in the fhape of a
horn, turned up, and armed with four teeth, like the nippers of a cray-
fift : this hotn is black, as hard and as well poiiflied as jet, and about
two inches in length. But the mod remarkable thing oi all, is its ha-
ving a joint above the eyes, which has a motion; for the head is cover-
ed with a fort of helmet from the head to the wings, where it termi-
nates in another horn, three or four inches long, and bending down-
wards, reaches the joint of the other, and makes a fort of nippers like
thofe of a cray-fifh : this horn is of the fame fubftance as the firft, ex-
cept its being bordered with a lhort hair, as foft as velvet : they can
lif up, or let down the helmet at pleafure ; but it is obferveable, that
the males only wear them.

There are two other forts of Flies at Marlinico, the firft of which is
horned like the former, only the two horns are of an equal fize, and
placed on each fide the head, though they meet together like nippers,
when the infect pleafes : thefe are probably their feelers : the other fpe-
cies is only an inch and a half long, and one broad, and the upper part
of their wings are hard, and of a grey colour, only they are ftriped
with River rays.

The Walking- Leaf 'is an infect brought from the Spanifo Weft Indies,
and has a very flat body, of a reddifh colour, like that of certain dry
leaves ; that is at feme times of the year, for at firft it is green. It
is produced from a green egg, as big as a coriander feed, from which in
a few days proceeds a little black iniect, like an Ant when juft hatched :
the wings are at firft like a green leaf, and have fibres run a! i tg it,
from the inward edges to the outward, much like thole of many (eaves,
and they branch into fubdivifions, as they come nearer the edge. On
the fore part of the body there are four other fmall wings, which
though they differ among themfelves, each pair being of a different
fhape, yet they exactly reiemble fome fort of leaves : the larger wings
be<ng fhut, it exactly refembles a leaf, which has been the reafon by
it is called the Walking Leaf: the eyes are fmall and prominent, and
the mouth is forked; the head is round, and about the neck there is
the refemblance of a ring, of the fame colour with the body. Behind
this the neck enlarges again, infomuch that it looks alnioft like another
head, but larger. It is above three inches long, and an inch and a
half broad. But to return to the Gnats.

Some place the Tipula among the Gnats, but improperly, though
they cannot be diftii.guiihed from each other, without the affiftanee of

3

W NATURAL HISTORY.

a microfcnpe. Reaumur informs us, there are three forts of Gnats ip
the fields about Paris, the largeft of which has a body variegated with
white and black, and on the bread there are black and very brown un_-
duiations. A leiler kind refembles the former, in the colour or the
bread and eyes, but the body is brown : the third kind is lefs than
cither, and is molt common. It has a light reddiih brown bread, and
a whitifh body; but under the belly, on each ring, there is a browa
ipot, and the reft is grey ; the eyes are of a very fine green.

Gnats in general, have a longifh body, nearly in the fhape of a cy-
linder, and it conlifts of eight rings : the corflet, though ih-^rt, is con-
siderable for its fize, and to this the legs and wing^ are connected, be-
sides the two ballances or mallets : there are alfo four mark-, pi iced
much in the fame manner as other Flies ; for the two firft of vvhich
are pretty near the head. When the Gnat is at reft, it generally keeps
one of its wings croifed over the other, fo as to cover it : the feelers
are finer in the males, than in the females, and in feveral kinds, there
are two fmall longifh bodies on the head, of a round fhape, which have
fome refemblance to the feelers of fhort bodied Flies. Reaumur calls
them Barbs, becaufe the trunk of the Gnat is placed underneath them :
the trunk of the Gnat is a very fine inllrument, and is different from
that of the Fiie, for its fting or prickle, or rather Rings, are contained
in a fheath. It feems to be defigned purpofely to boie the fkin, and
«o fuck out the blood. Siuammerdam calls the fting a kin ! of a reddifh
ihining thread ; but Reaumur has difcovered, that it confifts of feverai
threads, which may be divided from each other: the fheath far this
ieems to be a cylindric pipe, though in reality, it is cloven aim oft
throughout its whole length, and the edges of the cleft recede from each
other, when there is occaiion.

When a Gnat fucks the blood without difturbance, he feldom quits
the place till he has filled his ftomach and guts with blood. When the
Jbite of a Gnat is perceived immediately, there is no better remedy t»
cure it, that to moiften the liquor with water, which is left upon the
wound ; and this may be eaiily done, by rubbing in the water imme-
diately ; or the wound may be opened a little, and then it needs only
be waihed. But if the bite is not perceived till feveral hours after it is
done, this remedy will have no.effecT.

Gnats proceed from a fort of water Worms, that are found neither
in rivers nor brooks, but in ponds and fplafhes of water in marines,
from May till the beginning of the winter ; for this reafon, all marfhy
places are terribly infefted with Gnats, and rainy feafons produce more
than dry : the body of the worm is longifh, with the head joined to the
firft ring of the body, by a fort of neck : this ring is thicker and longer
than the reft, and feems to be a kind of corflet, which is fucceeded by
eight others ; that is, there is nine in all, and they gradually grow lefs
to the end of the tail. It changes to an Aurelia, with a whitifh body,
and a greenifh corflet, which foon turn brown.

The great Gnat is twice as big as the common Gnat, though it is
much of the fame fhape j for it has a long fk-nder grey body, and large
thin tranfparent wings, without fpots : the fnout or trunk is prominent
and {lender, and its fheath is forked at the top, or formed into twa
leaves, which are hairy, and of the fhape of a lance. It is very com-
mon about the waters, and while in its worm fta«a, lives in the water,.

NATURAL HISTORY* ttf

The humble-bee Flie is placed in this clafs, on account of the (true-
$ure of its fucker or fnout. It is very like a common riumhle bee, in
its fhape, and even its Gze, being covered with extremely thick down %.
its body is (hort, roundifhi and obtui'e, and its colour black, but of a
reddilh-brown on the fide : the trunk or fucker is long, which it always
carries thrult out, the wings are partly brown, and partly whitiih, and-
a great deal of down on the body is white, which with the blacknefd
below, has a very uncommon effect. It is very common in gardens,
where it fucks the honey out of the flowers.

The little Gnat is confide! ably fmaller than the common Gnat, and
has an oblong {lender blackith body, with a large head and eyes ; the
wings aie long, narrow, and of a dull white, and three dufky fpota
near the outer edge. Its bite is attended with pain, and makes a mark
that remain^ for forne time. It is common in woods, and about waters,

Lintneus takes notice of fix kinds of Gnats, namely,

I. The dufky Gnat with a forked fnout: this Ray takes to be the fe-
male of the Domeftic Tipula, becaufe it does not bite or (ting. It i>
of an alh colour, and twice as large as the following. It has no points
on tlie wings, and from between the jaws there proceeds, or more pro*
perly from the trunk, a forked dart.

2 The alii coloured Gnat with eight rings on the body, is the com-
mon Gnat, which is met with almott in all parts.

3. The Gnat with wings of the colour of water, marked with three
black i'pots. Some call it the leaft Gnat with blackilh fpots, it being
no bigger than a fmall flea, of a brown colour ; but the wings are whits
and narrow, marked on the outer edge with three dark fpecks. When
the wings are (hut, it appears like three brown ilreaks.

4. The black Gnat with- the wings of the colour of water, black feet*
and a white ring: there are prodigious numbers of thefe in Laplandf
in the dufk of the evening, and they make a great a noife : they will
bite any part, even the eyes, mouth, and nofe, and they are not eali-*
ly driven away. It is very fmall, is in thape like a common Flie, and
is of the (ize of a Flea.

5. The downy Gnat with wings in part of a dulky colour: this is
found in gardens, where they fly about without cealing, and feem to
delight in the fmell of the flowers. It is called by Ray the Gnat ihaped
like a filk worm Moth, all over hairy and black, with a blunt hinder"
part of the body, and red fides.

6. The black Gnat with a dufky body, and a white forehead. In-
the tranfaclions of Upfal, it is called the blood-fucking leait Flie, with-
white wings. It is very troublefome to horfes in the fummer feaion?
efpecially in Northland, where it gets among the hair and fucks the
blood. It is more fond of horfes than men, and cannot be driven a-
way : the feelers are like threads, though it is in the lhape of a Flie %
and the head, feet, and breaft are black, only on the fides of the breait
k is of an alh colour, and there is a white fpot above and below ths
eyes.

CHAF,

*44 NATURAL HISTORY.

CHAP. XIV.
of flying insects of the tipula kind.

(From Brookks. )

BY Tipufa was formerly undei flood nothing hut the Water Spider*
. f which they knew only two forts ; but now the catalogue is
greatly enlarged, and it is plain from Linnaus, that other forts are'
meant, befides thole that frequent the water ; chough he mentions on-
ly feven, nane'ly, the variegated Tipula, that of roots, that in the
ihape of a Gnat, the febrile i'ipula, that of the Afparagus, that with
bended wings, and that of the Juniper tree. He makes the character-
ise ot this kind to be the mouth, furniihed with crooked and jointed
feelers.

That defcribed by Moufct, is almoft in the fhape of a fpider, with
an oblong {lender body, and four legs fixed to the bread. Near the
mouth there are two arms, which fome take to be feelers, and are
moil probably really fo ; for this infecT: makes no ufe of them when it
runs, and they axe twice as fhort as the other feet. It has four very
weak wings, which feem to be of no great ufe in flying, though they
are for leaping : they are fhorter than the body, and the upper pair
are thicker and bioader chan the lower, and are of a dufky blackifh
colour : the lower wings are lefs, more {lender, and of a iilver colour :
they are often feen leaping upon the water, but fo lightly that they
feem to make no impreffion on it at all; however they aie not con-
flantly in motion, but by ftarts. It does not dive into the water, un-
leis forced thereto, and then their bodies do not {^m to be at all wet
with it. It is to be met with in {landing waters, where there is but
little wind throughout the fumrner. it is fometimes met with in ri-
vers, eipecialiy near the banks, and under the ihade of fome tree, as
for inftance the willow ; and there are generally many of them together.

There is an odd fort of a Worm or Caterpillar, which was firft taken
notice oi by Mairan, in the memoirs of the Academy of Sciences for
1717, which was afterwards more fully defciibed by Frych. Tt is found
in holes near the furface of the ground, about niue inches in length,
and in the lower parts the Caterpillar is concealed in a houle of its own
fpinning, and clofed at the mouth with the fame fort of thread of which
the neil is cornpoted. It is of a brownifh black colour, with yellow
feet, and a fliield near the neck ; as alfo another of a black colour on
the tail, with a very fhining edge. It can hide its head in that about
the neck, almoft as far as the forehead; and it has twenty folds or
furrows on the back, whereas others have generally but ten. It is pro-
vided with fo great a number, that it may more readily creep into
holes, by moving its body more nimbly : this Caterpillar does not make
thefe holes for the fake ot food, for there is nothing fit for them there ;
and if there was, they might get at it without making thefe holes, be-
caufe with the head and fore-feet it can quickly throw the earth on each
lide, fo as to be able to hide itfelf in a very ihort time. Nor are thefe
holes made for its more lpeedy return, much lefs for the fake of breath-
ing*

NATURAL HISTORY. ,4£

Breathing, for they meet with air enough in whatever place they lye ;
but the Butterflie which is the dam of this Caterpillar, feeks lor a place
like all other infecls, where there may be fufficient nourifliment lor its
offspring, and there it lays its eggs, by thrulting the (harp part of its
belly, which is long and prominent, into the chinks of the earth.
Thefe Caterpillars, as foon as they are hatched, prefently weave them-
Teives a covering or houfe, from which it can creep to the mod proper
place to find food ; and by this means it is the better defended from
other infects that feed in the fame places, particularly from the voraci-
ous fubterranean Beetles, that wander upon the ground, and yet care-
fully (hun thefe nefls, as Flies do a Spider's web. They (hit lengthen
their hole in proportion to the fize of their body, and as the moifture
fails, they increafe it to above a foot in length, fixing their webs there-
to, and lining it, as it were, that it may retain the moi'lure the longer,
and be more ftrong and firm, and at the bottom of which thefe Cater-
pillars generally lye.

The nippers of the mouth with which it eats, are dentated, and ge-
nerally by night it proceeds from its burrow to the furface of the earth,
.in fearch of food, and when it fails, it works its hole to the next place,
that the food may be always near it. It grows to the length of a man's
thumb, and in May its Aurelia changes into a Butterfly, which is of a:
filver ihining colour, marked all over with very fmall black fpecks, and
there are fometimes black marks or fpots, which feem to be made up
of fmall fpecks. The undermoll wings are the whiteft, and the head
is of a dun colour, with feelers on the (ides, (landing at right angles.
The hinder feet are the longed, and are armed with prickles, on ac-
fcount of the roughnefs of the earth, where it is to lay its eggs.
Infects of this kind of other authors, are,

1. The T'tpula with whitifh wings, and is the moll beautiful of this
kind ; it has a body that is oblong and ilender, of a greyiih-brown co-
lour, and a cloven tail. The legs are long and (lender, the head large,'
and the eyes like net-work ; the wings are large and very beautiful, and
they have a brown line running down the outer fide, from which pro-
ceeds another fmaller towards the other fide; between thefe there i-; a
large fnow-white fpot. Tt is called by Ray the greateft Tipula with
large wings, variegated with brown and white.

2. The painted "Tipula has a long (lender body, beautifully varie-
gated with a deep gloify black, and a bright yellow, and the brealt is
alfo of the fame fine black, fpeckled with yellow. The wings are large
and brownilh, with dullcy veins, and an obfeure fpot on each, towards
the edge ; but the legs towards the top, are yellowifh. It is called by
Ray, the beautiful Tipula with a black back and fhoulders, and a iaf-
fron-coloured belly.

3. The Sea Tipula is very like a Gnat, and has an oblong browri
body, with a large beautiful green bread: ; the feelers of the male are
feathery, and of the female ihaggy. It proceeds from a long ilender
bright-red worm, compofed of twelve joints. It lives in the lea, m
4layey or fandy cafes, of a great length,

4. The Tipula with wings beautifully variegated with brown.

5. The Tipula with whitifh wings, with a brown line on the edges.

6. The Tipula with whitifh wings, with a few white fpots.

4. The Tipula with grey wings, marked with black lines and fpots,-

T Th^

7.4£ NATURAL HISTORY.

8. The Tipula with a black body, black legs, and blue w'ing3.
o. The Tipula with grey wings, marked with brown lines and fpotv
and the belly part blackilh on the upper fide.

10. The Tipula with a grey back and whitifh wings, marked with
brown fpots.

11. The Tipula with a black and yellow body, and white wings,
marked with faint fpots.

12. The Tipula with a black body and brown wings.

13. The yellow Tipula with a brown back.

14. The Tipula with paleifh brown wings fpotted with black, and a
black body.

The following Tipula refemble Gnats.
ii The brown Tipula with the fore part of the body green.

2. The Tipula with very large fore legs, formed like feelers, and a
white circle on the body.

3. The Tipula with the fore legs formed like feelers, and tipped
with white.

4. The Tipula with white legs, and wings variegated with white and'
grey.

5. The green Tipula with white wings without any fpots.

6. The Tipula with a yellow body, and black eyes, breaft, and back.

7. The black Tipula with a bunched breaft, and large hind legs.

8. The fmooth black Tipula with feelers fhorter than the head, arid
with the fore legs furrowed on the inner part.

9. The brown Tipula with the bafe of the wings grey.
jo. The oblong hairy Tipula with black wings.

11. The black velvet Tipula.

12. The Tipula with a red body and white wings, black on the outer'
edge.

13. The Tipula with grey bended wings, fomewhat oval like the end
of a lance.

14. The black Tipula with white wings, and a white fpot on the fore
part of the abdomen.

15. The Tipula with blue wings, hairy on the inner edge.

16. The Tipula with a reddifh body, and a black breaft.

17. The Tipula with a black head, and the feelers longer than the-'
body, which is of a pale red.

CHAP. XV.

OF CATERPILLARS.

CATERPILLARS are the infedts that appear firft in the fpring,
and they proceed from the eggs of Butterflies. Whoever takes
a walk in fine weather, will readily find them upon different trees and
plants ; but their condition is tranlient, for tliey all will in a fhort time
become winged infe&s, and thefe changes that they undergo, is one of
the moft lingular parts of natural hiftory.

The

j

•NATURAL HISTORY. ,47

The bodies of Caterpillars are longer than they are round, and they
are compofed of rings, whole circumference is pretty near circular or
,oval; they are generally twelve in number, and are all membraneous,
by which Caterpillars may be diftinguifhed from divers other infects,
whofe bodies confift of twelve rings. The head of the Caterpillar is
connected to the firft ring, and between the head and this ring, there
is a neck, generally fo fhort, that it is fcarcely vifible. All the cover-
' ing of the head in Caterpillars, feem to confift of a lhell, and they have
.neither upper nor lower jaw ; for they are both placed exactly at the
fame height, and armed with fuch a large thick tooth, that they both
are equivalent to all the large teeth that other animals are furnifhed
with. When the mouth is fhut, thefe teeth are always uncovered, fo
that it is with eafe that the Caterpillars cut the leaves in pieces, when
they feed upon them.

Caterpillars have fix fmall black grains, placed on the circumference
of the fore-ring, and a little to the fide of the head. Three of thefe
are larger than the reft, and are convex and tranfparent ; thefe Mr
Reaumur takes to be the eyes of the Caterpillar ; but Vainifnierl will
not allow them to be fuch.

There are a great variety among Caterpillars, one of the mod remark-
able is, that fome have more legs than others, and thefe are of two
kinds ; thofe that are (belly, fo called, becaufe they are covered with a
■fort of mining griftles ; and the other membraneous, becaufe their fkins
are foft and flexible. Ail thefe Caterpillars have fix fhelly legs, three
on each fide, which proceed from the three firft rings, and thefe are
called by Mr Reaumur the fore legs ; but all Caterpillars have not an
equal number of membraneous legs, for fome have two, others four,
others fix ; and others again eight.

Reaumur divides Caterpillars into feveral claffes ; the firft of which
are thofe that have eight intermediate legs, four on each fide ; that is
to fay fixteen in all. Their eight intermediate legs are connected to
the four rings that follow each other. The largeft Caterpillars, and
.thofe that are moft commonly feen, are of this firft clafs.

The fecond and third claffes, confift of thofe that have only three
intermediate legs on each fide, that is to fay, fourteen in all. Thefe
are generally remarkable for their induftry ; and the difference between
thefe two claffes, is principally taken from the different arrangement
of their feet : the fecond comprehends Caterpillars that have no feet
on the fourth, fifth, fixth, tenth, and eleventh ring ; and the third con-
-fifts of thofe that have the fourth and fifth ring unprovided with feet,
and yet have a pair on the fixth, feventh and eighth, but none on
the ninth, tenth, and eleventh.

The fourth clafs contains Caterpillars that have fourteen feet, fix of
which are fhelly, and the eight intermediate ones membraneous, placed
as in thofe of the firft clafs, and on the fixth, feventh, eighth, and ninth
ring. The fifth clafs comprehends thofe that have four intermediate
feet, that is twelve in all. In the fixth clafs he places thofe that have
but two intermediate feet, or ten feet in all.

The Caterpillars of the fifth clafs, have but four rings that follow
each other, which have no feet, and thofe of the fixth clafs have fix
xings, which are placed between the fcaly legs and the intermediate
•legs. Thefe two claffes comprehend Caterpillars that walk in a diffe-

T 3 rea£

:

i48 NATURAL HISTORY.

rent manner from the reft ; for they proceed as if they were meafurrng
the ground as they go ; for which reafon they are called furveyors.

The ieventh clafs have no intermediate feet, they having but eight
in all, that is fix that are fhelly, and the two hindermoft. Mr Reaumur\
places in this clafs, the greateft part of Moths, they having only fix
fhelly, and fix hinder legs, .that is fpeaking in general, for fome have
eipht intermediate legs. He will not allow any to be Caterpillars, that
have not eight legs at leaft ; though Ray places in that number, fome
that have lefs than eight.

There is a very great difference among Caterpillars, the principal of
which is the fize and colour. Thofe of the middle fize, are about an
inch long, and the diameters of their bodies is little lefs than a quarter i
of an inch. Some are only of one colour, others of different colours,
fome of which are very lively and well determined, others are placed
in ftreaks of different kinds, running fometimes one way, and fome-
times another; and fometimes again undulated or fpotted. Thefe dif-
ferences of their colours, and the manner of their being placed, ferve
to diftinguifh their kinds; though there are fome that are entirely green,
and others all over brown.

Caterpillars are alfo diflinguifhed into thofe that are naked, and hairy j
for the ilein of moll part of the firft kind is foft to the touch, but the
others are rough, with hard grains ; for which reafon, they are called
by fome fhagreened Caterpillars ; and leveral of thefe have a horn on,
the eleventh ring, which characlerifes a diftincl: kind. Some place thofd
among the naked "kind, that are full of round tubercles, and which
compiehends mofi of the large kinds, that produce the mott beautiful
Butterflies.

The thorny Caterpillars are fo called, becaufe they are rough with
fuch hard and thick hair, that they refemble thorns or prickles, exactly
like thofe on plants. The hairy Caterpillars are fo very different, lome
of theni being extremely beautiful, and others exceeding ugly, that
they may be looked upon as diftinct kinds, though they are generally
icnown among us by the name of Palmer Worms.

With regard to the ihape of Caterpillars, fome are more flender be-
fore than behind, and others the contrary. Some are in the ihape of'
iifh, and the bodies of others terminate in a kind of fork.

Some Caterpillars when you are about to take them, roll themfelves
up in rings ; and when thofe thai are hairy do the fame, they look like
fmall hedge-hogs. Others fall to the ground when the leaves are touch-
ed on which they are feeding ; and others again endeavour to fave
themfelves by running away.

When Caterpillars are metamorphofed firft, they have neither feet,
wings, nor motion, nor do they take any nourifhment ; and then they
have the name of a Chryfalis, Nymph, or Aurelia. The Chryfalis
which proceeds from the Hough of a Caterpillar, ib tender and foft at
iirft, but becomes fo hard at length, that it is brittle. Some of thefe
Amelias are all over hairy, and others feem to be fhagreened ; there
are likewife varieties in their lhapes, in their fizes, and the arrangement
of the prominences on their bodies ; they are alio of different colours.
The Caterpillar of the apricot-tree is of a purple colour, and marked
with red points. It has four tufts of red hair on its back, like the
gars of a boat j and there are two more on the head, which make a

fort

NATURAL HISTORY. i49

fort of horns, and one on the tail. It turns to a nocturnal "Butterfly,
vvh fe temale is without wings ; and the male is of a red colour, with
the wings before marked with a white fpot.

The Caterpillar of common worm wood is adorned with a white
ftreak and brown fpots. The fides are of a palifh green, with brown
itreaks, and over each joint there is a fmall white fpot on the fore part
of the body, fix imali claws, eight in the middle, and two behind. In
May they turn to black Aurelias, from whence proceed fmall noctur-
nal Butterflies, whole head and upper wings are reddiih, variegated
with itreaks and fpots that are black and brown. There is alfo a fmall
white fpot that mines like filver in the middle on the upper wings, but
the lower are brown Thele Butterflies have fmall black horns, and
two (timing eyes; they fly only in the evening.

The fame plant nourilhes a fmall long greenifh Caterpillar, which
has a remarkable walk ; for it joins the hind part of the body to that
belore, making a fort of hump, and proceeds forward in that manner.
About the end of July thefe Caterpillars turn to Aurelias, and fourteen
days afterwards fmall nocturnal Butterflies come out, whofe head, body,
and upper wings, are adorned with green, and variegated with white,
black, and brown fpots and (freaks; but the lower wings are of a bright
brown. They have alfo two fmall horns of a bright brown, and four
little feet fpotted with brown ; and they fly very fwiftly.

Albin and Lifter fpeak of another Caterpillar that feeds on wormwood,
which is of an olive colour, inclining to brown, which changes in July
to an Aurelia, and becomes a nocturnal Butterfly in September. Goe-
dard alfo fpeaks of a Caterpillar that feeds on the leaves of wormwood,
and which changes into the Solitary Flie. The fame authors alfo
mention another fort of Caterpillar that feeds upon the leaves of fea-
wormwood, and which changes into a moll beautiful Butterfly, which
will be hereafter defcribed.

The Caterpillar found upon ever-green privet, is a beautiful infect,
being of a dark'purple mixed with red and brown. It changes to an
Aurelia in May, and in July becomes a fine red nofturnal Butterfly,
whofe upper and lower wing- are croffed with black lines.

The Caterpillar of marfh mallows, becomes a reddiih nocturnal But-
terfly. There is alfo a fmall white infect, fpotted with black, which
feeds upon this plant, which changes into a fmall winged animal that
leaps like a Flea.

The pine-apple Caterpillar, is of a greenifh colour, with a red and
white ilreak running through the length of the body. It becomes a
Butterfly, which beheld through a microfcope, feems to have the wings
covered with fcales, like thofe of a filh, each of which has three teeth,
with fome very long hairs ; and they are difpofed in fuch a manner, that
they may be very eafily counted. The whole body feems to be covered
with a iort of feathers mixed with hairs.

The Caterpillar of the columbines is fmall, and feeds on the flowers
of this plant, turning afterwards to a fmall black Flie. There is like-
wife another Caterpillar belonging to the columbines, that rolls itfelif
up like a ball. It hides itfelf in the earth betore it undergoes its change^
and two Flies have been feen to come out of the Aurelia.

The Caterpillar of the tree called Areck, is very large, and is to be
giet with under the branchsa of this foreign tree. It feeds on the flow-
ers

*$«, NATURAL HISTORY.

^rs and the fruit, and becomes a fine Butterfly, the upper part of whofe
.wings are black, and beneath of a golden colour, bordered, fpotteck
and ftreaked with black. The back of the Butterfly is adorned with
jrnall red fpecks.

The meadow pink Caterpillar, is of a bright brown colour, mixed
with black and white fpots. It gets into the earth before it is changed
.to an Amelia, and in the month of June becomes a nocturnal Butterfly,
with yellow under wings.

The Arrach Caterpillar becomes a fmall red no&urnal Butterfly in
June; and it is of a blue green; but the Butterfly is of a bright brown.

Wild Arrach feeds feveral forts of Caterpillars ; for Mer'ian fpeaks
4>f a Caterpillar of a bright green, that feeds on the leaves of this plant.
She continues in the fame ftate till Augujl, when fhe is transformed to
■a brown Aurelia, and on the following night the Butterfly proceeds
therefrom, of the colour of a faded leaf. There is another Caterpillar
belonging to this plant, of a blueifh green, which is very flow, and
changes her fkin four times, afiuming a new one as fhe quits the old.
jOn the fourth of September one of thefe produced a maggot, that was
in continual agitation, which continued for fourteen hours, and then
ihe appeared of a dufky pale colour. She continued in this condition
till the 26th of September, and then a Flie came out, of a common form,
with long feet, flat at the end, and a large head. She died on the
third of 08ober. Albin fpeaks of another belonging to the garden-ar-
«-ach, which continued feeding till September, and then fhe hid herfelf in
the earth, and did not turn to an Aurelia till July following; from
whence proceeded a nocturnal Butterfly, of the colour of a faded leaf.

The Caterpillar of Jerufalem artichokes is of a brown colour, with a
•yellow belly, with an afh-coloured line that parts the brown from the
yellow. She likewife feeds upon other plants, and does a great deal
of damage in gardens. She changes into a Butterfly with yellow wings
jpotted with black. Goedard fpeaks of another Caterpillar, that feeds
,ypon the leaves of this plant, and produces a Butterfly with wings as
white as fnow, and a body of a light yellowifh colour. This Butterfly
flies about, and is fond of liberty. The fame plant nourifhes a hairy
Caterpillar, that -was obferved to change her ikin the 13th of Augujlt
and on the fixth of September fhe began to feed again. She began to
change on the roth of the fame month, but the metamorphons was
not changed again till the ninth of May following, and then it became
a white Butterfly.

The Caterpillar of the white thorn, is of feveral colours, and alfb
feeds upon the leaves of fruit-trees, it fpins a grey cod, and changes
into a brown Aurelia. When touched it rolls itfelf up, and a white
.I\o61urnal Butterfly proceeds from ic, that dies after laying yellow eggs.

The Caterpillar of the alder-tree is white, vaiiegated with white
ftreaks and jpors ; the head is black, and on the fore part of the body
.there are fix teet, in the middle twelve, and behind two, that are fmall.
Towards the end of June, it changes into an Aurelia, that becomes a
white nocturnal Butterfly fourteen days afterwards, fpotted with black.
This tree feeds feveral other Butterflies, one of which has two hooks,
af a yellow colour, and fo is the reft of the body, with a mixture of
game colour, A Butterfly proceeds from hence, variegated with divers

odours;,

NATURAL HISTORY. *f*

Colours. Another of thefe is hairy, and of a green colour. In Odober
it begins to change, and at the end of June in the following year, it
turns to a dufky Butterfly, fpotted with white. Another Caterpillar
again is green, and produces a very beautiful Butterfly, variegated
with feveral colours.

The Caterpillar of the Ballia, a plant of Surinam, is of two kinds \
the firft is yellow and white, with black ftreaks, and turns to a noctUt«
nal Butterfly, with black fpots : the other is yellow, ftriped with black,
with a brown head, that turns to a fmall Butterfly of an oker colour.

The bananoe Caterpillar is of a brown colour, and the back is armed,
with four prickles : the tail is cloven to the feet, is red, and the head
feems to be adorned wiih a crown. It changes to a Butterfly, called
the little Adas. It breeds another Butterflie of a bright green, which
in May turns to a nocturnal Butterfly.

The venelloe Gaterpillar is brown, ftriped with yellow, and turns t©
a fine Butterfly, the under part of which is of a faffron colour, and th©
upper variegated with yellow, red, and brown, and filver fpots* A
gi-een Catei pillar of r.he fame plant, turns to an afh-coloured Butterfly*

The burdock Caterpillar is brown on the back, fpotted with blaek3
and under the belly it is of a pale yellow. On the fore part of th©
body there are fix fmall feet, and in the middle there are eight. IfV
June it turns to an Aurelia, of the colour of (ilk, from whence ptO"
ceeds in July a fmall nocturnal Butterfly, with the head and Uppe?
wings of the colour of ii!k, variegated with brown and golden fpotl*
It has fix brown feet, and flies only in the evening.

The potatoe Caterpillar is of a fquare fhape, and a greenifh-yellow
colour, covered with imall round red ftuds. It turns to a brown wirtg>>
ed infect, ftreaked with a yellow golden colour: there are other Cater*
pillars belonging to this plant, of a green colour, which become whit®
and yellow Butterflies, whofe wings are bordered with brown.

The low parfnip Caterpillar is of a bright green colour and changes
to an Aurelia, that turns to a Butterfly, of a dufky olive colour.

The corn Caterpillar is ufually met with in corn fields, and feeds u»
pon the roots of tares. It is of a bright brown colour, ftreaked and;
fpotted with one that is darker, In September it turns to a nocturnal
Butterfly, with the- fore part of the body and the wings of a greyihV
afh-colour, adorned with black, and on the wings there may be plainly
feen the Roman letters B.C.V.M. on the fore part of the head there i§
a long brown fnout, which is divided into two parts at the end, each
of which is moveable every way : the hinder part of the body is of &-
bright red, ftreaked with black, and there is another ftreak of a grey^
ifhafh- colour : the middle of the body is hairy, and it flies in the nightB-
making a buzzing with its wings.

The grafs Caterpillar is adorned with fmall black ftreaks, and has the
head and hinder joint of the fame colour. It calls its fkin fix time's^
and then changes to a bright brown Aurelia, which in the month of
Atgujt turns to a nocturnal Butterfly, with the head and upper wings-
brown, adorned with black. It has fix black horns, and the hindef
p£rt of the body, and lower wings, are of a greyifh afh-colour.

The birch Caterpillar often lyes upon the leaves in a femi-circle, and
it fpins a wkite web, changing into an Aurelia, of a bright brown co»

lour \

■

i$z NATURAL HISTORY.

lour; from whence proceeds a fmall nocturnal Butterfly, fpotted with.
a light colour and brown.

The burrage Caterpillar is of a green colour, with fix fmall feet be-
fore, and four behind. It alfo feeds upon collyflowers in Augujl, and
fpins a white web, after which it changes into an Amelia of different
colours, fome of which are brown, and others of a dark green. From
tliefe laft proceed infects of a black colour, that fly like Wafps, having
yellow feet, and tranfparent wings. From the black Autdias proceed
fmall Nocturnal Butterflies, variegated with black ftreaks, and long
black fpots : there is another burrage Caterpillar, that fpins a very fine
web, wherein it continues till March the next year, and then charges
to a bright brown Amelia, from whence in April proceeds a nocturnal
Bucterfly, variegated with black and white ItTeaks and fpots. It has
two little grey horns, and four fmall feet.

The bramble Caterpillar becomes a nocturnal BurterfiY ; and there
is another that is black, fpotted with orange, that changes to a But-
terfly ftreaked with grey.

The chocolate plant Caterpillar feeds on the leaves of that tree, and
is black flreaked with red ; and the ftreaks are fpeckled with white. It
changes to a nocturnal Butterfly, variegated with black ftreaks and
fpots : there is another large Caterpillar that feeds on the leaves of the
fame plant, and has a body covered with green and yellow {harp hair.
It is very venomous, and becomes a nocturnal Butterfly, of a rofe'
colour, with wings fpotted with white underneath, and bordered with-
black ; and in the middle there are two black fpots, the one large, and
the other fmall and triangular : there is another belonging to this plant,
with little or no hair, of various colours ; and over all the body there
are black lines and circles. It becomes a very beautiful Flie, vai iega-
ted with grey, fea-green, and filvery fpots.

The Caterpillar of the rennet, an herb fo called in America, has a I'-ody
marked with feviral round raifed white fpecks, and on each of its iCides
there is a white ftreak. On the hinder part of the body there is a horn,
half white and half blue, with fix fmall feet before, eight in the mic'dle
and two behind, of a flefh colour. In July they turn to Amelias,
which in Augujl change to fmall Butterflies, whofe head, fore pait of
the bodyr, and upper wings are brown, with dark fpecks ; but the hin-
der part is white, adorned with tranfverfe ftreaks, and fmall bla ck
hair : the lower wings are of an orange-colour, and the eyes are blac k,
with fmall black horns ; and it has a trunk for the lucking of flcwei s.
It flies fo fwift by day, that it is hard to be caught.

The green Caterpillar defcribed by All/in, is fpotted with black, at d'
near the head, on each fide the body, there are fpots like eyes; a^d
there is a kind of black horn on the head. When this Caterpillar hits
done feeding, it draws in its head like a fea- turtle.

The elephant Caterpillar, fo Called, becaufe it has a fort of a truni ,
is of a dark brown colour, with rings and lines en the body, of ta
brighter brown. It has a kind of a horn, like the former, which is
placed on the tail. It changes to. a very beautiful nocturnal Butterfly,
of an olive green colour, mixed with that of rofe.

The calamint Caterpillar, often becomes a prey to the Titmoufe, thalt
bird being very fond of.it. It is always flimy like a fnail., leaving i
maik behind it. It is very fearful, and hides itfelf in the leaves of the

plant*

NATURAL HISTORY. T;3

on which it feeds, which is always by night. In Oelober it builds a
cell with dirt and fand, and in March it turns to a Butterfly, beauti-
fully variegated.

''he rampions Caterpillar, does not change into an aurelia till the
following year, when it becomes a fmall Butterfly.

The acajou Caterpillar is a native of Surinam, and is hairy, and as
white as mow, which in March turns to a tranfparent Butteirly.
There is another of a red colour, belonging to the fame plant,' which
turns to a Butterfly of the colour of wood.

The caffava Caterpillar is large and black, with the hinder part of
the head as red as blood. Theie Caterpillats do prodigious mifchief
among the plants called caffava, of which the inhabitants make bread.
They change to noclurnal Butterflies, beautifully variegated with black
and white, and the upper part of the body is fpottcd with orange

The chervil Caterpillar is of a fhining green, ftreaked with white.
It fpins a (lender cod, and becomes a chefnut coloured aurelia, which
in fourteen days turns to a nocturnal Butterfly.

The Caterpillars of cherry-trees, are of different kinds, that is, as
many as there are different forts of cherries. Chat on the cherry-trees
with double bloffoms, when it is ready to be metamorphofed, fpins an
oval cod, which Ihines like filver, and as ftiff as parchment. It turns
to a nocturnal Butterfly.

The rough cherry-tree feeds two forts of Caterpillars f the firft is
brown, and rolls up the leaves, tn which it enclnfes itfelf. It creeps
very fwiftly, as well backwards as forwards, and when it is touched,
it defcends to the ground by a thread drawn from its mouth. It fpins
a white end, which turns to a brown aurelia, and in Otlober it turns to
a Butterfly, of a bright brown. The fecond Caterpillar is yellowifh,
and rolls itfelf up in green leaves. It defcends to the earth like the
former, and gets up again by the thread as fwiftly. It fpins a white
cod, which in October is metamorphofed to a Butterfly, of a bright
brown.

The great cherry-tree with fweet fruit, likewife nourifhes beautiful
Caterpillars ; there are ftreaks that run crofs the back, which feem to
be bordered with pearls. In July they fpin a cod, which (nines like
filver; which changes to an aurelia, Prom whence in Augujt proceed
beautiful noclurnal Butterflies, variegated with black, white, and grey,
orange, and rofe-colours. It feeds another Caterpillar of a fea-green
colour, which changes into an aurelia in the beginning of Augujl, which
at the end of the fame month turns into a Butterfly. There is alfo
another, which is long, and of a yellowifh green, it changes to a fmall
noclurnal Butterfly, whofe lower wings are brown, and the upper green,
as well as the body, which is adorned with white fpots, and fmall
brown points. Albin takes notice of two Caterpillars of different co-
lours, found upon cherry-tree leaves. One is yellow, marked with
lines of a deeper yellow, and on each ring there are red fpots. They
have both red heads, but the ring on the neck is yellow. They retreat
under ground, where they fir ft become aurelias, and then nocturnal
Buuerflitjs, and lay their eggs in the chinks of trees. Some call them
Loopersy becaufe they bend their bodies in fuch a manner, as to make

£ loop.

V Goedatd

*j4 NATURAL HISTORY.

Geodard fpeaks of another that feeds upon cherry-tree leaves, one 6t*
"which began to change to an aurelia on the fixth of June, and on the
fourteenth of the fame month, it became a Butterfly, of a very odd
colour ; for it feemed to be cloathed with a patched garment, and the
neck was like a piece of cloth, made up of a mixture of white and black.
The Caterpillar of our ladies thifile, are of feveral kinds, fome of
which become finall black Flies, and others beautiful little Butterflies.
Goe'dard fpeaks of one covered with down, and very fearful, that can-
not bear cold nights. It is blackifh, with prickles on the back of the
fame colour, only they are a little yellow at the points.

The beech Caterpillar is of a yellow colour, variegated with black
fpots and Breaks, and having on the fore pan of the body fix black
feet, eight in the middle, and two yellow ones behind. It is very flow,,
and Hands (lock Hill when touched. It produces a frnall no&urnal'
coloured Butterfly, whofe fpots on the upper part are croffed with
others that are red, that fhine very much, and the lower wings are*
fpotted with red. It feldom flies, but keeps among the grafs and on
the flowers ; the eggs are yellow.

The oak Caterpillar is ftriped with yellow and green, and when it
cads its fkin, it becomes brown ; likewife when it cafts its fkin again,
it becomes of a dark red. It feeds on oak leaves till September, and
then turns to a brown aurelia, which in December is changed to a brown'
noclurnah Butterfly, fpotted with yellow and white.-

Albln takes notice of feveral oak Caterpillars, one of which is yellow,
with a black angular line, running along' the back. It changes to a
beautiful nocturnal Butterfly, whofe Upper wings are of a gold colour,
and the belly and lower wings of the colour of cream, clouded with
gold and rofe colours. Another is of a bright yellow, with reddifh
fpots, and feveral points on the tail. It wraps itfelf up in the oak"
leaves, and in September it turns to an aurelia, which in April becomes
a nocturnal Butterfly, with a back and upper wings of a pale green,
and the inner fide of the edges of a fcarlet colour.

The fame author fpeaks of another, which changes its fkin twice,
and then becomes of a bright brown, inclining to an afh-colour, and
afterwards to a noclurnal Butterfly, variegated with white and black.
Another oak Caterpillar is of a bright brown ; another of a pale red,
a third green, and a fourth yellow. This laft is of an extraordinary
fhape, which in June becomes a butterfly, whofe furface is oi a dark
brown, and feenis to be laid on a purplifh blue.

Rtdi acquaints us, that on the twelfth of July an oak branch was
brought to him, on whole leaves were above thirty Caterpillars, placed
in a regular order: they were clothed with white fh or t hair, and their
bodies were fpeckled with feveral colours, as yellow, orange, grey, and
black : they had a yellowifh cre'feent on the head, which was of a iliin-
ing chefhut colour : they feemed to be all motionlefs, and were put
into a large box, where in two days time they caft their fkins, and be-
gan to eat oak leaves ; they continued to ieed till the twenty fecond of
the fame month, when they retired to the corner of the box, and be-
came motionlefs again : they continued fo two days, and then call
their fkin a fecond lime, after which they became lively, their bodies
being larger, and their hairs more long : they fed very greedily till the
fiiil oiAuguJll when they left off, i became weak and fmall, and their

hair-

NATURAL HISTORY. 1§S

'jiair fell off. In fliort they feemed extremely Tick and weak, and con-
tinued Co till the fourth of AuguJI, when fix of them caffc their fkins a
third time, and became black aurelias, and looked like children in
fwadling cloaths. The next day in half an hour's time, they turned
to Butterflies, but laid their eggs foon after, to the number of forty,
which were of a pale blue, and had a little black ipeck in the middle.

The honey-fuckle Caterpillar, in AuguJI turns to an aurelia, which
does not change to a Butterfly till June the next year. There are other
Caterpillars of this plant, that become Flies.

The dog-grafs Caterpillar in July fpins a green web, and turns to a
grey aurelia, from whence a Butterfly proceeds in Augujl, of a dark
orange-colour, that lays green eggs.

The cabbage Caterpillar does a great deal of mifchief among thofe
plants, in dry feafons, but it is killed by the rain. It calls its fkin
twice a year, and turns to a white Butterfly. Ii is of a pale green
fpotted with black, and on the back there is a yellow fpot or flreak ;
but the belly is marked with fmall yellow fpecks. It turns to an aurelia
in September, and in April turns to the white common Butterfly.

When cabbages are young and tender, they are devoured by a Ca-
terpillar of a meadow- green colour, with a yellow ftreak running along
the back, and on both fides of each joint there is a fmall yellow fpeck.
When it arrives at its full growth it turns to a pale brown aurelia,
fpotted with black, and fourteen days after it changes to a fmall But-
terfly. Albin fpeaks of a green cabbage Butterfly, v ith a yellow line
on each fide, which he found on a cabbage-leaf in June, that turned
to an Aurelia in July, and in the fame month became the great com-
mon white Butteifly.

The colly flower breeds a yellow Caterpillar fpotted with green and
black, and it devours the leaves, leaving nothing but the ribs.
■Goedard affirms, he has known fome colly-flower Caterpillars turn to
very ugly Butterflies, and others to Flies. Reds gathered great num-
bers of the cabbage Butterflies, that were of a greer.ifh colour, marked
with white and black, and put them in boxes. In four days time,
they all became immoveable, after they were fixed to tbe top of the-
box. They left fmall yellow eggs behind them, which in March fol-
lowing, turned to fmall blackifh Flies. Valifnieri difcovered that thefe
were very fmall filken .cods, made by fmall infects that feed on the
bodies of the Caterpillars. The above Caterpillars ftuck to the box by
the means of a lilken thread which came from the extremities of their
tails ; there were alfo two other threads on their fliouiders, and a fourth
that proceeded from the under part of the mouth. They lay all the
winter in this condition, but in March they left their fkins flicking to
the box, and came out in the form of Butterflies, of a bluifh-green
.colour, with two black round fpots on the upper wings, and two fmall
yellow horns on the head.

The Caterpillar of the citron-tree, is of a beautiful yellow, but red
towards the belly ; on the tail there is a double flreak in the fhape of
a flame. Its thread is a kind of fllk, more fhining, and in greater
abundance than that of Silk-worms ; and if thefe Caterpillars were
common, they would yield more filk than Silk- worms themlelves. It
becomes a very large nocturnal Butterfly, of a red and golden colour,
jpith white ftreaks on all the wings, on each of which there is a bright

U 2 traniparen|

i56 NATURAL HISTORY.

tranfparent fpot, that is fuirounded by two circles, the one within, and
the other without ; one of which is white, and the other black.

Merian fpeaks of another infect that feeds upon citron leaves, which
is quite different from a Caterpillar, and its feet are covered with a
fkin, with which it adheres thereto. This is a very numerous infect,
for when it touches the {kin, it certainly inflames it; how ever it changes
to a beautiful nocturnal Butterfly.

The leaves of the hazel- tree feed Caterpillars of different kinds, one
of which is of a faffron colour, and turns to a nocturnal white Butter-
fly, (freaked and variegated with brown fpott.. Ray mentions the
s^reat hairy Caterpillar, with thick tufts of hair, or pencils of a red
colour, that feeds upon the leaves of this tree. It is of a yellowifh-
green, and produces a fmall green Butterfly. Albin gives the figure of
a monfhous Caterpillar, which according to Aldrovandus, is of a mid-
dle nature, between a Caterpillar and a Spider. Albin has another
beautiful Caterpillar, of a grey colour, variegated with black lpecks on
the back. St retires into the ground before il turns to an aurelia, and
afterwards becomes a nofturnal Bulterfh . Another turns to a noc-
turnal Butterfly with wings furrowed like a cockle- (hell. There is
alfo a green Caterpillar, which turns to a Butterfly, nearly of the fame
colour.

Fhe Caterpillar found on the leaves of garden- creffes, are black on
the back, and white under the belly. It has fix black feet before, and
eighteen behind, that is nine on each fide. In June it fpins a flender
cod, and changes to a brown aurelia, from whence a nocturnal But-
terfly proceeds foon after, fpotted with brrwn.

The fea green Caterpillar feeds on the herb by fome called the pea-
cock's creft, and changes to a nocturnal Butterfly, of an alh-colour,
that feeds on the honey of flowers.

The dandelion Caterpillar is of a brown colour, and has two forts of
hairy hoVns on its head. And on the back there are five fmall tufts of
hairs, but all the reft of the body is covered with yellow hair. In May
it produces a grey Butterfly.

The Caterpillar of the flejper, a plant fo called by the French in
America, is green, ftriped -mux rofe- colour and it has two fmall horns.
It changes into a brown Butterfly, variegated with yellow.

The eglantine Caterpillar is very flow and idle, for it will fooner fuf-
fer itfelf to be cruflied to pieces, than run away. It turns to an aure-
lia in September, and in May following it turns to a beautiful Butterfly,

There are feveral Caterpillars that feed on the tubite thorn, one of
■which has a gilded back, and changes into a Chryfalis, which becomes
a Butterfly, with black veins. It is of the colour and fhape of the
large cabbage Butterfly : there is another fpotted with white on the
fides, and the furrows between the legs are black ; but the reft of the
body is of a brownifiv black ; this turns to a nocturnal brown in the
middle of the wings, and two white fpots on the upper wings. There
is a third black Caterpillar, with browrn fpots, and the rings of a faffron
colour. It becomes an aurelia in May, and in Augujl a nocturnal But-
terfly, of a bright grey colour. There are feveral others, one of which
is beautifully variegated with different colours, and becomes a noctur-
nal yellow Butterfly, with different fpots. Another is brown, and the
t "'terfly it changes to is partly red, and partly yellow. A third is of

a

NATURAL HISTORY. i57

a dufky colour, with a red head, and turns to a noclurnal Butterfly of
a bright yellow colour, with darker {hades, and fpots of the mme. A
fourth is of a fea-green colour, and the upper wings of the Butierfly
are of a bright brown, and the lower of a bright yellow, A litth is
green, and turns to a noclurnal Butterfly, of a greenifh blue. A fixth
is of a blackiih brown, and is metamorphofed to a white noclurnal But-
teifly. A feventh is of a deep black, with fpots of different colours,
and the Butterfly is of a dirty grey ; and a ninth is green, 'which turns
to a noclurnal yellow Butterfly.

Goedard {'peaks of one that feeds upon the leaves of the white thorn,
and hides itfelf under them, to avoid the heat of the fun. He had one
of thefe that call his {kin three times; but on the twelith of June turn-
ed to an aurelia, which produced on the fourth of July a beautiful
white Butterfly.

The barberry-bufh Caterpillar is of a golden colour, with a black
head, on which the Ichneumon Flie lays its eggs, which become worms,
that feed on thefe fort of Caterpillars. There is another with a green
back and yellow belly, fnoijn whence proceeds a brown Butterfly.
There is another of a blackiih brown, with red fpots, which changes
to a white nocturnal Butterfly, whofe upper wings are fpotted with,
black.

The maple Caterpillar is of a dark brown, and turns to a beautiful
yellow Butterfly.

The fennel Caterpillar is green, with ftreaks as black as velvet, and
fpotted with orange, and feelers of the fame colour. It turns to a green
aurelia, and then to a beautiful Butterfly, of a yellow colour variegated
with black.

The Caterpillar of the fweet bean plant of Surinam, is covered with
black and yellow hair, and turns to a Flie, with brown wings, and the bo-
dy is fpotted with red, green, gold and filver colours. On the fame plant
there is a white Butrerfly, armed with black points at the back, and
the feet are likewife'black. It afterwards turns to a beautiful Butterfly.

The fig Caterpillar is at firft green, ftriped with yellow, and after-
wards orange, with red (freaks all over the body, but the head and
tail are black. It turns to a brown noclurnal Butterfly.

There is alfo a large Caterpillar, mottled with various colours, that
feeds on the leaves of the fig-tree, and has two orange-coloured horns,
which are venomous, and caufe fliarp pain. It becomes a nnclumal
Butterfly, variegated with dark brown, green, and filver colours.
There is alfo a green Caterpillar belonging to this tree, firiped with
white, which changes to a noclurnal Butterfly, variegated with yellow,
white, and grey.

The rafpberry bufh Caterpillar becomes a brown Butterfly, whofe
wings have a whitiih round fpot in the middle.

The afh-tree Caterpillar rolls itfelf up under the leaves, to {helrer it-
felf from the heat of the fun. One of thefe was obferved to be meta-
morphofed into an aurelia on the twenty-fourth of June, and to be-
come a fort of a Moth the twenty-fixth of September. The black Cray-
InPn, is a Caterpillar, fo called, belonging to this tree, becaufe the
hinder part in fome fenfe, refembles a Cray-fifh; but the fore-part is like
a fnail, and it is all over black. It turns to a grey Flie,

• The

IgJ NATURAL HISTORY.

The fern Caterpillar is of a beautiful bright green, and changes to %
#oclurnal Butterfly, of a bright brown, whofe upper wings are brown
#nd while.

The Caterpillar of the German broom, is green, with a black ftripe
gunning along the back, and under it on each fide, there is a white
ftripe. It fpins a web in the middle of June, with mefhes like a net,
and at the beginning of July it changes to a fmall noclurnal Butterfly,
,of a bright green. The wings are marked with tranfiverfe white ftreaks,
inclining to green, and it flies very fwiftly. There is another Cater-
terpillar belonging to this fhrub, which is black, and on each joint
there is two fmall blue fpots, adorned with a tuft of hair. The head,
and all the feet, are of an oaker colour. At the end of June, it fpins
a grey web, and turns to a brown aurelia, with a head covered with
black hair. In the middle of July it becomes a nocturnal Butterfly,
of a dark yellow colour, ftreaked with brown, and the horns refemble
feathers.

The gum gutta Caterpillar is very large, and ftreaked with green
and black ; it feeds on the leaves of this plant, and becomes a {lately
Butterfly.

The grafs Caterpillar is of a bright green, and on each fide of the
body before, there are fix fmall feet, eight in the middle, and two
jbehind. It turns to a green aurelia, from whence proceeds a fmall
beautiful Butterfly, variegated with brown and black ftripes and fpots.
It has two fmall horns, fpotted with white and black, and two fine
green eyes. It flies very fwiftly. There are other Caterpillars be-
longing to the different forts of grafs; one of which is of a bright brown,
fpotted with black and yellow. It fleeps by day, and by night is in
(continual motion,

Another is green, and changes to what is called the brown meadow
Butterfly. Another again is yellow, with a brown head, and chan-
ges to a noclurnal Butterfly, called the Wood Leopard. On the grafs
of marfhes there are two, one of which is of a dark red, and changes
to a noclurnal Butterfly or Mcth, and the other green, changing to a
noclurnal Butterfly, of a reddiih colour.

Merlan takes notice of a large brown Caterpillar, that feeds upon
common grafs, which is variegated with yellow and white, and has a
fmall tuft of black hair on the head, on the tail there is a prickle rer
fembling a fmall horn, and on each fide there are fmall tufts of white
hair that cover the legs. It delights in moift places, and in the mid-
dle of June fpins a yellowifh cod, from whence proceeds a noclurnal
Butterfly or Moth, at the end of the month. It is of a faded yellow
colour, and acrofs each wing there is a brown ftreak, with two white
fpots, and a narrow border of brown. Jt lays white eggs.

The grenadier Caterpillar feeds upon a plant fo called, in Surinam.
It is of a yellow colour, and in May turns to a fine Butterfly, of a
blueilh filver colour, bordered with a brown ftripe, marked with white
half-moons ; but underneath it is brown, fpotted with yellow. It ap-
pears through a microfcope to be covered with blue tiles, like thofe
$hat cover houfes. The largeft feathers are ranged in a beautiful order
en the v.Ting, and look like thofe of a peacock's tail, being very brilliant.

The Caterpillar of the white goofeberry-bufli, has a grey body, with
§. black ftripe on the back : they are hairy, and the head is yellow.

Behind

NATURAL HISTORY'. j#

Behind the head on each fide, there are five blue fpectcs, and others"
along the body that are red. In Augujl they turn to a bright brown'
Aurelia, and from it in September there proceeds a nocturnal Butterfly
er Moth, ftreaked with white, yellow, and black.

On the common goofeberry-buih there is a Caterpillar ; yellowifh ori
the fore part, and on the hinder white above, and yellow below: the
Aurelia refembles a child in fwaddling-cloaths, which fhine with gold
and filver. At the end of June it turns to a Butterfly, whole upper
part is fpotted with a deep yellow and brown, and the under adorned
with black fpots.

On the prickly goofeberry-bufh there is a brown Caterpillar, in April \
ftreaked with black, and fpotted with white. In June it fpins an oval
cod, of a dark yellow, and turns to a brown aurelia ; and the Moth
that proceeds from it has a white fpot on each wing : there is another
green Caterpillar on the fame plant, that flicks fo cloie to the leaves*
that it cannot be taken off without hutting it. In May it turns to a
brown aurelia, and fourteen days afterwards to a white and brovvri
Butterfly, with feveral fpots.

The red goofeberry-bufh feeds a fort of grey Caterpillar, which iti'
December changes to a chefnut coloured aurelia, and in February to a
white Moth, ftreaked wich black, and that lays greenifh eggs.

Albin mentions a whitifh-yeliow Caterpillar variegated with black and
red fpots, that hides itfelf in the ground, where it changes to a red au=
r'elia, and becomes a nodurnal black and white Butterfly, mixed with
yellow. This Caterpillar has been found on the goofeberry-bufh, and'
is called by Ray the middle-fized Phalasna, with large wings, marked
with many tflack and white fpots, and yellow, tranfverfe, variegated
lines.

Merian takes notice of the Caterpillar that feeds on the red goofeber=
ry bufh, which differs from others, in not having the feet in the mid-
dle of the body, but at the extremity. It changes to an aurelia th£
firft of April, and turns to a fine Butterfly the latter end of June ; b'dt
it is too weak to live long. Goedard fays he has met with one that
turns to a grey Flie, and lives but four days, and there is another that
becomes a black and yellow Flie.

Goedard has obferved another on this boiri, that feeds on fmall in^
fects ; that run about its body ; it turned to an aurelia the ninth of
June, and on the thirtieth it became a Flie.

The guava Caterpillar of Surinam, is green, with fix white ftreaks
en each fide, and a black round fpOt on each joint. On the hinder
part it had a red horn, and became a nocturnal Butterfly, with alh>
c. -loured wings, marbled with white and black. The body was marked
v. ith ten orange- coloured fpots, and on the h;ead there was a long red
trunk, which it made ule of for the fucking of flowers. There are o-
ther Caterpillars on the fame tree, that are covered with hair, on fome
white, and on others red. They are all venomous, and when touched*
they caufe a fweiling, with pain. They have four feet, and turn to
Ugly fmall Flies.

He alfo mentions another fort, with a black head and back, that
turn white by little and little, and afterwards become of a fine yellows-
The fore and hind parts are coyered with black hair j but that undef

thfe

?5» NATURAL HISTORY.

the belly is brown. It becomes a nocturnal Butterfly, with a white
body, fpotted with a yellowifh brown.

He likewife takes notice of a large dark brown Caterpillar, with a
black ttreak from the head to the tail, and black rings round the b"dy.
On the belly there are fmall white fpecks, and the head and tail are of
a purple colour. It becomes a large nocturnal Butterfly, with a white
ftreak on its body, and tour black fpots on each fide, betides four black
oblique lines, and four others that are white. The upper wings are
fpotted with white and brown, and the lower are yellow above, and
dark brown below.

The purple Caterpillar feeds on all forts of herbs, but more particu-
larly pinks. They are of a brownifh-purple above, and of a bright
yellow below ; in Augujl they change to aurelias, and fourteen days
after to Moths. The black Caterpillar feeds on all forts of herbs and
leaves, and rolls itfelf up when touched; it turns to a Butterfly, fpot-
ted with black in three different places.

The hop Caterpillar has half the back and belly of a tawny colour,
and the other half white. It turns to an aurelia in Augujl, and towards
the end of the fame month, becomes a dark red Butterfly. Ray calls
it the Butterfly like that of the Elm, but lefs, with laciniated wings,
and the lowermolt, marked with a crooked black line.

The hyffop Caterpillar is found on that plant, when it is in flower.
When a leaf is touched, it throws itfelf down, and gets into the earth.
It changes its form in Augujl, and three days after there proceeds from
the fkin three fmall worms, which change in a thou time to eggs, and
then to Flies in September ; but they live only three days.

The knap- weed Caterpillar is found on the flowers of this plant, and
is of a brown colour, and hairy. It fpins itfelf a cod, which turns
black, and in March following changes to a white Moth, ftreaked and
fpotted with black. Albin acquaints us, that there is another Caterpil-
lar which feeds on the leaves that turns to a Moth, of a deep brown
colour, with a mixture of dirty grey on the wings.

The Caterpillar of the oriental hyacinth, is black, hairy, and very
nimble ; but when touched, it rolls itfelf up. It fpins a cod, which
turns to a black aurelia, and fourteen days after to a Moth, with brown
upper wings, and the lower of a pale red, fpotted with black. It is
found in Surinam.

The rag-wort Caterpillar is of two kinds, the firft of which is of a
citron-colour, with black wings, and changes to a red and black Moth.
Small worms proceed from its body, which turn to Ichneumon Flies,
The other is an autumnal Caterpillar like the former, but how it chan-
ges is not known.

The java Caterpillar is large and white, ftreaked with black. On
each fide there are five fhining fpecks, of a red colour, which fome
take to be eyes. It turns to a Moth, ftriped with black and white.
There is another green Caterpillar, that feeds on the fame leaves, and
becomes a transparent Butterfly fpotted with black.

The crowned Caterpillar feeds on the leaves of the Indian jelTamin,
and becomes a fine undulated Butterfly, with fix white fpots on the
wings, whofe under parts are red an i black. There is a Caterpillar
en the common jefTamin. of a green colour, with red ftripes, but they
a-ie very uncommon, as Albin acquaints us,

7te

NATURAL HISTORY. ^

The Caterpillar of the fea bull rufh, is a very {low infeft, and on the
fecond of June there was a worm obferved to proceed from the hinder
pari of its body, which on the twelfth became a very fmall F!ie. This
Caterpillar turned to an aurelia the fifth of Jure, and on the firft of
Augujl became a Flie, with wings fo clofe to its body, they can fcarcely
be feen.

The Caterpillar of the garden iris, with large leaves, is green, and
very fwift ; it changes to an aurelia in October, and in March folio >ir,g,
to a brown moth, with a white fpot on each wing. There are alio
blueifh Caterpillars on this plant, which in September turn to bright
coloured moths. Merian affirms, he has found a green Caterpillar at
the roots of the iris, which in 'June turns to a grey moth.

The Caterpillar ot the dame violets, is a long {lender infect, which
when it creeps, turns up its tail near the head. It changes in May to
a grey aurelia, which in June becomes a fine Butterfly, with the head,
lower wings, horns, and feet, of a bright yellow; and the eyes are
black Merian mentions a green Butterfly, of the fame plant, with a
black head, and fix feet before, fix in the middle, and two behind.
At the end of April it fpins a yellow web, which turns to a green
aurelia, fpotted with black, from whence a white Butterfly proceeds
in May, that can fcarce fly from one flower to another.

The Caterpillar of the low thiitle has the upper part of the body grev,
and it is ftriped with brown, and fpotted with white ; but underneath
it is of a fleth colour. It turns to a bright brown aurelia in July, and
the next June becomes a yellowifh moth, variegated with green and
black.

The lettuce Caterpillar is brown and green under the belly, with fix
feet before, eight in the middle and two behind. Towards the end of
Augujl, it turns to a brown aurelia, with black eyes, and the body va-
riegated with black. A grey Caterpillar feeds on the cabbage lettuce,
and on its back there is a dark yellow ftreak. It turns to a brown
aurelia in Augujl, and to a moth in September, with the upper wings
brown, and the lower blueiih, as well as the body. There is a venom-
ous hairy Caterpillar belongs to the fame plant, which the birds will
not meddle with, and which turns to a large handfome Butterfly, fpot-
ted with fine red. Goedard mentions another that is green, which turns
to a grey Butterfly with a long trunk.

The white archangel breeds a green Caterpillar, flxeakcd with white
line;, which turns to a moth, whole upper wings have a dark ground,
and part of them fhining like burniihed copper ; the lower are of a
dirty white.

The Caterpillar of dog's tongue, a weed fo called, is flreaked with
black and yellow, and the wings are marked with different colours.
It enters the earth in May, where it changes to an auTelia, that pro-
duces a very fine moth, with the back and upper wings of a bright
green, fpotted with white and iaffron- colour. The upper part of the
belly is red, with a black ftieak, and the lower wings are alfo red,
fpotted with black.

The Caterpillar of the lavas, an herb fo called, is named by Goedard
the Centinel, becaufe it continues in the fame poflure for fome time,
and feems to be looking about. In June it turns to a brownifh-grey
Butterfly.

IvZ

NATURAL HISTORY.

The ground- ivy Caterpillar is green, and when touched, rolls itfelf
up. It turns to an aurelia in July, and in Augujl to a moth, whofe
upper wings are of a wood colour, and the lower ftriped with green.
There is another that feeds on this herb, which turns to a fine Butter-
fh in May, of a Chining golden colour, and on its head there are two
fine Ice feathers.

The QaterpHUr of the blue lilac, is green, and in May fpins a white
coJ, which turns to a bright aurelia, and before the end of the month
ch mges to a bright brown moth. There is another green Caterpillar
belonging to the lame tree, that in Oilober turns to a moth ftriped with
green and white.

» The Caterpillar of the lemon-tree, is brown, with a white fpot, and
thev Ive in heaps on the leaves of that tree On the head there is a
yellow' horn, which is their defence, and in April they turn to blackifh
Butterflies,, fpotted with white and red.

The flax Caterpillar is of a greenifh brown colour, and under the
belly of a bright green, with a black (freak on each fide. It turns to
an aurelia in Augjuft, and in May following to a greyilh afh coloured
mo1;}), with wings variegated with black, and black eves.

The Caterpillar of the orange flower de luce, has the upper part of
the body brown, ftreaked with a darker colour, and it is yellow under-
neath. In Jum it turns to an aurelia, and in Augujl to a moth, vari-
egated with light and dark brown. There is another Caterpillar on
the lame plant, that turns to a fky-blue Butterfly with violet- wings,
and four golden fpots on the back.

The Caterpillar of the red flower de luce, is bred in Surinam, and
covered wuh blsck hairs as hard as iron. The head and feet are red,
and the body is full of blue fpots, furrounded with a yellow circle. It
turns to a line moth, whofe wings before are of a bright brown, and
behind oi an orange colour, fpotted with black.

The fcammony Caterpillar is large, and of a bright green colour.
It turns to a bright aurelia, and in Augujl to a fmall moth, of a grey-
ifh afh-colour, variegated w^ith dark brown. Merian fpeaks of another
of a bright green, that turns to a rofe-coloured aurelia, and fourteen
days after to a fmall flying infect.

The Caterpillar of the maure. fo called by the French, is fmall and
green, with white ftreaks ; it firft changes to an aurelia, and the day
after-to a fmall Butterfly. There is another larger, that feeds on the
flowers, and in Augujl turns to a whitiih Butterfly. There are Cater-
pillars that feed on the leaves of wild maure, that turn to brown aure-
lias, and the next May to fmall moths.

The feverfew Caterpillar is brown, and turns to a brown moth.

The Caterpillar of the brown mellilot, is bred in Surinam, and is
large, and of a bright green, with brown fpots. It has fix feet before,
eight in the middle, and two behind, and on each ring of the lower
part of the body, there is a blood coloured fpot. It ipins a white web,
and turns to an aurelia, of a bright violet-colour, from whence in June
proceeds a moth, with the head, body, horns, and upper wings grey,
and variegated with black and white fpecks and itreaks ; but the lower
wings are of a fine vermilion colour.

The

NATURAL HISTORY. i*5

The Caterpillar of the water-melon is blue before and behind, and
green in the middle. The feet are covertd with a flime like a fnail,
'and in Augujl it turns to an ugly moth.

The Caterpillar ot garden mint, is white, ftreaked with green, and
fpins a fine web, or cod, which turns to a brown aurelia, and in Auguji
to a moth, that mines like gold. There is another of a yellow colour,
that changes to a moth of a rofe colour, which quickly dies. Alain
mentions a green Caterpillar, that feeds upon mint, that turns to a
Moth, marked with the letter Y on the middle of each upper wing.

The Caterpillar that feeds on French mercury, and falls to the
ground as dead, when the leaves are ftirred. In Augvjl ic turns to a
Butterfly that has a fort of a fmall mantle fpread on its wing-, which
covers all the fore part of this infeel, and jerves both for an ornament,
and for defence.

The night-made Caterpillar is green, and turns to a light brown But-
terfly, that flies very fwiftly Alibi has two belonging to this herb,
one of which is of a yellou-iffa green, lpotted with a bright yellow, the
other of a dark grey, fpotted in the fame manner, and with a line of a
fafFron colour. They both turn to moths, of a reddifh brown. From
the bodies of thefe Caterpillars worms proceed, which turn to Ichne-
umon Flies.

The Caterpillar of the mulberry-tree, has been largely defcribed un-
der the name of the Silk-worm.

The Caterpillar of the muik plant, is green, ftreaked with black, and
turns to a white moth

The Caterpillar of the myrtle-tree, has a brown head, adorned with
four red lpots, and a double black whifker, the body is brown, varie-
gated with fmall red and yellow ftreaks, and one large black flreak
along the back, on which there are four tufts of yellow hair, and a
black tuft on the hinder ring, which is yellow on the top. The fore
and middle legs are yellowy and the pair behind black. It turns to a
fmall moth. Merlan fays he has kept fome of them in a box, which
changed to vile fmall flying infects, with a black head and body, and
legs of a dark yellow. Others which are caught in Frie/e/and, turned
to Flies, and others again to fmall yellow moths. There was likewile
another black Caterpillar, with a tuft of yellow hair on each ring, and
on each fide of them a fmall white fpeck. It turned to a white moth,
adorned with mining black and brown {peeks and lpots.

The medlar Caterpillar is yellow, ftreaked with rofe colour, and the
head brown. Each ring is armed with four black prickles, and the
legs are likewile of a role colour. It turns to a beautiful Butterfly, of
a brownifh filver colour, acro'fs which there are mining blue, green,
and purple ftreaks. On each wing there are three round lpots, of an
orange yellow colour, bordered with a black circle, and this furround-
ed wiih one that is green. The extremity of the wings is of an orange
yellow, with black and white ftreaks.

The Caterpillar of the hazel nut tree is fmall and green, and becomes
a fmall Butterfly ; but there are other green Caterpillars that turn in-
to Flies. There is one that is not fo common, of a green colour, and
ftreaked with white, and a white ftreak on each wing. It fpins a fine
white web, and turns to a brown aurelia, and aiterwards to a fmall
moth, with the lower wings, feet and horns brown ; but the upper

X 2 wings

164 NATURAL HISTORY,

wings are adorned with fmall white ftreaks, and the body is of a bright
colour, but the eyes are black, and the lower wings fhine like gold.
Jllbin takes notice of a yellowifh green Caterpillar, with a red head,
that turns to a moth of a red and biown colour.

The pink Caterpillar feeds on the flowers of that name, and hides
itfelf in the ground in the day time. In "July it turns to an aurelia,
and in September to a Butterfly, before taken notice of.

The Caterpillar of the orange tree has a yellow ftreak on the body,
and each ring has four fpecks of an orange colour furrounded with very
fine hair. It becomes a moth, with a fpot on each wing, that refem-
bles talc.

The Caterpillar of bear's ear, produces a green worm, that fucks its
body dry. This worm afterwards changes to an aurelia, which be-
comes an Ichneumon Flie.

The elm Caterpillar fpins a fmall web or cod, and at the end of nine
months turns to a Flie. Some call it the Grafshopper Caterpillar, be-
caufe it leaps from one place to another.

There are feveral Caterpillars fed on elm-leaves, one of which taken,
notice of by Albin, is of a bright green, inclining to blue, with white
lines, and the lower part marked with black lpecks, but the head is red.
It retires inio the ground, where it becomes an aurelia, that changes to
a bright brown moth. There is another of an olive colour, adorned
with red and yellow fpots round its wings. It turns to ya black and
white moth. There is ftill another, which is very beautiful, inclining
to blue, and marked with yellow fpecks. It turns to a Butterfly, call-
ed the great tortoife-fhell Butterfly

Goedard affirms there is a Caterpillar on the leaves of the elm tree,
that fixes itfelf thereon with a thread, in fuch a manner, that it bends
the two extremities of the leaf, clofing them together with its web, and
leaving; an opening before and behind. When it is touched never fo
flightly, it falls down, holding itfelf by a thread, and moves about as
fwift as an eel. There are two forts, one of which becomes a Butter-
fly, and the other which is larger, produces worms that have killed the
Caterpillar. Thefe are thirty two in number, and lay each an egg,
which turns to a fmall Flie.

The fame author takes notice of another, which wraps itfelf up in
a dry leaf, falling to the ground, and covers it with a web, that fhines
like lilver. It turns to a Flie.

Goedard has ftill another, which produces a Flie that is able to kill
Spiders, though all other Flies become their prey, and feems to take
pleafure in it. It will break off all the legs, and then drag it along,
carrying it off.

There is ftill another, mentioned by the fame author, that feeds on
elm leaves, and before it turns to an aurelia, gets into ftables and
houfes among boards. It hangs with its head downwards, and feems
to be a round ball when the fkin begins to crack. It turns to a beau-
tiful Butterfly. The Caterpillar of the large Stinking nettle, is of a
black colour, and turns to a yellow aurelia, from whence proceeds a
Butte; fly, brown without, and within of a dark orange, variegated
with a mixture of black and purple. There are others of a bright green,
and others brown ; but they are all adorned with white and black
breaks, and many of them fpin a white Web. They at length change

NATURAL HISTORY. i£j

lato blue Flies with red heads; though there are feme that in February
are me-amorplrfed to grey and brown moths, variegated with black
and white.

Albin fpeaks of feveral Caterpillars that feed upon nettles, one of
which ib blacks -ind has the upper part marked with white fpecks, and
covered with hair. Another fort is alfo covered with hair, and is of a
yellow colour', but (potted. It turns to a Butterfly, called by Ray the
greater blackifh Butterfly, with wings beautifully adorned with red and
white fpots. borne call it the Admiral. Another Butterfly fed by
nettles, is called the Butterfly like the eye of a peacock's wing, and it
is named by Mouftt rhe queen of Butterflies, The caterpillar it proceeds
from, is called by Ray the greater biack Caterpillar, lprinkled with
white fpotf, .uid befet with black prickles.

There is another produced by the Caterpillar of the nettle, termed
by Riiy the lelfer Phalaema, with oblong wir.gs, variegated with white
and blue, and yellouiih at the roots. i here is yet another, called by
Ray rhe greater Butteifly with large wings, the upper being blown,
and beautifully variegated with white and red ipocs and lines.

Lijhr takes notice of another that never feed' in the day time, for
fear it hVuld be devoured by birds, which produces a Moth, with faf-
fron coloured wings, adorned with black ftreaks, and two black fpots?
as alfo red fpots on the upper wings

The fori el Caterpillar is hairy, black, and fpotted with white and red.
It produces a Moth, with the body and lower wings yellow; and the,
head, upper wings, fmall horns, and feet brown, fpotted with black.

The Caterpillar of the pelifade, a plant fo called, in Surinam, is yel-
low ftr^aked with black, and armed with fix prickles. It firfl change*
ils fkin to one of an orange colour, with a black round fpot, but frill
retains its prickles ? fome days after it cafts its fkin again, lofing the
prickles, and in June it becomes a moth.

The Caterpillar of palma chrifti, a plant fo called, is of a greenifh
colour, covered with long white hair. It turns to a black Butterfly,
whofe upper wings are of the colour of brimftone, and the other of faf-
fron. The fame plant breed- another Caterpillar, of a black colour,
fpotted with yellow, that is fliut up in a cafe of dry leaves. It changes
to an ugly moth, which is very troublefome

The Caterpillar of the palm of the down1-, an herb fo called in the low
countries, has two tails, and when it is angered, it fhoots from each a
red fling. In September it begins to turn to an aurelia, and continues
in that (late till next June ; and then there come out five fmall Flies,
©ut of five diftincl cells, which when opened, they had no appearance
of the fkin, or any part of the aurelia.

The Caterpillar of the palm tree is red, fpotted with brown : they
fpin a fort of bags on the plam tree leaves, in which they lodge in the
night, going out to feed in the day. They turn to yellow Butterflies,
fpotted with brown, and are bred in Surinam There is another little
hairv brown Caterpillar, bred upon this tree, that turns to a tranfparent
Butterfly, fpotted with black.

The Caterpillar of the papaw- tree,, is yellow and green, and becomes
a moth, that buzzes with its wings. There is another of the colour
pf raddle, ftreaked from the head to the tail with red and yellow; and
fm the head there is a buckler, of a fernicircular form, which fliines lifc?

*66 NATURAL HISTORY.

a diamond. It turns to a buzzing moth, mottled with iron-grey and
white, and the body is ftreaked on each fide with bright red, and on
the back with black.

The Caterpillar of the paffion flower, turns to a fmall Butterfly; and
there is another that changes to a red and brown infeS; befides a third
that is metamorphofed to a ipotted Flie» furnifhed with delicate cloven
feet.

The dock Caterpillar is of a deep yellow, with dark brown ftreaks,
placed in the form of a crofs. In May it turns to a brown aurelia, and
in June to a moth, ftreaked with white and brown. Mer'ian fed a
Caterpillar with this plant, that was at firft ftreaked with dark green,
which by little and little, turned to a yellow, and then brown. v It
changed in May to a fmall aurelia, cf a bright brown, whofe upper
part reiembled the bead of a bird. Fourteen days afterwards it be-
came a fmall moth, with red eyes, and a red ftreak on every wing,
found which" there was a red border.

The poppy Caterpillar is black and yellow, from whence a moth pro-
ceeds in June. The fame plant feeds worms, that afterwards become
Flies.

The Caterpillar of the peach tree, has a head and back of a bright
brown, and turns to an aurelia, which becomes a moth, and on whofc
Upper wings there are white lines.

The Caterpillar of the poplar tree, has a brown back, and a pale
Ted belly; it becomes a beautiful Moth, of a dark brown, ftreaked with
white. Gocdard takes notice of another that is white, which turns to a
beautiful white Butterfly.

The Caterpillar of the lark's foot, an herb fo called, is of a curious
colour, variegated with ftreaks and fpots, in July it changes to a brown
aurelia; -ind in May following to a rofe coloured moth, adorned with
black and white. The flowers feed a green and white Caterpillar, which
turns to a brown moth

1 he plantain Caterpillar is of a green colour, but turns to a brown
aurelia and in December becomes a brown moth. The fmall plantain
feeds a bright green Caterpillar, ftriped with white the length of the.
body, and each ring is adorned with a white fpot ; at the end of July
it becomes a brown aurelia, and in Augujl a moth, with the upper
wings white, and the lower grey ; but the eyeo are black, as well as
jhe horns.

The Caterpillar of the pear tree, has a blackifn body furniihed with
yellowifti tu!ts, and on the fore part of the body there are three claws,
|n the middle eight feet, of an oaker colour, and behind two more of
the fame colour. It changes its (kin, feveral times, after which it fpins
a white web, and turns to a brown aurelia, and fourteen days after-
wards it becomes a beautiful bright brown Butterfly, ftreaked and fpot-
ted with divers colours. On the fame tree there is a white Caterpillar
with a black head, which goes out of its cell in a morning to feed,
and then returns back ; when it is full grown, it fpins a white web,
that turns to an aurelia, and then becomes a moth, which lays its
eggs and dies. There is another white Caterpillar, when this tree is
in blotfom, with red fpots on the back, and a biown head. In the
middle of July it turns to an aurelia, and at the end of that month to
3, Srhjte moth, variegated with black. The lower wings are of a bright

brown,

NATURAL HISTORY. t8?

brown, and the body of a flefh colour, with little white horns, covered
with brown hair, and the eyes are black.

The Caterpillar of Indian pepper, is a handfome large infect, with a
long red ftreak on each fide, and a white one on the back. The lad
ring is armed with a role coloured horn, and on fome other rings there
is a yellow fpot, bordered with rofe colour. It turns to an alh-colour-
ed moth, on each fide of which there are five gold coloured fpots,

The Caterpillar of the apple tree is brown, and turn; to a brown
moth. Another on the fame tree changes to a grey moth ; and a third
which is greenifh, is metamorphofed to a moth. Another author af-
firms there is a fourth, of a brownifh colour, with red and blue fpecks
on each ring. It weaves itfelf a cod, and turns to a brown aureli.ij
which changes to a white moth, llreaked with brown When it has
laid its eggs, it covers them with a yellowifh down, which keeps them
fafe from the cold of the winter.

Merian found upon an apple tree in bloilom, a yellow hairy Cater-
pillar, adorned with tranfverfe ftreaks, and the head was brown ; be^
hind the head there were two blue fpots, and on each ring fpots of A
flefh colour. The feet were of the fame colour, and it was turniihed
■with fmall tufts of brown hair. In July it fpun a yellow web, with
mefhes like a net ; and the aurelia became a white moth, variegated
with black ; and it had two broad red horns, refembling feathers, and
on the hinder part of the head there was a red ftreak.

The Caterpillar of the pompelmous, a tree fo called in Surinam, \i
white, with a blue head, and the body is covered with long hair as
hard as iron-wire. It turns to a beautiful black Butterfly, variegated
with green, blue, and white, mining like gold and filver.

The Caterpillar of the plumb tree, is green, fpotted with black, and
has a black head. When it is touched, it decends to the ground, by
means of a thread drawn from its mouth, by the help of which it gets
up again. It is concealed in a leaf, rolled up, and in due time fpir.s
itfelf a cod, which turns to a bright brown moth, with the Sack part
and under fides, of the wings white.

The Caterpillar of the damacene plumb, is green, llreaked witfe
black, fpeckled with yellow. It weaves itfelf an oval cod, that fhines
like filver, and is as it iff as parchment, which turns to a brown aure-
lia, which becomes a moth, whofe lower wings are ftreaked with browfl.
and yellow. There is likewife another Caterpillar belonging to the
plumb tree, which is of a beautiful yellow, and adorned with feveral
tufts in the lhape of rods, on the back, and on the tail there is a red
fpot. When it rtretche? itfelf out, four hairy black ftreaks may be per-
ceived, that run acrofs the body. Some of thefe turn to grey moths
in September, and others do not change till the next April ; but the
moths are ihe fame.

The Caterpillar of the wild plumb tree, is brown, and adorned v r>
white ftreaks. It changes to a moth of a duii yellow colour, witk
white wings and feet, and black eyes. It covers its eggs with down-.
to preferve them from the fnow, rain, and cold. There is another that
is black, ftreaked with yellow, and has a (Inning body ; it tu*ns to a
white and yellow Butterfly, with wings adorned with blaek ftreaks, but
*he eyes and feet are black.

*4l

itS NATURAL HISTORY.

Albin fpealcs of one that is of a fea green colour, which turns to a
iButterrlv. called the hair-ftreiked ButterHy. He likewife mentions a
black Caterpillar, fpotted with brown, the wh<<le length ri( the Sack,
and ftreaked with yellow. It turns to a moth, with the back nnd up-
per wings brown. There is likewife another beautiful black Ca^:i pil-
lar, with yellow hair, which Ray calk the large Caterpillar, with longy
thickfet, hoary hair, varieg ited with dun and black, and having whip
ifh lines on the rings. It turns to a large moth, of a whitifh and dua
colour, with ample oblong wings, beautifully variegated, the lower-
jnoft of which are fedJilh, with black lpot*-.

/flbin defcribes fix m< re, which are,
The bright green Caterpillar, which changes to a moth, with reddifli
brown wings.

The bright olive colour Caterpillar, that is metamorphofed to a
bright yellow moth.

The Caterpillar of the colour of an ozier branch, which turns to a
faffron colouied moth.

The hunch backed Caterpillar, that turns to a white moth, ftreaked
•with black.

The green Caterpillar, which become; a moth, with the upper wings
partly yellow, arid*partl\ white, and ihtr l.uei of a chelnut colour.

The dark gre\ Caterpillar wuh yellow fpots, changes to a moth,
whofe females have no wings.

Goedavd defcribes one that has four vellow tufts like brirfhe^, on its
back, and two horns on the head like a fnail ; on each fide there are
two prominences, like oars, one of which is yellow, and the other
black ; and there is likewife a tufr of ha:r on the extremity of the
body. It changes to a fort of infect, that is neither a worm nor a
Butterfly

Redi fpeaks of a Caterpillar of an orange colour, fo large, that it
weighed three quarters of an ounce. He was compofed of rhirteen
lings, between each of which there were feveral fmall eminences, of am
azure colour. Likewife there were two white fpots on each, furround-
ed with a black line. It fpun itfelf a large cod of the colour ot mof6
which looked more like hair cloth, than any thing elfe. It became a
very large Butterfly, near the latter end of April.

The Caterpillar of the American white grape tree, is very voracious,
and becomes a beautiful green and red mrth, with ftreaks of a colour,
inclinable to chefnut ; but the herns and trunk, are of the colour of
gold. There is another belonging to the fame tree, that draws itfelf
sp when touched, and throws out a froth ; it turns to a beautiful moth,
fpotted with brown, and ftreaked with white, and the trunk is of a gold
solour.

The Caterpillar of the ranunculus, has an orange coloured back, and
a pa*e yellow belly ; but the other parts are black, and a little hairy.
In May they make a cod, which turns to an aurelia, that hangs on a
leaf, and fourteen days after it becomes a beautiful moth, with the body,
bead, and upper wings black, fpotted with red. A few days after
they lay eggs and die.

The Caterpillar ot the meadow ranunculus, turns to a black aure-
lia, and that to a hne Buttcrfh, with the upper wings of a bright yel-
low, fpeckled with black, and the lower orange, with black ftreaks.

The'

NATURAL HISTORY. l6g

The knot-grafs Caterpillar, is brown and grey under the belly ; in
j^uly it turns to a bright brown aurelia, and in Augujl to a grey moth,
ilreaked with black. There is another that is green, with three yellow
■ftreaks along the body, and feveral black fpots ; but what it turns to is
fnot laid. There is alio a third, that is yellow, ftreaked with brown, and
in September turns to a white moth, adorned with red and brown ftreaks.

The Caterpillar of the rocu an American tree, is brown, (beaked with
yellow, and covered with red hair ; it becomes a brownifh green moth.

The Caterpillar of the briar, is of feveral forts, which are as follow:
the greenifh brown Caterpillar, which turns to a beautiful Butterfly,
variegated with green and brown : the green Caterpillar with a blue
head, changes to a very beautiful moth, variegated with green and
brown : the green Caterpillar becomes a moth, with the upper wings
green and the lower grey : the hairy Caterpillar is brown and red, and
changes to a moth, called by the Englijh peafants the devil's Gold ring :
the green and yellow Caterpillar, is metamorphofed to a moth, varie-
gated with white and black : the am coloured Caterpillar turns to a
flraw coloured moth.

The Caterpillar of the rocket, was put into a glafs velTel, and was
obferved every night to change its colours fucceffively, it being firft of
the colour of gold, then blue, afterwards black, and laft of all purple ;
they were all undulated when the infect crept along. It had two teeth
made like fickles, and the rings of its body were fupported on each
fide with crooked feet. Each ring was covered with hair, which was
long in the laft, and in the form of prickles. It turned to an aurelia,
of the fize of a walnut, of a greenifh colour, and pointed at the ends,
in which ftate it continued a month, and then became a Butterfly of
the largeft and moll beautiful kind: the extremities of the winos were
turned upwards like a hook, and the edges were fringed, and of vari-
ous colours ; likewife the wings were fpotted with black, red, and blue,
which looked like eyes, as fine as thofe in a peacock's tail.

The Caterpillar of the rofe bufh, is of different kinds, fome of which
turn to moths, others to Flies : thole that are half green, and half rofe
coloured, become little brown Butterflies : the bright green Caterpillar
with white ftreaks along the body, has each ring marked with a white
ftreak above, and a yellow ftreak beneath ; but what it turns to, is not
faid ; but there is another, which had fix feet before, eight in the mid-
dle, and two behind, that turns to a brown aurelia, and in July to a
bright brown moth, whofe lower wings fhine like gold.

Albin obferves, that of the Caterpillars of the wild rofe tree, fome are
brown, and others green, with a red head ; they turn to moths of a
brownifh black colour. On a branch of the dog rofe, there was a flefh
coloured Caterpillar, with a hump back, that turned to a fklh colour-
ed moth : there was alio another that was green, with a white line on
the back, that turned to a fiie, called the black headed Bee Flie.

Merian took notice of a green Caterpillar that fed on the rofe bufh,
with a black head. When it was touched, it let itfelf down by a thread,
and got up again by the fame. In May it turned to an aurelia, and
fourteen days after to a fmall Butterfly, that lhone like gold.

The Caterpillar that feeds upon rue, is green, and variegated with
red, yellow, and blue fpots ; and it changes to a yellow Butterflv,
ftreaked and enamelled with black, as well cu the body as wings. On

Y the

173 NATURAL HISTORY.

'ills extremity of the lower wings there are two round red fpots, a'nc'
Others that are blue, terminated by a hairy violet line. At the extre-
mity of the edge there are two fmall appendages, which look like tails
to the wings, and on the head there are two horns or feelers, which
are long, blackilh, moveable, and thicker at the extremity, than at
the root- It dies in four days time.

The Caterpillar of the willow, is large, and turns to a grey moth :
the black water willow, feeds a Butterfly with fmall fpecks, which turns
to a grey moth, that lays green eggs. Another willow Caterpillar
turns to a grey and red Butterfly, and a third is armed with horns,
and changes in July to an aurelia', which becomes a moth in the April
following. A fourth is metamorpKofed to a flying infecr, and a fitth,
which is half yellow, and half green, becomes a yellow Flie.

Mtr'ian mentions a very beautiful green Caterpillar, fpeckled with
white, and a white Itreak running acrofs each ring. It turns to an,
aurelia, rind the next May to a moth,- with head, body, and upper
■wings brown and white, variegated with yellow and black ; but on the
lower wings there are two large black eyes in the middle, furrounded
with a blue circle: the upper part is of a bright brdwn, and the lower
of a rofe colour. It has fmall black eyes, and little horns.

He takes notice of another that is fmall, and of a bright green, adorned
with white ftreaks, which turns to a brown aurelia, and fourteen days af-
ter to a fmall moth, of a greyiift afhcolouf, adorned with white ftreaks.

The Caterpillar of the red willow, is green, and turns' to a dark
brown aurelia, which in Augujl changes to a bright brown moth, with
•wings ftreaked with brown : the fame tree breeds another of a fmall
fort, that turns to an aurelia, and then to a Flie, whofe body, head,
and horns are black, with two wings tranfparent, and fir yellow feet.

Albln fpeaks of feveral forts of Caterpillars found upon the different
kinds of willows, which are as follow: the green and yellow Caterpil-
lar, called by Ray the mod beautiful double tailed Caterpillar, and
which turns to a moth, that the fame author terms the great and mod
beautiful moth, with large external alh coloured wings, elegantly vari-
egated with black fpots and lines: the beautiful green Caterpillar,
whofe moth Ray names the middle fized domeftic moth, becaufe in
July, Augujl, arid September, it comes into houfes : the olive coloured
Caterpillar, which turns to a yellow Butterfly, with wings variegated
with black : the flelh coloured Caterpillar, that becomes a bright yel-
low moth, with ihade's and fpots of a darker colour: the green and
red Caterpillar, from whofe two extremities a Flie proceeds : the yel-
low Caterpillar that turns to a Beetle:' the dark brown Caterpillar that
changes to a moth, with the upper wings yellow**- and the lower of a
yellowiih white : the ruddy Caterpillar that turns- to a moth, called by
fbme the moth with red lower wings : the purple Caterpillar with red
and yellow fpots, changes to a white moth, ftreaked with black : the
green Caterpillar with fmall red lines on the back, becomes a white
moth, ftreaked with black.

Goedard takes notice of a Caterpillar of a bright yellow colour, vari-
egated with a little' black, which bears fomething on its head like an.
efcutcheon gule?, with a cheveron of gold. It turns to an aurelia in
Augujl, and in the fame month of the following year, it becomes a
ftrcng vigorous BaUerfly, and yet it lives but two days.

Th^

NATURAL HISTORY. -m

^he-Caterpillar of thyme, has the back marked with longitudinal
•iftreaks of difFerent colours, that is, blue, purple, yellow, red, and
black ; befides which there are many fmall fpecks. It turns to aurelia,
Jike a filk woim, from whence four Flies proceed, which are probably
the eggs c{ the Ichneumon Flie : they are larger than common Flies,,
with blueifli heads and wings ; but every where elfe of a purple colour.

The nighllhade Caterpillar turns to a red aurelia at firft, which by
degrees becomes black, and is transformed to a large Butterfly, which
makes a noife with its wings like a Bat. It is of a yellow colour, vari-
egated with black on the wings, back, and belly. On the head, which
is black, there are two tufts, of a little lighter colour ; but the eyes
are of a chefnut colour, and the trunk black and curled : the fix
feet are hairy and yellow, and each of them terminate in a hook.
What this changes to, Redl gives no account.

The marygold Caterpillar is of a dark colour, with black lines, and
the belly. of a bright green, with a white line that parts the dark colour
from the green, it retires into the ground, .where it turns to an aurelia,
and then changes to a dufjey moth, marked with a white fpot on each
upper wing : there is another breeds upon this plant, with a black
back, and the head and the belly of a dirty green, with red fpots like
eyes : the moth that proceeds from it has two round fpots upon each
upper wing, furrounded with a white circle, and there is a white ftreak
on their extremity.

The Caterpillar of the .elder tree, is of a bright yellow, with two
black (freaks that run acrofs the back, and three others that run long-
ways behind. It has black teeth, and changes to a bright brown au-
relia, which becomes a white moth, ftreaked with brown : there is alfo
a green Caterpillar belonging to this tree, which becomes a bright
brown moth.

The Caterpillar of the fycamore tree, is yellow, and covered with
fafFron coloured hair. When dilturbed, it draws itfelf up like a hedge-
hog ; it changes to a grey moth.

The Caterpillar of the tabruba, a Surinam tree, is yellow and black,
and covered with hair, like a brufh ; it becomes a fort of Bee, ftreaked
tranfverfely with yellow and black.

The Caterpillar of the lime tree, is a very large and beautiful infect,
of the colour of filk, fpotted on the back with white; but the lower
part of the body is of a deep yellow. On the hinder ring there is a
blue horn, and behind that a yellow fpot. It turns to a black aurelia,
and feems to be dead till May in the following year, and then changes
to a pale yellow moth, fpotted with black.

The Caterpillar of turnfole, hides itfelf in the ground all day, and in
the evening comes out to feed. It turns to an aurelia in May, and in
June the year following, becomes a Butterfly, with the letter O on its

wings.

The trefoil Caterpillar is red and yellow, and turns to a whitifh Moth.

The Caterpillar of the afpen tree, is of a golden yellow colour, and
changes to an afh coloured Moth, with the extremity of the upper wings
of a copper colour.

The Caterpillar of the purple tulip, though mentioned by Meriav, is
aot defcribed ; but it turns to a Moth, whole upper wings are reddifh,
and the lower, w ith the reft of the body grey.

\ 2 Til-

i72 NATURAL HISTORY.

The valerian Caterpillar is of feveral kinds, fome of which become
grey Moths, and others brown Butterflies.

The Caterpillar of the vine, is of two kinds, the one being brown, and
the other green ; they are both ftreaked and fpotted with black and
white. That that is brown, changes in July to a bright brown aurelia,
and continues in this ftate till the next May, when it becomes a beautiful
Moth, with the head, body, and upper wings of a rofe colour, varie-
gated with green ftreaks and fpots. The lower wings have each a
black fpot, and the eyes are of a yellowiih green. It has a long (len-
der trunk, of a yellow colour, and curled at the end. It is one of the
mod beautiful and remarkable of this kind.

Alb'in mentions an olive coloured Caterpillar that feeds upon the leaves
of the vine, and becomes a grey mottled moth, with two white fpots
on the upper wings.

The Caterpillar of the vine of Surinam, is brown, fpotted with white,
and there is a black fpot on the lair, ring, in the middle of which there
is a white (kin, that fhines like cryftal, and which rifes and falls when
this infect breathes. It becomes a beautiful green moth, with the ends
of the wings painted with red and blue.

Goedard takes notice of one that feeds on the vine, which he calls the
Elephant Caterpillar, it having a trunk like that animal, but what it
turns to is not known.

The violet Caterpillar is of a dark brown, with a white ftreak on
each fide the body, and the head and fore feet are yellow. It turns
to an aurelia in Augujl, and the next April to a moth, with the head,
body, and wings variegated with a bright yellow ; as alfo with black
fpots : the eyes are black, and the horns and legs are of the fame co-
lour. There is another of a pale green, fpotted with yellow, which
in June turns to a greenifh aurelia, and foon after to a white moth,
variegated with grey fpots ; likewife, the horns and feet are grey.

The Caterpillar of the holm oak, is covered with exceeding long hair,
partly black, and partly of the colour of rufty iron, and there are four-
teen prickles on the rump, placed in the fame form as the petala of the
flower of a red daify. It turns to a reddifh aurelia, which afterwards,
becomes black ; and then turns to an infecl like the Flie of the Silk-
worm, of ablueifh chefnut colour, fpotted with black. It has two large
black tufts on its head, and a fmall one of black filk at the extremity
of the belly.

The Caterpillar of the zurfach, a Surinam plant, is large and green,
and turns to a large Moth, whofe body is adorned with fix round orange
colour fpots. It has four wings, and fix feet; and is black, but curi-
oufiy fpotted. Its trunk confifts of two pipes, which are ufed to fuck
the honey out of flowers ; and after it has done, it rolls it up in furh a
manner, that it can hardly be feen. It is not eafily killed, and it lays
a vail number of white eggs. This plant alfo feeds a green Caterpil-
lar, which becomes a white and black Moth, with a double trunk, like
that of the former.

The Caterpillar of an anonymous plant, is green, fpotted with white,
black, and red, and becomes an alh colour moth, fpotted with black.
Merian fays this plant grew in his garden, and yet he could not meet
ivith any one that knew its name,

The

NATURAL HISTORY. ,7$

The feathered Caterpillar, is fo called, from having a fmall brown
feather on its rump, aa<{ it turn* to a white vigorous Burterfly : there
are feveral otfrei Butterflies on differ ent kinds of trees and plants, which
are taken notice of b} travellers, but in ib vague a manner, that little
or nothing certain can be laid about them

I he fea Caterpillar with coloured ihining hairs on the fides like a
raii bow, is bv fome called the fea Porcupine, by others the fea Moufe,
an J by other- ?gain the golden Worm, It is an uncommon infect, and
is chi.fi; to be met with in the Weftern ocean. Luintzus informs us, that
the mouth is fumiihed with thread- like the hairs of animals, and have
the fhape of feelers ; the body is in the form of an egg, covered with,
purple fhinmg points or prickles, and gloffy hair of the lame length,
of ? greenifh ;, ellow colour; a.i the center there is a fmall opening, and
under th< fktn of the back there are folded membranes, which refemble
the gills or crabs, it has forty feet on each fide, like i'o many parallel
ernes, connected to the edges ^>t~ the body, terminating m points, and
as crooked as a fickle-, but n the in fide thert is a fort of foft hair.
This infect, proper!) . eaking, is not of the Caterpillar kind; at leaft
wc are ignorant o{ ar\ tr . reformation it undergoes.

The dii y brownifh yellow Caterpillar, is compofed of nine or ten
joirts or rin ;s, befides the head and tail; the head is roundifh, and
terminates in a ftiout or mouth, confuting ot two fharp points. It is
adorned with four rows of knobs, which rife like the heads of fmall
brafs nails, and are of a yellow metalline colour; but they are fo bright
and glittering, that it is impoffible to imitate them by art, for they as
much excel pi lifhed gold, as that metal does brafs. It was commu-
nicated to Mr Edwards by doctor Mead, and was doubtlefs brought from
fome diftant country.

Fryfch has, i. The thin haired Caterpillar, variegated with diver?
colours, that lays its eggs about the bud of trees, in a fpiral line, and
fixes them thereto with a gummy fubftance.

2. f'he Caterpillar with blue and reddifh bridles upon the back.

3. The widow Caterpillar with thin hair, and yellow fpots upon the
back.

4. The chefnut Caterpillar with yellow lhaggy hair, and yellow fpots
Upon the back.

5. The afparagus Caterpillar, that is of the fmall kind, and has a
finooth body, which afterwards changes into a Beetle.

6. The camel Caterpillar, fo called, on account of a bunch on its
back.

7. The variegated Caterpillar, whofe young are wrapped up in leaves,
which hang to the boughs of trees in the winter time.

8. The white Caterpillar variegated with black and white fpots, and
is of that kind which has but tew feet.

9. The green Caterpillar, with few feet, fpotted with black.

10. The fmall alh coloured willow Caterpillar.

11. The fmall aih coloured Caterpillar of apple trees.

12. The Caterpillar that feeds on the flowers of woodbind or honey-
fuckle.

13. The dufky and hairy Caterpillar is to be found on nettles, and
(linking gladden,

I*

j?4 NATURAL HISTORY.

14. The brown, large, fmooth Caterpillar, is to be met with on fruit
irees.

15. The green Caterpillar of the fmaller fpecies, that feeds upon cab-
bage-leaves.

\ 6. The great green many footed Caterpillar, with feventy rings, that
jfeeds upon willows and alder trees.

17. The CahrplDar with yellow and whitifh lines, that hang at the
ends of branches of trees in winter time.

1 8. The willow Caterpillar with two white fpots on .its back.

19. The green Caterpillar marked with the character of the conjunc-
tions of the planets,

20. The green Caterpillar with only two feet on the belly, and three
white lines on each iide.

21. The green Caterpillar with four feet on the belly, and fix white.
Jines on the back.

The Huntrefs, a name given by Goedard to a Caterpillar which is
found upon the downs of Holland, and which lives upon all kinds of
.grafs and herbs, without ieeming to like one more than the other.
The author had one which became a Chryfalis on the twelfth of July,
find a Butterfly on the fifth of September following.

There are a fort pf ,hairy Caterpillars, which in England have the
fiame of Palmer Worm, becaufe they wander from place to place, like
palmers or pilgrimsj fome call them bear Worms, becaufe they are
all over hair, and others Millers, but for what reafon is uncertain.
Many of th,efe feed on all forts of greens indifferently, though fome of
•fhem do not.

The P aim-Tree Worm is a native of the Wejl- Indian iilands, and is
bred in the heart of a fort of palm tree, after it is cut down : they are
as thick as a man's finger, and about two inches long ; they appear to
be rjothing but a bit of caporr's fat, covered with a fine tranfparent fkin.
There feems to be no entrails nor guts when viewed with the nake,d
eye; but with a microfcope they may be difcovered: the head is black,
and fixed to the body without any neck : they are eaten by the French,
after they have been roafted before the fire, when a fmall wooden fpit
.has been thru ft through them. When they begin to be hot, they pow-
der them with a cruft of rafped bread, mixed with fait, and a little pep-
per and .nutmeg : this powder keeps in the fat, or at leaft fucks it up ;
and when they are done .enough, they are ferved up with orange juicp:
i'chsy are highly efteemed by the French, as excellent eating. When
they have been fometime laid in the fun, they yield a fort of oil, which
js excellent for cold pains, and efpecially fey the piles.

The blackifh-bodied Palmer Worm with white fpots on the fides, has
the hair on the under part of the body of a fort of faffron colour, but
that upon the upper parts is grey, three rows excepted, on the neck
pear the head, which are of the fame colour with thofe on the belly:
this firft changes to an aurelia, and then to a Butterfly, which has been
•before defcribed,

The black Palmer Worm, has a yellow coloured belly, and fpots of
the fame colour on the fides. It turns to a dufky aurelia.

The brownifh yellow coloured Palmer Worm, is all over of thofe co-
lours, except the ftripes on the fides, that run obliquely from every
iqintj, and the head is of a crimfon colour.
J * The

NATURAL HISTORY; tyf

The duflcy Palmer Worm, is of a browniih black colour on the belly,1
but ihe back and upper parts are of a duiky yellow, and it has a fork*
ed line on the face, of the colour of whey.

The reddilh bay Palmer Wormy has the fides of the belly of a grey--
ifh colour, and the body is variegated with yellow fpots, which are of
a deep black colour above : there are hairs like rays proceed from them*
of a yellowiih colour, which are haith, and grow to a point from the
middle. It does a great deal of milchief among graft and corn.
. The grey Palmer Worm is all over ol that colour, except in the incifures,
fome or which are black, and oihers white, and there are fpots of th£
fame colours here and there: the brillles both above and below, are
placed like the teeth of a law, and are very rough and llrong, bnt of
the fame colour with the body.

The black Palmer Worm with yellowifh hairs, har a fort of pencil or!
each iide the forehead, and another upon the rump, as black as a crow»-
there is alio hair like wedges on the back, with white roots; but the
other parts are blackiih

The murrey coloured Palmer Worm., has as it were, feven tufts of'
feaii , in the lhape of wedges, on the back.

The variegated Palmer Worm, have all the incifures of different co'
louib, and yet there is not one entirely of the fame colour,- but there
is a fort of a iilver ftud upon each.

The Palmer Worm, variegated with black, blue, green, and yellow
lines, running longways, feems to have golden fpots between them ■*■
the hair is very foft, and is of a very pleafant green ; but when it be-
comes an aurelia- it has a purple cafe-.

The green Palmer Worm, is of the colour of a green leek, only the:
incifures are whitith,- and the hair in the middle of a brighter green.

The halle Palmer Worm, is all over of a duiky green, except a few
black fpots, and the horn that grows out of the rump* which is of art
agreeable rofe colour. It is chiefly met with on the leaves of hafV
trees : there are two kinds of them, one of which is of a deep, and the;
other of a pale green.

The negro-faced Palmer Worm, feems to have an embroidered coatj
very artificially worked. On the forehead there are two hairy horns.)
initead of feelers, and perhaps ferve for the fame purpofe ; and there
are the like upon the rump or tail : the Ikin is of all the colours of the,
rainbow, and is variegated with roundiih fpots, cf a purple colours
which feem like fo many ftudsj running along each fide : the hair (Bines
greatly, and Ihikes the eyes pretty flrcngly on a fun ihiny day.

The blue faced Palmer Worm, is variegated with white, red, and
^Iueifli fpots, furrows; and the hair is of a Ihining gold colour.

The black-headed hedge-hog Palmer Worm, has a very black headl-
and a body variegated with dark blue fpots, but the hair is of a mining
faffron colour.

The pear tree Palmer Worm, has a head as black as ink, and a body-
furrowed with black, red, and milk-white colours. From the thoulderc
almoft to the end of the back, there are livid tubercles fpeckled witH
white : the egg from which this proceeds, is of a reddifh bayj as is ai-
fo the aurelia, and the colour of the hair. It feeds upon the buds cf
pear trees : there is another of this kind, with only one tubercle ol
hump upon the back. - .,,

275 NATURAL HISTORY.

The dufky yellow P aimer Worm, is -~>f that colour, from the head t»
half way on the back, and then becomes of a white lily colour. On
the belly there are a fort of ftuds, of a yellowilh alh colour.

The nettle Palmer Worm, has feet of a dull yellow colour, but all
the reft of the body is black; the hairs are erect, and terminate in a
Jbrt of points, which will wound the fingers when touched, cauimg an
itching at firft, and afterwards an intolerable pa-n. From its flinging
in this manner, it has its name-

The cabbage Palmer Worm, has a blueifh head, and two raifed yel-
low lines on each iide the body, between which there is a grey fpace,
ipeckied with black: the hair is of an afh- colour, and i'o is the aurelia.

The hedge Palmer Worm, has a head ot a fafFron colour, only on the
fhout there is a whitifh triangie : the body is vaiiegated with red. white,
yellow, and black gripes, or ipots, placed in no regular oider, oik the
hair is of a yellowilh colour. It lives among hedges, and ftrip;- them
©f their leaves.

The leffer hedge Palmer Worm, has a blueifh face, and all the reft
©f the body is blue : the hair is of the fame colour as the iormer.

The crane's hill Palmer Worm, is of a pretty large kind, and i^ adorn-
ed with black belts, fpotted with white ; fo that at firtt fight thev ap-
pear to be of an iron grey : the belly and feet are white, and the fpaces
between the belts or girdles, are of the colour of green leeks. Ir fa s
•upon weeds, and more particularly the herb called crane's bill : the
Palmer Worm, with a variegated body, is from the head to the third
incifure, of a whitiih colour, like chalk, but the five next following,
are of an iron grey, and the three laft of the colour of cerufs : the feel-
ers confift only of hairs, at the end of the tail there feem to be two
more. Befides thefe, there are four upright tufts on the back, confif-
ting of hairs, placed in a d .mated order.

The ragwoit Palmer Worm, has a head and legs of a dull purple co-
lour, and the belly of a palifh green ; but the body is of an unpieafant
green, variegated with black, yellow, and flame coloured fpots : the
colour of the hair is the fame as that of the belly.

The hedgehog Palmer Worm has a body chequered and variegated
■with black and yellow, and it has fpines or thorns that are yellowilh.
In the beginning of the autumn, they change into, an afh coloured
aurelia.

The variegated hedge-hog Palmer Worm, has the fore part of the bo-
dy, as far as the middle of the back, of a yellowifh black colour, but
the hinder part is of a whitifh yellow, and it has hard thick fpines or
thorns, of a blueifh colour.

The bramble Palmer Worm, is of a blackifh afh colour, and on each
fide there are three palifh yellow furrows ; it is but thin ot hair, which
is black.

The horned Palmer Worm, is variegated with green and yellow, but
the hair on the middle of the back is grey, and the horn is notched.

There are other palmer Worms, that feed upon vervain, hops, liquo-
rice, night-lhade, the elder tree, the elm tree, figwort, balil, and dill,
but as they contain nothing very particular, we fhall pafs them over;
however we fhall take notice of one, called the flinking Palmer Worm,
mentioned by Gefner. It is like the horned Palmer Worm, and has i'o
ftrong a frr.dl, that any one would take it to be venomous. When it is

angered

NATURAL HISTORY. i77

angered It holds up its head, and the tvvn fore feet, and feems to be
blind. It is about as long and as thick as a man's finger, and has a
few hairs fcattered over the back and fides : the back is black, and
the belly and fides of a roundifh yellow colour: the body conflfts of
fourteen joints, and there is a furrow on each, that runs along the
whole length of the body; it has a black hardifh head, and a tmked
ferrated mouth, with which it lays hold of any thing, as with nippers.
It has fixteen feet, in the fame manner as moll Caterpillar's, and is
doubtlefs of a poifonous nature.

The Sphondyle, called in the North of England an Afidever, and in
the fouth a Wurl Worm, is as long and as thick as a man's little fin-
ger, has a red head, but the reft of the body is white, unlefs on the
upper part, where it is blackilh. It does a great deal of mifchief in
gardens and orchards, for it gnaws the bark off the fruit trees ; it will
alfo eat the roots of r.he wild cucumber, the wild vine, birthwort, cen-
tory, and other plants, which rto other infeft will touch. The next
year after hatched it turns into a May Beetle, which feeds upon the
roots of trees, even of the poifonous forts, and caufes them to wither
away ; which when the gardiners perceive, they dig about them, and
take them out to kill them. They do mod mifchief in April and May.

Thefe Worms are of different forts, for fome are in the fhape of a
crofs, of a whitilh afh colour, and a blackifh head ; but when thev are
touched, they fold themfelves up like a ball, or rather like a wheel that
•women make ufe of in fpinning. Another of this fort is of a red co-
lour, and was found two feet deep in the ground ; it had a very black
head, a forked mouth, a yellowifh red neck, a fcarlet back, and the
fix fore feet of a reddifh colour ; but the belly, and the reft of the bo-
dy, were quite yellow, only on each fide there were eight reddifh fpecks.
It is as long as a man's middle finger, and in the fummer it changes
to a Flie.

Another of this kind has a fhining thick body, which from the rr:d-
dle of the back to the tail, is of a blueifh colour, but the fore par* is
greyifh, and it has a yellow head and feet, with a reddifh forked mouth.
It ftirs its body in an odd manner, like the motion of waves, without
changing its place, and then it feems to alter it colour. While it re-
mains in the earth it is all over whitilh, but when it is angered, it ap-
pears to be livid. This is much in the fame fhape a* the former, only
it rolls itfelf up. From this worm, a very large Flie proceeds, with
four wings.

There is another infecT: of this kind, found at the roots of onions,
and is much of the fame fhape as the former, with a green head, four-
teen feet, and a horned whitifh green tail. The body is variegated
with green, yellow, and murrey colour. It is called by fome the Onion
Worm.

CHAP.

*>?$ NATURAL HISTORY*

CHAP. XVI.

OF INSECTS OF THE SPIDER KIND.

THE mod common Spiders in thefe parts of the world, are the'
houfe Spider, which weaves its web in negle&ed rooms. The
garden Spider, that weaves a little round web, in the center of which
he keeps in the day time: the black Spider, that inhabits the holes of*
Old walls : the wandering Spider, that has no abode, like the reft ; and
the field Spider; befides many others that we (hall take notice of as we
go along. All thefe Spiders have fomewhat in common among them-
felves ; and they have alfo a characleriilic which diftinguifhes them
from each other. Every Spider confifts of two parts, the head and
the breaft, which is feparated from the hinder part, or the belly, by a
flender ftring: the fore part is covered with a hard fhell, as well as the
fore paws or legs, that adhere to the breaft: the hinder part is cloathed
with a fupple fkin, befet all over with hair : they have feveral eyes on
different parts of the head, generally eight in number, and fometimes
only fix, two before, two behind, and the reft on the fides of the head:
they have all eye-lids, and are covered with a hard polifhed cruft. As
their eyes are immoveable, they are furnifhed with fuch a number of
eyes, that they may fee what is doing all round about them.

They have two prickles on the fore part of the head, or rather two
branches, rough, with ftrong points, or dentated like two faws, and
terminating in a claw, like that of a cat. A little below the point
of the claw, there is a fmall hole, through which it feems to emit a
very active poifon : this is the moft dreadful weapon they have againft
their enemies, and they can cover, or ftretch them out,, as they have
' occafion. When they do not make ufe of thefe claws, they lay them
doun on the branches like a fickle on its handle: they have all eight
legs, articulated like thofe of Lobfters, and at the end there are three
crooked moveable claws, namely, a fmall one on the fide, placed like
a cock's fpur, by the affiftance of which they adhere to the threads of
their webs ; and there are two others larger, the infide of whofe hook
is dentated, and ferves to lis them on any thing they pleafe, or to walk
np the fide of a wall, and even with their backs downward : the moft
polifhed bodies, fuch as looking glaffes and marble, have fuch inequa-
lities, that they can lay hold of them with their claws. But they do
not always make ufe of thefe, there being near the claws two tubercles,
or a fort of ipunges, on' which they can walk in a fofter manner, re-
serving the former for other purpofes, wherein fharp claws are required.
Spiders, befides the eight legs already mentioned, have two before^
which may be called arms, becaufe they are of no fervice in walking,
but are ufed in holding and managing their prey: though they are thus
armed, they could net go to war with fuccefs, if they were not as well
ftrrnifhefl with toils to catch their game, efpecially as they have no wings
to fly after it. For this reafon Spiders have the art of fpinning threads,
with which they weave their webs, which are a fort of nets, fpread our
on purpofe to take their prey; and they lay them in thofe places where
the Flies are ruoft likely to pals and repafs aimed continually : the

Spider

NATURAL HISTORY. ,79

Spider lies in ambufh behind the net, and patiently waits for its enemy3
who is not aware of it. •

Spiders have five tubercles or nipples, at the extremity of the belly,
whofe aperture they can open and fhut, enlarge, or contract, juft as
they pleafe. It is through thefe apertures that they fpin the gluey lub-
• ftance with which their bellies are full. In proportion as the fpider
lets this glue pal's through one of the apertures, the head grows longer,
as (he recedes from the place to which fhe had fixed the end. When
Ihe contracts the apertures of the nipples, the fpinning ceafes, and Ihe
remains hanging thereto. She afterwards makes ufe of the thread to
re-afcend by the help of her claws, much in the fame manner, as fome
men will fwarm up a rope. However this is not all the ufe which Ihe
snakes of this thread.

When a houfe Spider is to begin her web, 'flie firft chufes a place
where there is a cavity, fuch as the corner of a room, that fhe may
have a clear palfage to pals freely on each fide, and to make her efcape
if there be occafion. She throws upon the wall a fmall drop of this
glue or gum, and lets fome more pafs through a fmall aperture, and.
the thread lengthens as ihe draws back, and till fhe has got to the other
fide, where fhe would fix her web ; than ihe lets another drop fall, by
which ihe fixes it to the place ; thus (he pafies and repaffes, till Ihe has
made it as large and as ftrong, as was firft defigned : thofe that:
have feen them at work, affirm, fhe makes more threads than one at
the fame time, that ihe may finifh her net the fooner. However it is
obfervable, that the firft row of threads, which may be called the
warp, lye all parallel to each other ; after which fhe croffes them with
another fet, which may be named the woof, and by a particular art
that ihe has, fhe faftens them to each other, which perhaps is entirely
owing to the gluey fubftance fhe makes ufe of,

A Spider feems to know very well, that if ihe appeared openly, or
in fight, fhe would mifs of her prey ; and therefore ihe weaves a fmall
cell for herfelf, where fhe lies hid, and keeps upon the watch : there
are two paffages, out of it, the one above, and the other below, that
.fhe may walk out which way fhe pleafes, to vifit her work, and keep
every thing clean ; for ihe takes away from time to time, the duft that
is got upon it, or rather lhakes it off, by giving it a ftroke with her
paw, which if fhe did not do, it would foon be over-loaded and con-
sequently the fabrick would be deftroyed.

There are generally a fort of threads, that proceed like rays from
the center, where fhe is hid, 'and where ihe ftands centinel ; fo that ihe
can readily preceive when any part of the threads are touched, when
the game is at hand, upon which fhe immediately falls upon it. Ano-
ther advantage fhe receives from the mechanifm of her cell, is to have
a retreat, where fhe may devour her prey in fafety, and conceal their
carcaffes, that they may no prevent others from failing into the fame
fnare.

The magazine of the gum or glue, does not always laft, for when
the fpider grows old, it is entirely exhaufted ; and then to get her li-
ving, fhe goes to the web of a young one, who either out of kindnefs,
or fear, gives place, and weaves herfelf another. -

The labour of the garden Spider is quite different from the former, and!
yet is not performed with leis art. Many people believe that ihe flies

Z 2 frorB

if a NATURAL HISTORY,

from one tree to another, but this is a miflake, for when fhe fixes on©
end of a thread to a branch, or any other fubftance, then with her two
hind paws fhe draws out one or more threals from the nipples, three
or four yards in length, which fhe lets float in the air: thefe threads
being driven by the wind on one fide or other, to fome neighbouring
body, as for in fiance, a h? ufe, a rail, or a tree, or a ftake on the other
fide of a ru-er ; this thread fixes itfelf thereto, by its natural clammi-
nefs ; then flit draws it a little, to fee whether it is faft or not, and then
this becomes a bridge, on which the Spider can pafs or repafs at plea-
fure : this done, Ihe doubles or triples the thread, according to her
own fancy ; and then advancing towards the middle thereof, ihe there
fixes another, and lets herfelf down with it, till fhe meets with a (tone
or plant, or any other folid fubftance, on which fhe may reft. She
re-afcends on the fecond thread to the firft, and then begins a third,
wh;ch fhe fixes in the fame manner. When (he has thus fixed three I
threads, fhe ftrengthens them, by making them double : then fhe en-
deavours to find out a fquare place, which is not very hard to do, and
which is owing to the artificial management of the threads. However
it is remarkable, that fhe never leaves off fpinning, while fhe paffes
backward and foreward : then fhe goes to the right and left, and by
this means firms a fquare, or a figure approaching thereto ; then fhe
weaves a crofs in the fame manner, whole point in the middle, becom-
ing the center, from which fhe lays all the reft of her threads, like fo
many fpoaks of a wheel. She places herfelf at the center, where all
thefe threads crofs each, and chen fhe forms a fmall circle round about
it, and then another, and fo on, proceeding always in a circular man-?
ner, till at length fhe comes to the large threads, which fupport the
whole work.

The net being thus fpread, fhe places herfelf at the center of all
thefe circles, with her head downwards, becaufe her belly, which is
fixed to a very flender neck, would fatigue her too much in any pof-
tui e ; whereas in this, her paws and breaft fupport the belly. There
fhe waits for n^r prey, but feldom very long ; for the air being full of
Flies and Gnats, that pafs backwards and forewards, fome of them
foon fall into the net. When the Flie that is taken is fmall, it is dif-
patched upon the fpot, but when it is large, and makes fome refiftance,
tlrj Spider wraps it up with her web, binding it fo faft, that it is not
able to ftir either legs or wings, and then Ihe carries it to her neft,
which is underneath the web, and fhe hides it under leaves, or a tile,
or fome other commodious fhelter, to keep it from the rain.

As for the black Splaer that lodges in cavities, Ihe only weaves a fort
of a web about the mouth, leaving a round hole in the middle, as a
door to go in and out at. When an infect paffes near the place, it
never fails to move one of the threads which fun out on all fides, like
fo manv rays ; which the Spider having notice of where fhe lies in wait,
immediately runs to catch it. This Spider is more mifchievous than
the j eft; for if ihe is taken up with two flicks, or otherwife, fhe will
be lure to bite the inftrument that holds her. She is alfo much hard-
er than the reft, fo that a Wafp for inltance, which by its fling, and
by the hardnefs of its body, puts the other fort to a great deal of trouble,
can make no impreffion upon this j for the black Spider cannot be pe«

netrate4

NATURAL HISTORY. 181

jictrated with its fling ; bur on the contrary, (he can break the bones
and the idles of the Wafp, with her nippers.

The wandering Spiders are of feveral ibrts and colours. They gene-
rally run and leap ; but as they have not thread enough to wrap up
their prey upon occafion, much lefs to ftop the motions of the wings
and legs of the Flie, nature has furnifhed them with two fore paws or
arms, with two tufts of a fort or down, with which they can reftrain
the motion and agitation of the wings of their enemy. There is a-
rother black fort, lefs than this, which weaves her web in September
and OBober, among the grafs in the meadows, or in Hubble, which
remains after the harveft ; however lhe lets fome of the threads be car-
ried in the air by the wind, infomuch that it is often lull of them.
Thefe threads unite, lenghen, and ftop, at any place they are driven
to, and the Spiders make ufe of them in fuch a manner, that one
would think they could fly, or they are carried along with them by
the wind. There u nothing more remarkable in thefe, than the ex-
treme length and firmnefs of their legs ; for as they are dehgncd to live
among (lender grail, and weeds, the imalleft blade would Hop and em?
barrafs them, if rhey had not thefe long legs, to raife them higher
than the common grafs, and to run fpeedily after its prey.

With regard to their laying of their eggs, they have more care and
forefight than is generally thought ; for they are fo far from leaving
them to chance, thar they weave a very ftrong web wherein to lodge
them. Of this they make a ftrong bag, wherein they lay their eggs,
and it is hardly credible what pains and trouble they are at, in per-
forming thi work. This bag is often feen joined to the hinder part of
their bodies, in fuch a manner, that many take it to be a part there-
of; if by any accident it happens to be ftruck off, the bpider never fails
to join it thereto again by their natural glue. When the eggs are
hatched, they get upon the old one's back in fuch a manner, that wi-
thout a nice examination, you would take them to be part of their
body, though perhaps there are a thoufand in number.

Another fort of Spider lavs her eggs in a bag, made like a cap, which
is fometirnes fixed to a wall, and fometimes to a leaf, where fne fits
upon them night and day, and flie would fooner fuller herfelf to be
killed, than abandon them till they are hatched.

There is yet another fort, that make two fmall bags, of a reddifh
colour, which they hang up with threads, and before them they place
a tuft of leaves to hide them from birds and Wafps, which would
otherwife fall upon the bags, which are full of eggs ; for the wind
keeping them continually in motion, it prevents them from taking no-
tice of what hangs behind. It is wonderful to confider the ftrength
which all Spiders in general endow their bags with ; and they generally
hang them up againft a wall.

The Tarantula has fome refemblance to a houfe Spider, but it is the
largeft yet known in Eurobe, and is a native of that part of Italy, cal-
led Apuglia. Its body is three quarters of an inch long, and of the
thicknels of one's little finger ; the colour is generally of an olive brown,
variegated with one that is more duiky. It has eight legs, with three
joints each, and eight eyes ; from the mouth proceeds a pair of nip-
pers, dentated or ferrgted on the inflde, which are folidj and fo very

ibam,

j«* NATURAL HISTORY.

fharp, that they can eafily pierce the fkin therewith. Between thefe
and the fore legs, there are two little horns or feelers, which it is ob-
served to move very brifkly, when it approaches its prey. It is cover-
ed all over tl e body with a firt of ihort foft down, and propagates its
fpecies like other Spiders, by laying of eggs, which fometimes amount
to an hundred or more. In the fummer months, particularly in the
dog- days, the Tarantula creeping among the corn in the fields, bites
the mowers, and pafiengers ; but in winter it lurks in holes, and is very
feldom feen : the part which is bitten, is foon after difcoloured with a
livid black or yellowifh circle, attended with an inflammation. At firft
the pain is fcarceiy felt, but a few hours after there comes on a violent
ficknefi, difficulty of breathing, fainting, and fometimes trembling:
the perfon who is bit, after this does nothing, but laugh, dance, and
(kip about, putting himfelf into the moft extravagant poftures ; but
this is not always the cafe, for he is fometimes feized with a dreadful
melancholy. At the return of the feafon in which he was bit, his mad-
nefs begins again, and the patient always talks of the fame thing j
fometimes he fancies himfelf a fhepherd, a king, or any other charac-
ter that comes into his head, and he always alks in a very extravagant
smanner: thefe troublefome fymptoms fometimes return for feveral years
fucceffively, and at length terminate in death. Gentlemen who have
travelled into Italy, affirm, that this odd diftemper is cured by a reme-
dy altogether as odd, which is mufic ; for this only will give them eafe,
and they make ufe of the violin in particular : the mufician plays ieve-
jral tunes, till at length he happens to nnd one that makes a great im-
preflion upon the patient, at which time he begins to dance, and con-
tinues fo doing, till he is all over in a fweat, which forces out the
venom that did the mifchief : this dancing fometimes continues for
three or four hours before the patient is weary, and before the fweat-
ing is copious enough to cure the diforder.

The Spiders of the Wtjl-Indies, have much the fame properties as thofe
of Europe, for they have almoft all a fort of bags, which feem to be
tna.de of fine leather, though it is woven with their threads ; in thefe
they lay their eggs, and either fit on them to hatch them, or to pre-
serve them from being devoured by other infects. However in the
woods there are fome that are not common, for they are an inch and a
Jialf long, and an inch broad ; the lore part is made like a cufh/on di-
vided into fmall fquares, and the belly or hinder part is of an oval
£hape, variegated with fpots and lines : they are all grey, and have very
long legs, which are hard and hairy like the paws of a flying flag.

The Martinico Spider is divided into two parts, and the belly, or hin-
der part is almoft as large as a hen's egg, and covered all over with
pretty long hair : the fore part is the fhorteft, and not quite fo thick,
and in the middle of the back there is a fmall round opening, which
will hold a pea, furrounded with hair, a little longer than that on the
other parts of the body. From «ach fide of this part there proceeds
iive legs, longer than a man's finger, all hairy, and confifting of four
joints, and each has a pair of nippers, very hard, and have the appear-
ance of red horn ; it has two teeth in the mouth of the fame fubftance,
shout half the length of a common pin, and they are crooked, and as
fharp as needles : they have two fmall black, fhining eyes, which are
gat JEUch larger than pin's points : they make a bag as large as an

egg-fhell,

NATURAL HISTORY. »8jl

egg-fhell, whofe outer covering has the appearance of fine leather ; but
within there is a down as foft as filk, in which they lay their eggs i
this bag is placed underneath their bellies, and they always carry them
along with them : there is another fort like pine-apples, but not quit<5
fo big, and part of the hair on the top of the body is green : the inhabi-
tants are very much afraid of this infecl, and affirm, that it «'s more dan-
gerous than a Viper. When they are irritated and put into a paffion»
they throw nut a venom, which would render a man blind, if it fliGuUi
fall on his eyes ; and even the hair of this infecl h venomous, and if iG
is touched while alive, it (tings like nettles. If it be taken up ami
prefied never fo little, it (lings with a weapon not fo big as that of a
Bea but fo venomous, that recourfe mud be had to the fame remedies
that cure the bites of ferpents.

B of man in his account of Guiney, tells us, that he met with a Spider
of a monftrous fize, with a long body and a (harp .head,- and broader*
in the fore part than behind, but not ib round as mod Spiders are. 1c
had ten legs that were hairy, and as thick as a man's little finger.
This Spider is called Ananfe by the Negroes, who fooliihly believe thaS
the firft man was made by this infecl.

The Bermudas Spider, is of a very large kind, whofe body confifts of
two parts, the one flat, and the other round, and they are fo larg»5
when their legs are extended, as to cover a man's hand : they are
beautifully variegated with divers colours, and they have an orifice oft
their backs, like thofe in the Wejl- Indian Spiders already taken notice of *-
their mouths are covered with a fort of grey hair, intermixed with
bright red5 and they have a crooked tooth on each fide, of a fine polifh-
ed fubftance, extremely hard, and of a fine bright finning black colour \
infomuch that they are often fet in gold and filver to ferve for tooth->
picks. When thefe infedts grow old, they are covered all over with a
kind of browniih black down, which is very foft and fmooth, and Alines
like velvet : the round part is much of the fhape of a large pigeon'*
egg, and under that, which is flat, their legs grow, five on each fidey
with four joints and claws at the end : they caft their downy iloughs-
every year, as well as the two fine teeth above-mentioned ; they live
upon Gnats and Flies, and fpread their webs from tree to tree, whiclr
are very large and ftrong. In the Philofophical Tranfadtions it is (aid*
that thefe Spiders will fpin their webs between trees that are fixteen
yards diftant from each other, which they do by fpirting their web in-
to the air, and the wind carries it from tree to tree : this web wherv
finilhed, will catch a bird as big as a Thrufh, if this account is to be
'believed ; but we are of opinion, that moft readers will think it to b&
altogether improbable.

There are many forts of Spiders in the Eajl- Indies of a very different
bignefs, fome of which are four inches long, and have very thick legs*
Others have eight feet, a thick fpeckled body, and a round head, witk
brown legs : thefe have two teeth like hooks, wherewith they bite very
ftrongly : they make tooth-picks with thefe teeth, in the fame manner
as Bermudas.

At the Cape of Good Hope likewife, they have feveral forts of
Spiders, which differ in bignefs, fhape, and colour, as well as in-
the manner of making their webs. Some of thefe are venomous, and,
•thgrs not, and fome delight to be in houfes, while others ke<?p always-

!J4 NxVTURAL HISTORY.

in the fields. But there is a fmall foTt, more dangerous than the reft,
being no larger than a fmall pea, and it is black, and very active. It
fixes itfelf on the walls of houles, or to planks, and in the fields it fpins
its web on the grafs. Its bice is fo venomous, that it would infallibly
kill, without a pr per remedy. A Negroe bitten by one of thefe Spiders*
neglected the wound too long, and died in a few days : this infect like-
wile attacks pretty often, herds of large and fmall cattle, and does
them a great deal of damage, for this reafon the Europeans take a par-
ticular care in keeping their houles, and the itabks clean, to preferve
theYnfelves and their cattle from the bites of thefe dangerous animals.

The large Spider of South- America, make their nefts on guava trees,
in the fhape ot the webs of fome Caterpillars : their bodies are covered
all over with hair, and they are furnifhed with fharp-pointed teeth,
which give dangerous wounds ; for at the fame time they diftil a liquof
into them of a malignant nature : they generally feed upon Ants, and
fometimes they will take the young of fmall birds out of their nefts,
and fuck their blood. In particular, they are great enemies to the
Hummingbirds, which they will often attack and kill : they fhed their
coats or flough's every year, like the Bermudas Spiders.

The fmall fcarlet Spider, is a native of England, and is found in gar-
dens and orchards, on the bodies of trees. It is not much biggei than
a large Flea, nor is it divided into two parts, like moll other Spiders 5
but it has a fmall round head, that (lands from the body, furnifhed
with two long feelers: the body itfelf is oval, and has three legs on
each fide ; but though it is fo fmall, it is accounted venomous.

The reddifh chefhut coloured Spider, is very remarkable for its legs
and feelers. It has eight of the former, four on each fide, and each
joint feems to be placed in a focket : the feelers are globular, and hairy
at the ends, encircled with yellow, which gives them the appearance1
of a fmall ftone fet therein It has eight eyes, placed in a femicircular
form, and about ihem the colour k black, but the upper part joining
to the belly, is of a reddifh chefnut : the upper fide of the belly is of
a dark afh colour, and the legs are reddifh.

The fmall long-legged Spider, is fo finely marked, that it is impof-
fible to defcribe it either in words or colours, there being fo fine a mix-
ture of green, red, and black, interchangeably put together in curious
fhapes. It has eight legs, which are very long, and marked in the
fame curious manner: the body is perfectly oval. It being without
any divifions in the body, and the head does not ftand out therefrom :
the eyes are fo fmall as not to be difcerned.

The dark coloured Spider, has a broad ftreak of light hair-colour, in
the middle of the back, and a mark of the fame, in the fhape of a dia-
mond, on the upper part of the belly. It has fix eyes, two clavated
feelers, and eight long legs, which are finely fpotted. It is divided
into two parts, as other fpiders, but the head is not diftinct from the
fore part of the body. In June it carries its egg bag under its belly.

The houfe Spider with legs finely fpotted with black, has hairs or
briflles growing from each joint, and it has eight eyes, eight feet, and
two clavated feelers : the fore part of the body is almofl round, and
that behind perfectly oval; fome give the webs of thefe Spiders for the
cure of agues.

The

NATURAL HISTORY. ■ 185

The jumping Spider, that is one fort of them, is of a very fmall kind,
Slid has eight eyes, placed in a circular form ; and it is obfervable,
that all thofe that have their eyes placed in this manner, catch their
prey by jumping upon it, as a cat does at a moufe : the belly part of
the body is of an oval form, and it has two clavated feelers, and four
legs on each fide, fixed to the brea't. When beheld through a micro-
fcope, it appears tc be beautifully variegated with black, chefnut,
reddifh, and white colours, all over the back, belly, legs, and feelers,
and it is all over n.ugh and hairy. Mr Evelyn tound one of this fort
riear Rome, which was fpeefcied with black all over the body, and
through a micrbfeope appeared like the feathers on a Butterfly's wing.
It is very nimble by fits, fometimes leaping like a GrafUiopper, then
ftanding dill, and fetting itfelf on its hinder legs, will very nimbly
' turn its body, and look round itfelf every way. If it efpies a Fiie at
three or four yards diftance, it will not make directly to her, but con-
ceal itfelf as much as poffible, till it arrives directly under her, and then
creep flowly up to her, feldom miffing its aim, and it jumps directly
Upon the Flie's b»ck. But if in the mean time, the Fhe takes wing,
and fixes upon another place, it will whirl about very nimbly, by which
means it always keeps its head towards its prey. It has oeen fometimes
feen inftructing the young one's how to hunt, and when any of the old
ones miffed a leap, it would run out of the field, and hide itfelf in cran-
nies, as if alhamed. In Ihort, nothing can be more diverting to a na-
turalift, than to obferve the cunning and Itratagems it ufes in hunting.

The beautifully ftreaked Spider, is fpeckled with black all over its
body and legs, which are very long. It has eight eyes, (landing in
the form of a fegment of a circle ; and it has two feelers very flcnder
at their roots, and of a long oval fhape at the ends. Bxh parts of the
body are of an oval fhape, and the tail is forked : there are two (freaks
on the back of the belly part, alternately fpotted with white and black :
the forks at the tad appear like feathers Uanding up, which it can open
and fhut like a fan, at pleafure.

The Spider with a tranfparent back and legs, has eight eyes, and the.
belly part of the body is vaftly larger than the breaff ; on the back of
'it there is a dark fpace or mark, that runs two thirds of the length as
far as the tail, and the back and legs appear tranfparent, like clear
horns. It has two pretty long feelers, which are fmaller at the root
than at the end, and the legs which are long, are alternately variegated
with different colours, though not very diflincl, on account of their
tranfparency, and there are four on each fide of the bread.

The Spider marked with white fpots and lines, in a curious regular
manner, has yellowifh and very hairy legs, fpotted with a dark brown :
the feelers alfo are fpotted, and are fhort and thick at the ends : the
bread or fore part, is very fmall, in proportion to the belly part, the
back of which lad is regularly marked with white fpors. Near to the.
bread part there are four fpots like pearls, placed exactly in the form of
a crofs, and where they meet, there is a fmall white one. Next to
that there are two other fpots, in the fhape of pearls, placed tranf-
verfely, in the middle of which, there is another fmall on'j. Near the
back part there are three fpots on each tide, like half moons, and be-
tween them, others, placed in a very regular order. It has fix eyes;

A a placed)

m NATURAL HISTORY.

placed in an oval form, and may be met with in gardens, at the latteY
end of July.

The hair- coloured Spider, has on the upper fide of the belly part, a
yellow mark, in the fhape of a crofs, and round it there is a broad
ftreak, of an oval (hape : the legs are of a light hair-colour, fpotted
with black, and there are briitles of the fame colour at the joints. It
has two feelers, fmall at die root, and pretty thick from above half-
way to the ends ; the belly part is oval, and the breaft part .fquare,
and it has fix eyes.

The Carter, or long-legged Spider, has legs of a prodigious length,
and there is no diftinction of the back and belly part, for the whole
body appears to be nearly round, and marked with ten fpots about the
edges : the feelers are fmall at the root, and become gradually thick
to the ends : there are two particularities belonging to this Spider,
which may be difcovered by amicrofcope ; one is the curious contrivance
of the eyes, which are only two, and placed on the top of a fmall pillar
or hillock, rifing out of the middle on the top of its back, or rather the
crown of its head ; for they are placed on the very top of this pillar, back
to back, with tranfparent pupils looking towards each fide, but fome-
what more forewards than backwards % they have a very fmooth, and
a very protuberant horny coat, and in the midft of it the very black
pupil is feated, being furrounded with a fort of grey iris, and the pillar,
or head and neck, feems to be covered with a crufty lhell : thefe eyes do
not appear to have knobs or pearls, like thofe of other infects.

The other peculiarity, is the prodigious length of its legs, in propor-
tion to its body, which are jointed exactly like thofe of a crab, and ter-
minated by a fmall cafe or lhell, fattened to the body in a very wonder-
ful manner, and which include a very large ftrong mufcle, whereby
this little animal is not only enabled to fufpend its body upon thefe
eight legs, but to move very fwiftly over the tops of grafs and leaves :
the mouth is like that of a crab, the fhell is fpeckled with a fort of
feathers or hairs, and the legs alfo are hairy ; in fhort it has fome re-
femblance to a crab in mofl particulars, except the length of its legs.

The Spider called the Phalangium, is of a venomous kind, and is very
large, but in (hape it is like an Ant : the head is red, and the reft of
the body black, fpeckled with white : there is another Phalangium, fn
fhape fomewhat like a black grape, having around, black, finning,
globous body, with very fliort feet or legs, which feem to be imper-
fect, and yet it can run very fwiftly with them.

The common houfe Spider, has a round body, or rather oval, which
is almofi tranfparent : the colour is pale, and when it Hands erect upon
its feet, it is not unlike a painted ftar : the fkin is foft, fmooth, and
poliihed, infomuch that fome have imagined they have feen their own
laces reflected from it : the legs are long, round, and flender, and of
a very quick fenfe of feeling, being eight in number. It is not venom-
ous, nor any way hurtful, for its bite will caufe a fort of tickling, ra-
ther than pain : this is certain, that they may be fafely taken inwardly,
as country people often experience, when they fvvallow them for the
cute of agues. When it is well fed, it will call its fkin, not once a
y.ar, but almcfl every month.

The rofe Spider, fo called, from weaving its web in rofe buflies, has
an oval body, and a fmall forked head, under the belly, and the back,

NATURAL HISTORY. iS7

is marked with many white fpots. It will grow in a fhort time, from
the fize of a fmall pea, to above an inch in length.

The brown Spider is fomewhat tranfparent, when placed between the
eye and the fun. It is to be met with in woods and hedges, and
weaves a very thick web, that it may withfiand the force of the rain
and wind. It has a forked mouth furniihed with feelers, over which,
on the head, there are two fmall whitifh fpots, which perhaps may be
the eyes, and the whole body is a little hairy.

The wild marjoram Spider, has a body as round as a ball, with its
back marked with fifteen white fpots, and the vent is of a quadrangu-
lar fhape. It weaves a very rude fort of a web, among the leaves of
wild marjoram.

There are three wall Spiders, which inhabit old walls, and the ruins
of houfes ; they weave but fmall webs, and wander out in the day time,
an fearch of prey, which they fall upon with great force, and drag
them into their holes: the largelt is of a dufky colour, with an oval
head, and a round globous body, each fide being adorned with two
little fhort white lines, but about the middle of the back it is more
whitifh, and the legs are variegated with blackifh fpots : that of the
middle fize, is of a greyifh colour, and on the middle of the back there
are three white fpots like pearls, and that next the neck is the largeft
and longeft : the third is of a blacker colour, and the back is marked
with a white right angled crofs, for which reafon, it is called by icrne,
the holy Spider. In this particular it refembles one above delcribed.
It is of the leaping or jumping kind, and is very voracious, for it will
lay up nothing for the next day.

The fhort black Spider carries a fnow white egg-bag under its belly,
and runs very fwiftly ; when this bag is broken, a great number of
fmall Spiders come out, which go abroad in the day time to feed, and
in the evening get upon its back, where they reft all night : there are
jet black Spiders among rotten wood, and in the holes of trees, with
very fhort feet.

The white Spider, has a comprefTed broadifii body, of a white colour,
and long (lender legs : the forehead is marked with a fpot, and each
fide with a reddifh line : there are blackifh red Spiders, with an ob-
long body, and a lharp tail ; and there are red Spiders of two kinds,
one of which lies in holes of the eaith, and has a red breafi, with red-
difh yellow feet, and the tail and body of a dufky colour, with a yel-
lowifh call.

Linnaus takes notice only of fix Spiders, namely the greateft Spidery
the houfe Spider ; the bag bearing Spider ; the water Spider ; the bird
Spider and the Tarantula.

JLm JeU

CHAP. XVII.

OF SCORPIONS, CENTEPEES, GALLY-WORMS, AND HOG-LICE.

SCORPION is an infecT: with a body in the fhape of an egg?
which feems to be covered over with foot, and its tail confifts of

A a 2 feveral

$88 NATURAL HISTORY.

feveral globous bodies or joints, the lad of which is the longed, and i$
armed with a fingle or double prickle or fting, a little bent ar the end.
It has eight feet or legs, and claws not unlike thole of a Lobfter, arm-
ed with nippers: the head feem* to lie hid at the top of the bread, with
fuch fmall eyes, that authors take no notice of them.

Old authors take notice of feven kinds of Terreftrial Scorpions, the
firft of which is whitifh, and not at all deadly; the fecond has a reddifh,
mouth, and its fling produces heat, a fever, and intolerable thirft :
the third is blackifh, and its Ring caufes odd motions of the limbs, and
a laughter like that of fools : the fourth is greenifh, and its fting is at-
tended with cold and fhivering, and gives the patient a fenfe of" being
in very cold weather. It has eight or nine joints at the tail, which is
the reafon that it inflicls a deeper wound: the fifth is of a livid pale co-
lour, with a large (turning belly ; this not only (trikes with the tail,
but bites with a venomous tooth : the fixth is like a fea Crab, though
it does not want a tail ; but it has a large roundiih body, which makes
it look like a tailed ciab: they are of various colours, fome being
black, others of an iron grey, and others green : the feventh is nearly
in the fhape of a crab, with two large nippers, and it lives in holes by
the iea fide. When it is boiled it becomes red like a Lobfter.

The South American Scorpions, are in the fhape of the European, but
their fting is not fo fatal, for the wounds they inflitf are eafily cured:
they lurk in houfes, behind old (tools, benches, and chefts, and are
very large, fome being five or fix inches long : the tranflator of Nieu-
hoff affirms, they are five or fix feet long ; but this mud needs be a
mi (lake for inches. A Carpenter was flung by one in the Weft- Indies
when he was repairing a church, and it produced no greater diforder
than the fting of a Wafp ; it was foon cured by laying a compreis on
it dipped in rum: the females lay their eggs in a web, which they fpin.
from their bodies in the manner of Spiders: the eggs are no larger than
pins points, and they carry the bag along with them till they are hatch-
ed, at which time they get upon the back of the old one, which turns
her tail over them, and defends them with her fting. However there
is another fort in fome of the iflands, whofe ftings are much more dan-
gerous than thofe of the former, for which reafon they are very much
dreaded by the inhabitants. It is certain that they change their fkins,
as Crabs do their fhells, becaufe there are many of them found quite
whole, though empty, in the places where they ufed to lurk, except a
cleft under the belly, through which their bodies come out.

At Batavia in the Eaft-lndies, there are Scorpions a quarter of a yard
m length; but thofe of a letter fize are fo common, that vou can fcarce
move a (tool, bench, cheft, looking glafs, or pitfure, without being in.
danger of being flung by them : the fmall ones are about a finger's
length, and compofed of many joints of the thickneis of a goofe- quill-
the colour is yellow, variegated with brown ftreaks, and the fore claws
have two fharp pinchers ; their tail is long, and lies turned upon the
back, at the end of which there is a fting, which fometimes does a
great deal of mrfchtef; they have eight long legs, not unlike thofe of
aCray-hin, and the fling is accounted mortal, unlefs prevented in time.
Many believe that they are greatly peftered with Ants; but thefe are
only the young Scorptons, that get upon the back of the old on?s.

The,

NATURAL HISTORY. 189

The Scorpion at the Cape of Good Hop?, is from two inches and a half,
to three inches long, and its colour is a greeniih brown, fptckled with
black. It is in fhape exactly like a Craylilh, except the tail, which is
more long and flender : the fting is very painful, and often puts a per-
fon's life in danger.

The Scorpion on the coaft of Guiney, is upwards of three inches in
length, and has tour legs on each fide, befidc- two cla;vs armed with
nippers, which make a veiy formidable appearance, they being very thick
and ftrong, and between the nippers and the head there are three glo-
bous joints : the bodv corI'iIIs of nine joints, and the tail often, which
has a hooked weapon at the end, wherewith it (lings : there are fome
on this coaft as big as fmall Lob^ers, and have the fame fort of claws
and teet ; but their bodies are covered all over with long hair. Some
of them have a fmall bladder lull ot poifon, of half a finger's breadth*
at the end of their tails, which they fpirt out when they ilrike either
man or bealt, and the venom produces certain death.

The coal black Scorpion, is accounted the moft venomous of all, and
is veiy common in Perjia. It is of the thicknefi and length of a man's
finger, and the body has fome refemblance to an egg ; but altogether
it is fhaped like a Cray fifh, only it has a blunter head, and a lefs bodyt
It has eight legs and two claws, with a long knotted tail, whole knots
appear like fo many little bladders, at the end or which is a very ve-
nomous fting. In fome parts of Per/la, the inhabitants dare not fleep
in ground rooms for fear of thefe infects.

The Barbary Scorpion, when full grown, is fix or feven inches long*
its body is covered with a firm fkin, which is brown, with a mixture
of yellow, or flame colour. It is of an oval fhape, and has fmall eyes,
with eight legs, that are not very Itrong; each oi thefe is compofed of fix;
joints, and terminated by a pair of iharp claws: the legs are paler than
the body, and are a little hairy : the claws, with nippers, aie like thole
of Crabs, and are large, and of a black colour, each of which is com-
pofed of four joints: the body confilts ot feveral joints, divided by den-
ticulations, as is alfo the tail : the lait joint is terminated by a pointed
weapon, which is a little crooked, bending a little downwards, as in
moll: of the other kinds.

Linnxus takes notice of four Scorpions, the Indian, the African, the
Italian, and that of Barbary.

The Centepee, or Centipes, is fo cal'ed, from its great number of feet*
for which reaion, in fome places, they are called Millepedes, .>r tlmu-
fand feet; but improperly, becaufe that term is always bellowed uport
Hog-lice by naturalifts. In Latin the name is Scolopendra, and it » -.
very common in many parts of the world, efpecially between the Tro-
pics : there are feveral forts of them in the Wefl- Indies, one of which
bits very dangeroufly ; they are longer than a man's Anger, and a§
thick as a goofe quiil, but more flat, and of the colour of nifty iron;
they have a round head, with two fmall, but very fharp teeth, and thg
whole body is divided into ten or twelve joints, and as many tramverie
black lines ; at the bottom of each of which there are two pretty lortf
feet: there are two fmall horns on the head, and the tail is forked; they
live among rotten wood, and when they are touched, they are fure td
bite : the wound produces the ia'me effect as the fting of a Scorpion*
and the fame remedies mufl be made ufe of to cure it.

Th*

19© NATUARL HISTORY-

The Centepee of the Eajl- Indies, are about five or fix Inches long, the
diickr.tfs of a man's finger, and of a ruddy colour : they confilt of
many joints and bones, and have two claws or pinchers, wherewith
they wound as dangeroufly as the Scorpion, occalloning inexpreflible
pain : they lurk like them in holes, behind old chelts and benches.

Thefe infefls are very common at the Cape of Good Hope, fome of
which are red, and others white; they are three inches long, and about
half as thick as a man's finger : they are covered with hair, and feem
to have no eyes ; but there are two feelers on the head, which they
make ule of to find out the way they are to pafs: this is a very venom-
ous animal, and the bite is as dangerous as that of a Scorpion ; a
failor that was bit by one on board a (hip, felt an exceffive pain, and
his life was fuppofed to be in danger; however he recovered, by the
application of three roafted onions to the part that was bit, and he foon
was quite well.

The African Centepee, is four inches and a half long, and as thick
as a fvvan's quill; the colour of the whole body is of a mining brownifl*
black, and to each divifion or incifure a foot is annexed, of a yellow-
ifh colour, fixty on each fide. If this infedt mould be cut in two, it
is affirmed that both parts will live. When it is irritated it will bite
very hard, infomuch that though a man has a glove on, the teeth will
penetrate quite through. It has a forked mouth, and two feelers like
ihe former.

The American Centepee has a flame- coloured line that runs down the
back, and the fides refemble brafs; it has a vaft number of feet like hairs,
and an exceeding fmall head ; and they move fo readily backward or
iorwards, that fome have fancied they have two heads. Another that
was brought from Cape dugujla, was fomewhat larger than the former,
and had feventy livid divifions or incifures, and twice as many feet.

The common Centepee is to be met with in England, and is about an
inch long, with a flat thin body, of a brownifh colour : the legs are
ihort and yeilowiih.

The Centepee with thirty feet or legs, is not above half an inch long, and

no thicker than a wheat flraw: it is flat, and of a red colour, and the lafl;

pair of legs are very long, which makes it feem to have a forked tail.

Lir.naus has only three forts of Centepees, that with feventy feet on

each fide, that with fifteen, and that with twenty,

The Gaily IVorm, is called in Latin Julus, becaufe it is fuppofed to
be like the catkins of walnut, and hafle trees, which have the fame
;»ame in Latin : they are a fort of Ihort Centepees, and have more
fe£t than any other infecT:, except them. Some of thefe are fmooth,
and others hairy, and one of the former was found on a cabbage-
lettuce, about the thickr.efs of a rufh, and near two inches long.
It had a black head, and a back of a golden yellow colour ; the belly-
was of a blueilh filver colour, with a great many feet, like hairs.

There is another kind quite black, except a white line that runs from
the head to the tail, along the middle of the back : there is a third kind, of
a dull yellow colour, only the head is reddifh, as well as the feet ; and
the feelers, as well as the hairs near the tail, are livid: there is a fourth
fort, of a reddifh black ; but the feet and reelers are of a lighter co-
lour. Some of thefe lye hid in the mofs growing on the barks of treess
j:.d others under ftone^, and among rubbiih.

Maufef

NATURAL HISTORY. ,$f

Moufel never faw but two of the hairy kind, one of which was fome-
what above an inch long, and had a body that tapered from the head
to the tail, and of a whitilh colour, though the hairs were black, and
very fhoft : the other on the back and belly was of a fomewhat livid"
colour, fpotted with a difagreeable yellow ; buc the mouth was fome-
what reddilh, the eyes black, and the hair grey. I: is found on decayed
trees, between the wood and the bark ; as alio among ftones that are
covered with mofs. They all when touched, contract themfelves, or
roll themfelves up like a ball : they are not venomous, as is generally
fuppofed, for they have been handled and irritated

There is another fort that is very fmall, and is ufually found about
hollow trees, and ftakes fixed in the ground. It is of the colour of
brafs, and has many feet; when it creep; along, it bends the middle
part of its back like a bow, and if it be touched with a cane or /tick, it
rolls itfelf up : the body is flender, and fome are above three inches long ;
there is another kind no thicker than a briftle, and of a light dun co-
leur, and yet it has a vaft number of fmall feet, and is near lour inches
long It is to be met with among rotten timber and old ruins.

The ihining Gaily Worm is fometimes to be feen on heaths, and may
be discovered by its luUre, like a Glow Worm : thefe are not only found'
in England, but in Germany, and there is one much of the fame kind in
New Spain.

The brown Gaily Worm ! has an hundred legs on each fide, and grows
to the length of two inches ; the body is brown, and there runs a dou-
ble iron grey line along the back, but the legs are of a paler brown %
the back is roundifh, the belly fmooth, and the fkin is fomewhat glolly ;
the feelers are fhort, and conlift of five joints. It is found a little be-
low the furface of the earth, in the north of England.

The grey Gaily Worm is three quarters of an inch long, and has arf
hundred and twenty feet on each fide; its back is roundilh, its belly
flat, and its colour of a pale grey, only there are two iron grey lines
on the back, and every joint of the body is ftreaked longways. It con-
fids of about fixty joints, and has whitilh feet. It is called by Ray the
Gaily Worm, marked with livid and white circles, and is found under
large ftones, and on old trees.

The red Gully Worm is an inch and a half long, with a very flender
body, of a .reddilh colour: the back is almoft fiat, and the belly is
quite fo ; but it has yellowilh feet, with a red call, which are feventy
on each fide. It is called by Ray the very flender long Gaily Worm.

Linntzus has only three of thefe infects, that with ieventy feet, tha£
with an hundred and twenty, and that with ninety-fix.

The common Hog houfe is feldom above half an inch long, and a
quarter of an inch broad ; the colour is of a livid black, efpecially when
found about dunghills, and on the ground ; but thofe that are to be
met with under tiles, and in drier places, are of the .'jlour of the hair
of an Afs. It has fourteen feet, feven on each fide, and they have on-
ly one joint each, which is fcarcdy perceivable, it has two fhort feel-
ers, and the body is of an oval ihape. When it is touched, it rolls it-
felf up into a fort of ball, and the fides near the feet, are dentated like
a faw. It is often found among rotten timber, and on decayed trees,
for which reafon it is bv fome called a Wood Loufe : the eggs that
they lay ares white and fuming, like kcd pearls, and very numerous;

lit

$92 Natural history.

In winter they lye hid in the crevices of walls, and all forts of build-
ings. When the eggs are firll hatched, they appear like a fort of
Worms of a whitifh colour, and feem icarce able to ftir ; but tbey food
feed, and become very brifk : this infect is of great ufe in medicine, for
it is very diuretic and aperient, for which reafon it is good in the drop-
fy, and is often given with fnccefs for dulnefs of fight.

The water Millepedes is about half an inch in length, and nearly a
quarter broad ; the colour is a pale brownifh grey, and the whole body
is fo thin it feems almoll tranfparent. It confifts of feven joints, be-
iides the head and tail, and that at the tail is roundifh, a little flat,
and larger than any of the red : the tail is forked, and each fork is divided
into two parts at the end ; the legs are (lender, pretty long, of a pale browrt
and tranfparent, being feven in number on each fide : the feelers confift
of three joints each, and this infect is common in ponds and ditches.

The greater livid Millepedes is half an inch long, and of an oval
jfhape, and is livid all over, except at the edges of the fegments, which
are whitiih, and on each fide there is a whitifh fpot near the hinder
legs, and its fkin is tough and gloiTy ; its legs are fhort, and its tail
blunt, being without any divifion.

The fea Millepedes is an inch long, and half an inch broad ; it is of
a whitifh colour, with a roundifh back, a flat belly, and fharp fides :
the legs are feven on each fide, and the three pair before are fmall and
fmootn, but thofe behind large, pretty long, and hairy on the fides. It
has two pair of feelers, and the body coniilts of feven joints, befides the
head and tail, which lalt is three quarters of an inch long, fomewhat of a
triangular fhape, being marked with two convexparallel rayson each fide.

In the IVeJl Indies, there is an infect, which the French call Poux de
hois, that is Wood Lice, though they perhaps may be placed more pro-
perly among the Ants ; for they only have their name from gnawing
and eating holes in the wood that they fix upon : they are of a whitifh
colour, and are fuppofed to be a very great delicacy, becaufe all forts
of fmall birds, domeltic fowls, and little lizards, are very fond of
them : they build in the earth a fort of fmall galleries or roads, a lit-
tle larger than the barrel of a quill, in which there are fo many turn-
ings and windings, that at length the whole building makes a hillock
as large as a kilderkin.

Within this habitation there is a fort of little republic, where they
are fecure from all the attacks of their enemies. If any breach is made
in their walls, they immediately all fet to work, to repair the damage
as foon as they can, and it is a great pleafure to behold them fo bufily
employed about it: the roads may be eafily fpoiled, by pouring oil of
a Sea-cow thereinto, or even fprinkling it upon their whole building,
for this will caufe them to forfake their habitation. When thefe infects
grow old, they begin to have wings like Ants, and then they have
their places of aLode in the earth, that is the hillocks which become
black, dry up, and burn like a candle. Some call them Negroe's
heads, becaufe the\ are round, and feem to be curled like a Negroes
head. Some furgeons make ufe of this earth, in the cure of dropfies.
making the patient fwea* , by means of the fmoke that proceeds from it-
The favages ufe it for baking their earthen pots, by placing them in it,
and. covering them with it on all fides ; after which they fet it on fire,
and though i: burns but (lowly,- it will bake them as well as if they were
jut in an oven.

CHAP.

NATURAL HISTORY. 193

CHAP. XVIII.

01 FLEAS, LICE, AND OTHER IKSECTS.

THE Flea is fo well known, that it hardly needs any defcription ;
however it may be obferved, that it has a roundifh body, that
is blunt at the end, and a fmall head, with large eyes : the feelers are
fhort, and are compoied of four joints. When feen through a micro-
fcope, it appears to be all over adorned with a fuit of curinully polifh-
cd fable armour, neatly jointed, and befet with multitudes of fharp
pins, almolt like Porcupine's quills : the head on each fide, is beauti-
fied with a quick, round, black eye, and it has fix legs, the joints of
which are fo adapted, that it can, as it were, fold them up, one within
another, and when it leaps, they all fpring out at once, whereby it
exerts its whole (trength, Between the feelers there is a fmall probe or
fnout, and there are two jaws or nippers, fomewhat like thofe of an ant.

The young Fleas are firft a fort of nits or eggs, which are round
and fmooth, and from thefe proceed white worms, of a ihining pearl
colour. In a fortnight's time, they come to a tolerable lize, and are
very lively and aclive ; but if they are touched at this time, they roll
themfelves up into a fort of a ball. Soon after this, they begin to creep
like Silk Worms that have no legs, and then they hide themfelves as
much as poffible, fpinning a filken thread from their mouths, where-
with they form for themfelves a fmall round bag or cafe, as white within
as writing paper, but dirty without. In this they continue for a fort-
night, after which the infect burfts out, transformed into a perfect Flea.

The Loufe, when viewed with a microfcope, is an infect of a very
odd fhape, with a prominent head, and two black Ihining goggle-eyes,
looking backwards, and are placed where the ears ftand in other ani-
mals, having feveral fmall hairs round about them. It has two horns
where the eyes of moft infects are ufually feated, each of which confifts
of four joints, which are ftringed as it were with fmall bridles : the
head is very round and tapering, terminating in a very (harp fnout or
trunk, which has a hole, through which it fucks the blood. It has fix
legs, covered with very tranfparent {hells, and jointed exactly like thofe
of crabs, each being divided into (ix parts by thefe joints, and have
here and there feveral fmall hairs. At the end of each leg, there are
two claws, by which it is enabled to lay hold of the hairs on which it
climbs : the belly is alfo covered with a tranfparent fubitance, and is-
grained all over, juft like the fkin of a man's hand.

Some have affirmed that a Loufe will not live within the torrid zone,
but this is a great mijfake, for the Negroes that live in that climate,
though they are almoft naked, are generally full of them. One reafon
of which may be for want of combing their woolly hair, which cannot
eafily be done, it being fo entangled together. Thofe in the Weft-Indies,
make ufe of a fort of oil, with which they kill them, for otherwife they
would be almoft eaten up alive. However the white inhabitants in thofe
parts, are not much troubled with them, on account of their changing
their linen frequently j befides it is thought their plentiful fweats kui
them.

B b Ths

^ NATURAL HISTORY.

The Crab Loufe, is fo called, for having fome refemblance to the
fhape of a crab. It has a lhorter and thinner body than the common
fort. They leem to be generated in the pubes of thofe that are troubled
therewith.

Befides thefe infects that infeft men, mod animals are faid to have a
peculiar fort ; only the Fleas are common to many other creatures,
particularly Dogs. However it is affirmed by many, that Aifes are
never troubled with either of thefe fort of animals, which fome fuper-
ftitious people pretend, is owing to the riding of Chrift upon an Afs ;
but others with more reafon affirm, it is becaufe that animal feldom
or never fweats. However they are both miftaken, becaufe thefe ver-
min are not generated by fweat, as the ancients fuppofed, but proceed
from eggs, which we call Nits, like other infects.

The Lion is faid to be mightily infefted with a fort of Lice in the
hair over his eyes, and as is pretended, they plague him fo much, they
fometimes make him run mad. The Horfes are well known to be
troubled with vermin of this kind, which have red heads, and the reft
of the body whitifh. Thofe of Oxen and Calves are black, and they
may be feen in great numbers on thofe that are lean : they are almoft
like the Lice of Hogs, only they: are fhorter, and a little thicker.
Thofe of Hogs are fo large and hard, that they can hardly be killed
•with the fingers. Dogs have fome of thefe kind of animals, though
very feldom, and they look like nits, with a whitifh head ;, but the reft
of the body is of a blueifh black ; they have been particularly taken
notice of in Lap-dogs. The Lice of Sheep are very fmall, and have
red heads, with whitifh bodies ; thofe of Goats differ very little from
thefe. The Deer when they have fned their horns, are troubled with
great itching in the eye-brows, which proceeds from Lice of the fame
colour as the head.

Linnaus takes notice of feveral kinds of Lice, namely the common
Loufe, the Crab Loufe, thofe of Oxen, thofe of Crows, thofe of
Ravens, thofe of Thrufhes, thofe of Starlings, thofe of Cranes, thofe
of the bird called Avofetta, thofe of Turkeys, thofe of Fowls, that
called the Death-watch, and two or three more ; to which might be
added an immenfe catalogue, if it was worth while to obferve them.

The Deaih-ivatch has an oblong flattifh body, of a pale brownifh
white colour, with an annular brown mark thereon, and a brown fpot
behind towards the vent : the head is oblong, the eyes are large and
yellow, and the feelers are as long as the whole body : the fize is about
that of a common Louie, and there are fpots all down the fides, of a
reddifh colour, that is one on every fegment of the body. It has its
name from the ticking it makes, refembling that of a watch, which
fome fuperftitious people. have thought to have been a forerunner of
death.

The Monoculus, or one-eyed infedf, is peculiar to' watery places, and
has the legs or feet before, divided into branches, with which it either
fwims or leaps, and the body is covered with a cruft or fhell. It has
but one eye, or more properly three that are placed clofe together.

The crulfaceous water I/ifcS, is very fmall, and is fometimes of a
brownifh, and fometimes of a reddilh colour : the body is nearly oval,
only it is fmaller towards the tail, which is long, flender, and forked
at the end, and under it on each fide, there is frequently a large clufter

of

NATURAL HISTORY. m

©f eggs, covered with a fkin, of a yellowifh colour, and often as large
as the infect itfelf. It has two pair of feelers, and the eye is large,
black, and placed in the very middle of the head. It is common i«.
ditches, and other ftanding waters.

The teilaceous water fnfed, is covered with a fhell of an oblong oval
fliape, and of a dufky brown colour. When it is taken out of the wa-
ter, it fhuts the fhell clofe up, and refembles the feed of feme plant.;
but when it is put into the water again, it opens like fhell Hlh, of the
bivalved kind : the feelers appear from one end of the opening;, and
the legs from the other ; the eye is large and black, and its motion k
very fwift. It is common in ditches, and other Handing waters.

The aboreicent water Flea of Sivammerdam, is of a blood- red colour,
and fometimes are in fuch multitudes on the furface of Handing waters,
as to make them appear all over red ; whence many fanciful people
have thought that the water has been turned into blood, and prognof-
ticated fome terrible misfortune. It has femicircular feelers, and a
crooked tail.

The water InfeS of Fryfch, is without feet, and has a forked tail,
like two briltles Befides thefe, there are the fhort water infect, with
femicircular horns, and a flat back: the long-bodied water infect: the
fmall- eyed water infect, and the ihort water infect with a tail cloven
into feveral parts.

The Sheep 'Tick is a frnall infect, which is common at the beginning
of the fummer in pafture grounds. It has a very compreffed fmooth
body, covered with a tough fkin, and is of a fquareifh fhape : the colour
is of a Ihining black, or of a blackifh brown. When it fixes its head
in the fkin of any animal, and particularly fheep, it fucks out the blood,
upon which it fwells, and grows large and round in a very fhort time.
Sometimes it furks the blood of men, and cannot be got out of the
fkin without difficulty. It has fix feet fixed to the neck, and a fhort
but very iharp fnout. It is an infect well known to country people.

Moufet informs, that fome have miftaken it for the Sheep Loufe,
from which it is greatly different ; for this has a longer fnout, and the
body is never fo fwelled with bloody as that of the Sheep Tick, but is
always flat ; befides the feet are of a dark reddifh colour, and the back
of an afh colour, marked with three exceeding fmall blackifh points,
and its fhape is like that of a heart. It never thrufts its head into the
fkin, though it fucks out the blood by fits, and its excrements tinge the
wool with a greenifh colour, which is fo lafting, that it can hardly be
got out, by wafhing it with foap. They will live in a fleece after it is
iheared, for a year together, which is a certain fign that it can live
without blood.

The Chegoe, called by the French Chique, and by the Spaniards Nigas*
is a very fmall black animal, which is met with in all places where
there are afhes, and where they live naftily. It will penetrate pretty
eafily through thin ftockings, and generally fixes under the toe nails,
and the molt prominent parts of the fkin. The pain that it cauies
when it firft enters is like the bite of a Flea ; and after it is once got in,
it eats into the flefh fo gently, that it caufes no more at firft than a
flight itching ; it becomes bigger by degrees, till at length it is the fize
of a large pea, and then it produces Nits, which lodge about the old
•ne> and increafe in the fame manner, if there is not care taken to get

B b 2 them

196 NATURAL HISTORY.

them out ; and then they caufe putrefaction of the flefh round about
them, producing malignant ulcers, and fornetimes a gangrene.

Thefe infects not only attack men, but Monkeys, Dogs, and Cats ;
the belt way to prevent them from entering the fkin, is to wear good
{lockings and to wafh the feet often, particularly with fea- water.

There is an infect in the valleys of the province of Popayan in South-
America, which though not particularly defcribed, is proper to be taken
notice of, "on account of its dangerous effe&s. It is called Ccyba, and
is of a fiery red colour ; its fize does not exceed that of a middling
Bug, and it is commonly found under ftones, and among the grafs.
When this infect is crufhed, or burft upon the fkin of any animal, its
venomous juices enter the pores, mix with the blood, and immediately
produce a very dangerous fwelling, the confequence of which, if no
proper remedy be applied, is certain death.

The native Americans take the dried items of a particular herb that
grows in thefe vallies, fetting them on fire, and finging the patient all
over, as foon as the body begins to fwell. However if this infecT: be
crufhed in the palms of the hands, no bad effect will follow, which per-
haps may be owing to the thicknefs of the fkin. Inftinct teaches the
cattle that feed in thefe vallies, always to blow firongly upon the grafs
before they eat it ; and yet notwithstanding which, the Mules fornetimes
happen to eat them, the confequence of which is always a fwelling,
and immediate death.

At Martinico there is another red infect, which is very fmall, and i^s
generally met with in the favannahs or meadows, which are not very
wet : they are no larger than a pin's point, and appear as red as fire :
they get through the ftockings, and fix themfelves to the fkin, where
they caufe a dreadful itching. Horfes and others that graze in thefe
paflures, have fornetimes their head covered over with them, and then
they rub them againft (Tones and trees fo roughly, that one would think
they would tear their fkins~to pieces; to cure them the inhabitants make
baths with odoriferous herbs, wherewith they wafh the legs and feet.

The cheefe Mite has a roundifh oval body, with a whitifh fmooth fkin,
and a fmall head : the legs, and pans about the mouth are a little
brownifh, and much harder than the body, on which there are hairs.

The Loufe of the Beetle, is a very minute infect, with a reddifh round
body, covered with a firm hard fkin, the head is very fmall, but the
legs are pretty long, and the pair before are longer than the reft. It
runs very fwiftly for its fize, and may be frequently feen on the bodies
of Beetles, particularly the black Beetle, and other large infects. It is
called by Lifer, the yellowifh Loufe that infefts Beetles.

The fcarlet tree Mite, has a roundifh body, and fmooth finning glofTy
fkin, which feems fo fwelled, as to be ready to burft ; it is of a bright
red colour, and has a very fmall head, with fhort legs. It is marked
on each fide with a fmall dufky fpot near the breaft, and there are a few
hair.- fcattered over the different parts of the body. It may be frequent-
ly feen on currant bufhei, running over the fruit.

The fione Mite, is of a bright red colour, with a round fwelled body,
and a fmall pointed head ; the legs are pretty long, and of a paler red
than the body ; the feelers are much longer than in any infect of this
kind. It is common upon old flone walls and rocks, and runs very
brifkly.

Th*

NATURAL HISTORY. i57

The fcarlet water Mite, has a body of an oval fhape, and a depref-
fed back ; it is of a blight ftrong fcarlet colour, arid has a fin all head ;
but the legs are pretty long, and are of a paler red than the body. Ic
is common in fmail fwift currents, where it runs very nimbly at the
bottom. It is called by feme the fmall red water Spider.

The itch Mile, has an oval lobated body, and a fmall pointed head;
it is of a whitifh colour, and has two femicircular dufky lines at the
b.?ck, but the le^s are fhort and browniih. It has been fometimes found
in the pullules of the itch, but is not the caufe of it, as fome imagine,
for then it might be always feen theiein.

The Scorpion Mite, has a roundiih inflated body, of a whitifh co-
lour, and it is covered with a thin fmooth fkin, the head is very fmall,
and of a dufky colour towards the mouth ; but it is mod remarkable
for having claws like thofe of a Scorpion. It is not uncommon in old
rotten wood, and it is called by fome 'he Scorpion Spicier.

The little fcailet Spider, has a roundiih body, or rather fomewhat
oval, with a depreffed back ; it is of a fine fcarlet colour, and the body
is covered with a fort of down like velvet. It has a very fmall head,
with two very little eyes, and the legs are fhort, and of a paler red,
and there is a fmall black fpot near the infertion of thofe before.

The ihepherd Spider, is the largeft of the Acarus kind, and has a
roundifh body, which is of a dufky brown on the back, marked with a
darker fpot, of a fomewhat lquare fhape near its middle : the belly is
whitifh, and the legs are extremely long and flender. On the back of
the head there is a fmall eminence, furnifhed with a fort of double crefc,
which feem to be formed of many flender fpines. It has two eyes,
which are fmall and black. Some call it the long legged Spider, though
it has only two eyes ; however it may be obferved, that few authors
keep exactly to that diftinction.

Linveus alfo takes notice of an /Icarus, that is hardly vifible without
the help of a microfcope, and which is found on Chaffinches. It has
a head like a cone, with the point cut off, and on its hinder part there
is a fegment almoft feparate from the reft of the body, to which belong
two fmall crooked portions, and under it there is a longifh brown fpot.
It has eight feet, confiding of different fegments, and at the extremity
of the fore feet there are four clear veficles or bladders, which became
flat when this infect treads upon any thing ; thefe are connected to a
fmail long part, which feems not to belong to the leg, juft where there
are two ftrong prickles, which are fuppofed to enable this infect to ad-
here to whatever it treads upon : the two hinder feet are like thofe be-
fore, only the two prickles are wanting. But the feet that lye betweea
the fecond and fourth pairs, are the moft lingular, for they are thick
and fhapelefs, and have at their extremities, inflead of veficles, two
faws, one of which is very fhort : the infect can move them, but not
fo nimbly as the reft, and therefore it does not ufe them for walking,
but drags them after it like two tails: they feem to be defigned to keep
it clofe to the feathers of Birds. Several parts are hairy, and the hairs
through a microfcope, feem to be long and ft iff, of a whitifh brown colour.
Linnaus has another kind of fmall infect, which he calls Podura, and
the French Puceron ; in general they have a fhort roundiih body, with
a crooked forked tail, which affifts its leaping, or rather it is entirely
for that ufe, for it only walk? with its legs, which are fix in number.

It

i9t NATURAL HISTORY.

It has two eyes, each of which confift of eight others. Linnaus has
.only four forts, the water Puceron, the fnow Puceron, the grove Pu-
ceron, and the dung Puceron.

The common Puceron, is of the fize of a Flea, and of a bright green,
or blueilh green colour: the body is nearly oval, and is largeft and
moil convex on the hinder pait ; the breaft is very fmall, and the head
is blunt and green : the eyes may be feen very plainly, they being pro-
minent on the fore part of the head, and of a fhining black colour;
iiear to thefe, there is a black line on each fide, and the legs are very
(lender, and are all of the fame length, and of a whitifh green, but
the feelers are crooked. Some call it the green Flea of plants. It is
frequently feen on the ftalks of orache.

The toad ftool Puceron, is of the fize of a fmall grain of wheat, and
it has a fhort roundifh body, covered with a black gloffy fkin, and the
vent is remarkably protuberant : the head is fmall, as well as the eyes,
but the feelers are as long as the body, and black, with white ends.

The currant Puceron, is fomewhat larger than a Flea, with a body
cf an oval fhape, and a fmall head, furnifhed with little bright eyes:
the legs are very fiender, and the feelers long. It is of a grey colour,
variegated with black lines and fpots.

The Puceron with white legs, has a roundifh body, of a deep black
xolour, with a fmall head, and eyes that are fcarce difcernible ; the
legs are fhort, fiender, and white, as well as the forked tail. It is
common in woods, about old beech trees.

The water Puceron, is of the fize of a fmall Flea, which it refembles
in colour, being black and gloffy, with a purplifh tinge : the body is
roundifh, and the head fmall, the eyes very little, and the feelers fhort;
but the legs are longer than in moft of this kind. It is common in
ponds, and other ftanding waters, and in calm days of the autumnal
i'eafon, the furface is almoft covered over with them.

Fryfch obferves, that the infect which the French call Puceront is by
the Germans named Meeltan, which is as much as to fay Moth-dew; but
be thinks they may be more properly called Blat Lasuce, that is a leaf
Loufe : they all bring forth their young alive, and the foetus, when it
is ready to be brought forth, entirely fills the belly of the female, and
its lore parts are excluded firft, then the hinder : the foetus does not
begin to move till the horns or feelers appear out of the body of the
old one ; and by their motion it firft fhews figns of life, by moving
them every way, and bending all the joints : then they begin to ftir
their two fore feet, as being moft active, next to the horns ; after this
the middle feet, and thofe behind: the female lets the fetus ftick to her
hanging in the air, till its fmall and foft members become harder ; but
was foon as £ge finds that it has fufncient ftrength, fhe moves from the
place where fhe was fitting, and as it were forces the foetus to ftand
upon its legs, and then fne leaves it.

The weaker the leaves and buds of plants are, that is the lefs
juice they contain, they are always more full of thefe kinds of Lice,
infomuch that they are often quite covered with them. But they are
ziot the caufes of the weaknefs of the plant, but the fign ; though it
is true, that by picking and fucking it, they encreafe the difeafe, efpe-
cially of jhat leaf or bud whereon they fit.

A*

NATURAL HISTORY. i0

A* thefe infects are viviparous, they mud neceuarily lurk fomewhcrc
in the winter, where their bodies may be defended from the cold ; but;
this is always near the trees or plants that ferve to nourilh them in the
beginning of the fpring ; for they are always found thereon, as foon as
the leaves and buds begin to open. However they do not hide them-
felves in the earth, like many other infects, becaufe they have no part'
of their bodies fitted to remove the earth, nor are their feet lb fhort,
as to fuffer them to creep into any chink, befides their bodies are fo
tender, that the lead rough particle of hair would hurt them ; nor yet
is there any thing elfe which is common to other infects, that can en-
able them to conceal themfelves in the earth. Hence it is plain, that
they get into the chinks of the bark, and into the cavities of the ftrong-
er ftalks, from whence they ially out upon the branches and leaves,
when the warmth of the fun begins to be felt. Neither the cold of the
autumnal feafon, nor the leffer degree of heat in Otlobcr or March, ever
hurts them ; for which reafon they do not feek for hiding places, be-
fore the fall of the leaves, by whofe juice thefe Lice are nouiilhed j
however fome hide themfelves fooner, and fome later.

They caft their fkins like many other infects, four feveral times, and
the males have wings, but the females have none ; they have long legstf
not only that they may be enabled to creep over the long hairs of plants
and leaves but that they may travel from tree to tree, that ftand at a
diftance from each other : their feelers confift of fix joints^ of which
that at the extremity is roundeft, and they have a very fine fenfe of
feeling : the trunk or fnout which lies under the breaft, they thruft into
the pores of the plant, to fuck out the juice ; for they do not gnaw
them, but fo hurt them by fucking, that the leaves become fpotted,
arid as it were over-run with fcabs, for which reafon their edges always
turn up towards the middle.

The breaft is covered with a fort of fquare tick, fo hard, as to refill
the friction of the body againlt any thing when they creep : the two
forward feet are placed before the horny Tick, near the neck, and the*
four hinder behind it. On the laft fection of the body, except one,
there are foft horns on each fide, which are (harper in fome kinds, and
blunter in others ; but they do not move thefe like the feelers, and yet
they have a fine fenfe of feeling, as may be eafily known by touching:
them in the gentleft manner.

It has been laid that thefe infects are often carried off, and devoured
by Ants ; but this Fryfeb could never obferve : the Ants indeed are'
fond of thofe trees where there is a great number of thefe infects ; but
then it is only to fuck the juice which flows from the leaves that have"
been lately bored ; and this more particularly in the heat of the fum-
mer, when other moifture is wanting ; but they never hurt or carry a-
way any of thefe infects while they are alive, nor yet are they able, for
when they find any Ants coming behind them, they will kick them a-
way with their hinder feet.

The males have four wings, of which the uppermofl are the largeft,
and thofe below lead ; the ftripes made by the veins or nerves, are the
fame in all kinds of Pucerons, only there is fome difference in the angles'
of their extreme parts. However there is one kind to be excepted
which leaps like a Flea, and this is not what the French call a Puce-
ten ; for they differ from them in the ftripes of the wings, as well a-s

2»o NATURAL HISTORY.

in the mouth. But thefe infects differ from each other in their colour*
which perhaps is owing 'to the quality of the juice of the trees and
plants by which they are nourilhed : thofe that feed upon pot herbs
and plumb trees, are of an afli colour, only they are greenifh when
they are young : thofe that belong to the alder and cherry tree, are
black, as alfo thofe upon beans, and fome other herbs : thofe on the
leaves of apples and role trees, are white ; but as they leap like Grafs-
hoppers, they are not properly placed among the Pucerons : the mod
uncommon colour is reddilh ; and Pucerons of this fort, may be found
on the leaves of tanfey, and their juice, when rubbed in the hands,
tinges them with no difagreeable red : this may furnifh a hint to the
more fkilful phyficians, and botanifts, for a farther examination ; for
it is very certain, that obfervations of this kind, may point out the
•way to ufeful difcoveries.

The three principal and conftant enemies to thefe infects, are firft a
a fort of Flie, whofe fhape may be known from mod authors, who
have given an account of infe&s, and fome have taken notice of their
changes ; however there is in none a very exacl defcription of their
nature : this Flie lays its eggs upon the leaves where the Pucerons are
in the greatest number; there is generally only one at a time, which
produces a worm, which with its tharp mouth, feizes upon the Puce-
rons that lye next it, and holding them up, fuck their bellies, and af-
terwards devours them : the next enemy is a fort of worm, which
though taken notice of by authors, has not been fully defcribed ; this
devours the Puceron, not only while it continues to be a worm that has
an oblong brown body, marked with red fpots, and fix creeping feet,
but after it is turned to a fmall roundifh Beetle, of no unpleafant colour,
there are a great number of this fort, which differ in the colour, and
the fituation, and the number of the fpots upon the wings : the third
enemy is the Ichneumon Wafp, which is of a fmall fize : this gets into
the middle of the Pucerons, and with its horns feek for one of the
plumpeft of the females, and lays an egg upon her, from which a worm
proceeds, that enters into the body of the Puceron through a pore : this
done, the Puceron feems to adhere more ftrongly to the leaf with its
claws, and fo continues till the worm grows within its body, confumes
all the juice, and fo kills it : the colour of the fkin is then changed into
the whitenefs of a pearl, to the fhape of which the fwelling body is not
unlike; it then becomes harder, and defends the ichneumon worm
againft the injuries of the Ant. After feven days, the worm begins
to creep ; and this generation is performed twice every year.

The other kinds of Podura are, I. That with feelers, confiding of
numerous joints. 2. The ihort horned Podura. 3. The round bodi-
ed bright Podura. 4. The long bodied larger Podura. 5. The downy
Podura. 6. The long legged Podura. 7. The lead colour Podura.
8. The fmall black legged Podura. 9. The very fmall white Podura.
10. The fhort bodied blue Podura. 11. The dufky greyilh Podura.
12. The fhort tailed Podura. 15. The fpreading tailed Podura.
14. The large headed Podura. 15. The long Podura with flender
legs. 16. The flender horned Podura. 17. The laiger water Podu-
ra. 18. The long bodied blueilh water Podura. 19. The fubterra-
nean Podura. Part of thefe are to be met with on the branches of va-
rious bufh.es and plants, and the other part in ditches and ponds.

CHAP.

NATURAL HISTORY. gp|

CHAP. XIX.

OF WORMS WITH NAKED BODIES, WITHOUT LIMES.

THE Guinea Worm, is fo called, becaufe it was firft more generally
taken notice of in that pait of Africa, though it was mention-
ed long before, that is, by Jenkinfon, in the year 1557, in his voyage
to Boghar or Bucharia. He lays there is a little river running through
the midft of Boghar, whofe water is fo unwholefome, That it breeds
worms between the fkin and flefh of the legs, of an ell long ; the fur-
geons in thofe parts take them out with great dexterity ; for when the
worm fir ft begins to fhew its head, they pull it gently out a little way,
that is about an inch, and roll it up ; the next day it will come out as
much farther, and fo on, till it comes quite out. But it does not kill
the perfon when it breaks, at lead not always, though he affirms the
contrary ; for they have been often feen to break in Africa, in drawing
them out, and yet the patients have not died. It is about the thick-
hefs of the large firing of a violin, and fometimes much thicker, and
the colour is white and mining like filver. Jenkinfon adds, that (Gran-
gers are moft peftered with thefe worms ; but this is not true in Guinea,
for many negroes are afflicted with them, while the white men gene-
rally efcape : the manner of taking them out in that part of the world
is to wait till the head appears through the ilcin, after which they draw
it out a little way, making it faft to a flick, about which they wind a
fmall part of it every day, till they have at length entirely brought out
the whole, and then the patient is freed from pain. But if the worm
happens to break, the negroe is put to a double torture, for it either
rots in the body, or breaks out in fome other place. Some negroes
have nine or ten of them at once, and they are common all over the
coaft of Guiney : though fome of thefe are an ell long, agreeable to wh;it
Jenkinfon affirms, yet many of them are much longer, growing almoft,
to the length of two ells : this worm is omkted by moft of our modern,
writers ; and thofe that do mention it, give a very erroneous account:
thereof, affirming that it is no thicker than a hoife hair, and of a pale
yellowifh white ail over, except the head and tail, which are black and
gloiTy : the head indeed is of a pretty dark colour, but the tail is of a
iilvery white, like the reft of the body. It is pretended that doctor
Lifer has feen many of them alive in the body of a black Beetle ; but
it may be doubted whether the phyfician took it to be the Guinea Worm
or not, for certainly he could not be guilty of fo egregious an error;
for if it was a native of cold climates, we fnould certainly meet with it
in the legs of the inhabitants, efpeciaily in the hot feafons of the year.
Bucharia is not indeed within the torrid zone, but the heats in that
•country are fometimes very exceffive. Dr Friend was the firft Englijh
phyfician that took notice of it in his hiftory of medicine; but he did
not feem to know that Jenkinfon had mentioned it before. It has alfo
been obferved by other travellers that have been in hot countries, and
therefore it is very ftrange that no better account of it has been given
hitherto by Englifli writers.

1 ^ Go thtf

■!■ -

-63 NATURAL HISTORV.

The earth Worm, is of an oblong form, and is like the round Worm
that is bred in human bodies : the largeft fort are fix inches long, and
mr.v be ftretched to be a foot in length : they are of a reddifh flefh co-
lour, and molt of them have a ring round the neck, or rather a fort of
a necklace, in which there is a little blood. Some of thefe fort have been
feen ten inches long, and above an inch in diameter : this is by fome
called the lob Worm, and the dew Worm, and is to be met with in
gardens and other places, by the affiftance of a lanthorn, late in a furri-
mers evening. In great droughts they never appear, and therefore if
any of them are wanted as baits for fifh, they may be forced out of the
earth, by pouring the juice of walnut tree leaves, mixed with a little-
water and fait, into their holes.

The Brandling, gilt tail, and red Worm, are all to be found in old'
dung-hills, or the rotten earth that is near them ; but the beft for fifh-
inc, are thofe found in tanners yards, under the heaps of bark, whiclv
are thrown out after they have done with it ; but the Brandling is mod
eafily found in hog's dung.

The marlh Worm, is to be met with in marfhy places, near the banks
of rivers, and is of a bluifh colour : the Tag-tail is of a pale flefh co-
lour, with a yeilow tag on its tail, almoft half an inch long : they are
to be found in fields that have been manured with marie, and in mea-
dows after a fhower of rain. Moufet obferves, that Worms in general
are of a more whitifh colour, after heavy fhowers of rain : they have
the parts of generation belonging to both fexes ; but they do not wind
about each other like Serpents, when they are joined. When a lob
Worm has been opened, there has been found a fort of an annulated
gut, covered with a thin membrane, which had a very ftrong fmell :
the eggs lye over the gut near the mouth, and they are of a whitifh.
colour. Some fuppofe that they feed chiefly upon earth, becaufe there
is always fome found within them when they are opened ; however it
is certain they are fond of crumbs of wheat bread, and will feed upon
them greedily when they lie in their way. Many of them are deftroyed
in very dry fummers, and by the cold in winter: they are very often
fo numerous in gardens, that they do a great deal of mifchief \ but
they may be eafily taken and deftroyed, in the manner above mentioned.
The lea Worm, is above a foot in length, and as thick as a man's
finger. It is of a pale red colour, and compofed of rings, or annular
joints, like the earth Worm ; but the fkin is rough, for all the fkin is
covered with little prominences. It is found in the mud upon the fea
fhore, and ferves for food to many forts of fi!h : the common earth
Worms in Peru, are larger than thefe, for they are as long as a man's
arm, and thicker than the thumb.

The round Worm, bred in the inteftines of a human body, confifts
of rings like the earth Worm, it being without feet, and much of the
fame lhape ; but it differs from it in being of a white colour : they are
not only bred in the guts, but in other parts, and particularly in the
heart, for there are inftances of their having been found therein : they
have alfo been met with in the guts of horfes, oxen, calves, dogs, hogs,
and hawks, befides many other animals, infomuch that it is hard to
fay whether any fpecies of animals are free from them or not : they
caufe various diforders and difeafes in human bodies, for they not only
produce paiD, but consumptions, convulfions, fevers, and pains like

the

NATURAL HISTORY. 2oS

the pleurify. There is another fort, that have a fnout or trunk, with

a kind of crooked claws, wherewith they fometimes gnaw and tear the

membranes of the ftomach, caufing inexpreffible pain, anxiety, and a

ftinking breath ; but they more generally refide in the gut called the

ileum, becaufe it is free from the gall, for they cannot bear its bitter-

nefs: the beliies of children are fometimes fiiangely diftended -with

.them, and they render the excrements like cow dung, and full of fub-

ftances, like cucumber feed : the round Worms are generally of the

length of a palm, or longer ; and yet a certain blackfmith threw one

up by vomit, a foot and a half long, with a red fmooth head, about

the fize of a pea, and the body, was covered over with a fort of a down,

with a tail in the fhape of a half-moon. At Rome a man afflicled with

Worms, which gave him inexpreffible pain, at length voided one that

was black and hairy, of the length of five feet, and about the thicknefs

of a reed. Another brought away one not aboVe a palm in length

which was pretty like the round fort, only the back of it was covered

with red hair or down : they have been feen of all colours, as red,

yellow, black, and variegated with white and black ; but of thefe the

.green are mod uncommon. However thefe are all uncommon pro-

duclions, and never have yet been placed by naturalifis in any regular

x:lafs.

The Afcar'tdes are alfo Worms bred in a human body, and fome pre-
tend they have feen them in the mud, at the bottom of rivers and ponds.
\\ is of an oblong form, {lender, and covered with a very tender foft
ikin, and are not unlike book Worms. It is of the thicknefs of a fmall
pin, with a fmall lharp head, and a pointed tail : there is always a vaft
number of them together, and they are fometimes voided out of human
bodies in large quantities : their feat is in the great guts, and particu-
larly the rea-am. They produce inflations of the belly, ficknefs, and
leannefs, and are attended with great itching of the anus. Some of
thefe Worms are larger than others.

The tape Warm grows to a furprifirig length, being fometimes two
or three ells or longer, and it is divided throughout its whole length
■by knots or joints. Some have formerly thought that it was the in-
ward fkin of the guts, which comes off throughout their whole length j
but this js a miftak<r, for it has been fometimes feen to move aftst it
was voided. ^ It has fomewhat the appearance of the links of a chain,
the joints being a third of an inch long, and the fkin is fmooth, and of
a whitiih colour. It is found in the inteftines of many other animals,
befides men, not excepting birds and fijh. In the year 1725, it was
epidemical among the geefe in Germany ; fome of them were voided a
foot and fome inches in length, with the dung, and many of the geefe
were cured by accidentally feeding upon the remains of fage and hytfbp
after they were diftilled. There have been fifh opened, that have not
only one tape Worm, but three at a time, and thefe three times the
length of the fifh themfelves. Mr Fryfch, a German, who gives us this
account, affirms, that thefe fuppofed joints are real knots, which he has
been at the pains to untye, which when done, rendered the Worms a
great deal longer. He farther obferved, that they had a fort of an
artery, which run from the head to the tail, and was plain enough to
be feen, it being of the colour of blood, and the body itfelf white : the
breadth of the body grew fefs and lefs to the end of the tail, and end-

C c 2 ed

ftp4 NATUARL HISTORY.

ed in a fharp point ; and the mouth, or fore part, which it could dra*
in, was formed in fuch a manner, that it appeared to be cut off.

In the bowels of the fifh that have tape Worms, there have been ■
found {mail creeping Worms upon the liver, almoll an inch long: they
had the fame colour and fhape as earth Worms-: thefe, when they
have been thrown into cold water, have been feen to fwell, to grow
ltiff, and to enlarge themfelves, fo as to break the fkin of the Worm ;
and then the dead tape Worm has been found to lye at the bottom,
thrice the length of the former.

Mr Fnfch has been as careful in examining the Worms of a human
body, and he affirms, that they confift of three parts, the outermoft of
■which is the fkin, and the innermoft two guts, one long, and the other
fhort : the fkin is thick, and befides the aperture of the mouth, no hole
can be found ia it : this mouth is moft diftinft in the leffer fort, and
the lips may be plainly feen, by which it adheres to the inteftines like a
X.eech : the greater have a hooked mouth, and fomewhat in the fhape
of a blunt wedge, which is very hard ; and with this hook it flicks fo
clofe to the inward cuticule of the inteftines and pylorus, that a tuber-
cle or callus may be feen here and there thereon: the nearer the Worm
as to the ftomach, the callus is always the greater, efpecially in fows,
to the middle of which the head of the Worm flicks by its hook, in
jfuch a manner, that the defcentof the aliment from the flomach, though
never fo plentiful, could not force it off: the tail or lower part of the
"Worm is folid, for the cavity of the belly is not continued to the ex-
tremity. It has no vent, or one fo fmall, that the excrements could
3iot be forced out by preffmg the body ; but from the mouth it will
•void when touched gently, a fort of a watery liquor, that is found in
the belly, where there is a fpace between the two guts, efpecially be-
tween the navel and the mouth. He calls a fort of ligament the navel,
-which is the fixth part of the body in length from the mouth, and keeps
the long gut fufpended by its middle and fuller part, leafl the watery
liquor that lies about it, fhould fall into the lower part of the belty, ■
and prefs the finer parts that are not to full. By this longer gut, which
may be likened to a ftomach, the Worm is nourifhed with a pure and
white juice, like chyle: the fhort gut feems defigned for the excrements,
it being full of matter, that imells like the human fascis ; this is black,
and has no fold or bending.

When thefe Worms are ready to undergo their transformation, they
are fuller of this white fluid, and appear of a more mining white ; but
the leffer become more red, and are much of the colour of the fkin :
this white gut, which is the principal inner part of the Worm, he fup-
pofes to be the tape Worm, which receives its nourifhmeni in the fkiu ,
of the former, till it is come to a proper fize, and then it cafts its Hough,
much in the fame manner as a Butterfly : the tape Worm is always
three times- the length of the former Worm, and is of a white colour ;
and he has often feen rhefe Worms that have been killed by mercury,
vokied with the fkin broken as above ; and what confirms this conjec-
ture is, that thofe found in fifh, when thrown into cold water, which
breaks the fkin, always produces tape Worms, three times the length
of themfelves : thefe Worms, that is before they are changed, do not
feem to have any parts of generation, which are plain and evident in
earth Worms..

Thfi

NATURAL HISTORY. tf*j

. The gourd Worm, is two thirds of an inch in length, when full grown,
and its breadth is nearly equal to two thirds of its length : the fkin is
foft and whitiih, with a tincture of brown ; and the Ihape is flattifti,
but a little rounded on the back, and it has two rows of eight deep
longitudinal furrows : the hinder part of the body is roundilh, and at
the other extremity it has a large mouth. It is not unlike the feed of
the common gourd, from whence it has its name. It is fometimes met
with in the mteftines of men, and other animals.

The common Leech, is a water infect, having the figure, of a large
Worm, and it is as long as a man's little finger: the mouth is furnilh-
ed with three lharp ftrong teeth, with which it is capable of piercing,
not only the Ikin of a man, buc alfo that of a hone and ox. It has a
fmal! head, and a black ikin, edged with a yellow line on each fide,
ana the belly is a little reddilh ; it has alfo fome yellowifh fpots on the
back. It produces its young alive, which is only one at a time, in the
month of July. It is made ufe of to draw blood, and mult be kept in
clean water a few days before it is made ufe of for that purpofe : they
will fuck the blood till thej are almolt ready to burft, and then fall off;
but they will iometimes continue on too long, and then if a little fait
is thrown upon their bodies, they will let go their hold.

The horfe Leech, is larger than the former, and has a fmooth glofly
fkin, black on the back, fpotted with grey : the belly is of the colour*
of thefe fpots, with a tincture. It is common in ponds and rivers.

The fna.il Leech, is about an inch in length, and of a very flat fhapej
its fkin is fmooth and gloflV, and of a whitifh colour: the back is a
little raifed, and the. fides fo thin, and they look as if they had an edge.
It is common on ftones, and at the bottoms of puddles of water.

The broad tailed Leech, grows to an inch and a half in length, and
has a fmooth glofly fkin, of a dufky brown colour : the back is raifed
into a fort of ridge, but the belly is flat, and the tail remarkably broad*
with which it flicks to ftones very ftrongly. It is common on itoues iu
fhallow running; waters.

The black nr.ked Snail, is fomewhat in the fhape of a cylinder, and
perforated on the fide ; and it has four feelers, on two of which there
feern to be eyes. It is about three inches long, half an inch in diame-
ter, and the head and tail are fraaller than the middle ; the back is
convex, the belly flat, and the whole body is furrowed and wrinkled very
considerably. It is all over of a deep black colour, except the belly,
which is fomewhat grey: the feelers are not always viable, for it thrufts
them out occaiionally, and the body is covered with a fort of Aims,
fomewhat like that of an Eel. Ic is of both fexes, and can impregnate,
and be impregnated at the fame time. It is common in the woods, and
under hedges, and is foinetimesxfeen in cellars, and other cool places,
elpecially in damp weather.

The reddifh Snail, is about two inches long, and is fmaller in pro-
portion, than the black jSnail; its body is covered with a great number
of flight furrows or wrinkles, and it is all over of a dufky red except
on the belly, where it is of a light grey. It is covered with a thick
ilime, and moves along very flowly, always leaving a track behind il,
made with the flime, which dries into a thin gloffy film.

The yellow fpotted Snail, when full grown, is about an inch and a
halflong, with a prominent back, a holiowilh body, and a fmall head.

All

2c6 NATURAL HISTORY.

All the furface is flightly furrowed or wrinkled, and covered with a
flimy juice ; the colour is of a gloffy yellow, with a brownifli caft, and
is all over variegated with fpots of a greyifh colour. It is very uncom-
mon, though it is lometimes feen in the woods of the north of England,
Befides thefe, there are the large grey Snail, fpotted with a dufky
brown ; the little fhort grey Snail v/ithout fpots, the reddifh brown
Snail with a reddilh body ; the fmall dufky brown furrowed fnail j the
deep chocolate coloured Snail.

CHAP. XX.

OF SHELL SNAILS.

A Shell Snail has a fingle valved fpiral fhell, which is very hard*
and light at the fame time ; by the help of this, the animal is
defended from all injuries, and can carry its houfe or lodging with it
wherever it pleafes. At the beginning of winter it retires into a hole,
and then a fort of flime or glew proceeds from its body, which entirely
ihuts up the mouth of the fhell. Under this fhelter it partes the winter,
like many other infects, without trouble, and without want. When the
fpring appears, and the warm weather comes on, the fnail opens the door
of its houfe, and roves abroad to feek its fortune. It is obliged to
move along, and that very flowly, as it always carries its fhell upon
its back; and being thus obliged to crawl along, if its eyes were placed
low on the body, which is dragged on the earth, it could not fee the
objects it is in fearch of; at leaft they would be expofed to dirt and
mud every now and then ; for this reafon, nature has provided it with
four eyes, which may be likened to telefcopes, wherewith it may fee
what is doing all round about it.

Some have imagined thefe eyes are horns, and yet they are in reality
four tubes, with a glafs at the ends ; but to fpeak more propeily, they
are four optic nerves, on each of which there is a very beautiful eye;
and many imagine this to be the cafe of Snails without Shells. It not
only lifts up its head to look about, but it raifes up the optic nerves
Hill higher, with the eyes placed at the ends ; for it can lengthen and
.direct them at pleafure.

However, authors are not wholly agreed about the reality of this,
for fome think that the fhorter horns are only the organs of fmelling.
.But be this as it will, the eyes on the other two are very plain to be
perceived. One would at firft imagine, that any difcovery it can make
would be of very little fervice to this infect, fince it is without legs ;
however in [lead of thefe, it has two large mufculous membranes or
fkins, which it can contract or lengthen at pleafure. It firft wrinkles
up the fkin before, by which it drags the hinder part after it ; then it
•contracts or wrinkles the fkin behind at the fame time, extending that
before, which being repeated alternately, this animal can crawl along
with eafe. But perhaps fome may think this mechanifm is not fuffi-
cient for its purpofe j for as it has no wings to fly, when, it meets with

danger,

NATURAL HISTORY. V

tTanger, it feems to be expofed to falls from the brinks of precipices*
or into the water, and then it would certainly be drowned. However,
to remedy this, nature has provided it, veiy plentifully, with a thick
clammy liquor or fiime, which will fecure it from falls by its gluey qua-
lity ; nor yet can it be hurt by rain or moifture, became it has an oil-
that ftops up all the pores of the fkin. It feems to know the great ufe
this oil is or, for which reafon it takes care that the fun Ihould not dry
it up, and as for moift places thofe cannot do it any harm.

Hence it is plain, there is nothing to hinder its going in queft of noU-
rifhment ; and when it has found any, it has two mouths armed with
teeth, with which it fometimes does a great deal of damage to the veiy
beft fruits, to the tender buds of plants, and even to leaves on which
the prefervation of the fruit depends.

But what is moft wonderful in thefe animals, is, that th*y are all
hermaphrodites, and have at fame time the parts of generation of both'
fexes, infomuch that they ufually fecundate each other, as was before
obferved in treating of the naked mails : they have a fort of courtfhip^
and when that happens, one of them lets fly a fort of a little arrow at
the other, which has as it were four wings, or rather four edges : this
arrow is entirely feparated from the fnail that darts it, and it either*
pricks the other, or falls to the ground, after it has performed its of-
fice : the other fnail darts his at the other, but this mock fight is im*
mediately followed with a perfect reconciliation : this dart confifts of j5
fubftance like horn, and they are always to be met with near them at-
the time of their conjunction, which happens three times in the year^
and in the fpace of fix weeks, each of them after this, in eighteen days
time, goes to depofite its eggs in the earth, and covers them with a
great deal of care.

When the eggs are hatched, and the young Snails appear, they have
each of them a fliell, which increafes as their bodies increafe ; for at.
firft it is of a fize proportionable to its fmall inhabitant : this fhell is as
it were the rudiments of that which is fo vifible afterwards to the naked
eye ; but as the body cf this infect cannot grow longer, except towards-
the opening, it is likewife that way that the ihell receives its increafe i
this is done by the fubftance that is in the animal's own body, and it
is compofed of a fort of a glue, and very fine (tony particles: thefe fub^
fiances pafs through a multitude of fmall canals, and at laft reach the
pores, which are very evident on the furface of the body. When the
animal perceives that all the pores are fhutup under the (hell, it directs
them towards the parts of the body which lye out of the ihell, and are
quite naked : thefe fandy particles and glue, tranfpiring outwardly, then
grow thick, and adhere to, and dry on the edges of the ihell. It forms
at firft a fimple fkin, to which it fixes another, and then a third ; and
when all thefe layers are united, they form a fubftance exactly like ther
reft of the fhell. As this animal increafes, and its body is not fuffici-
ently covered, it continues to tranfpire, and build again in the fame
manner : this is certainly the method by which it fafhions, builds, and
repairs its houfe ; for if you take Snails and break their fhells, with-
out hurting their bodies, and then put them under glaffes, with earth
and grafs, you will foon perceive that part of their body which is left
quite naked, will foon be covered with a kind of troth or fweat, which
proceeds immediately from the pores: this fweat or froth is icon pufh-

5b8 NATURAL HISTORY.

ed forward by another underneath, and fo on, till it comes to be on 4
level with the old fhell.

That you may be certain that this fhell proceeds from the pores*
you need only take film on the infide of an egg-fhell, and flid'e ii gently
between the body of the Snail, and the extremity of the frafture, and
■you will find the fhell continue in the fame (late as it was atter it was
firft broken ; and Hill to make this more plain, you will find that the
fubftance which was to repair the fhell, will flick to the film, and there
form another fhell.

The great garden Snail, is the largeft of the common fort, it being
about three quarter^of an inch in height, and as rcuch in diameter,
and the body of the fhell is rounded : the mouth of the fhell is large,
and nearly round, but it is in par" filled up by the fucceeding 'urn of
the fhell : the clavicle or tail, has four turns, and is blunt at the ex-
tremity : the colour of the fhell is of a dullcy brown, except a broad
ftreak ivhich runs along it, following the fpifal turn of the Iheli. Some-
times there are two others more faint, and above and below that in
the middle, there run feveral broad and fhort oblique lines 6r clouds,
of a Girferent brown. It is almoft every where to be met with in the
fpririg, in the gardens and orchards throughout England.

The brown clouded Snail with a round body, was not a native of
England till very lately, it being orig'nally brought from Franc, as a
met icine for a gentleman; at which rime many of them were turned
alive into his garden, from whence the adjacent parts have been fur-
nilhed with (.hem : that is in the county of Surry. It is above an inch
in height, and as much in diameter, and the fhell is conliderably firm
and ftrong. Its colour is of a deep dufky brown, variegated with cloud-
ed fpots, and oblique ftreaks, of a paler colour: the body of the fhell
is rounded, and the mouth nearly round, only a part of it is filled up
by the fucceeding turn of the fhell : the clavicle is high, and has four
turns.

The yellow Snail with a round body, is about three quarters of an
inch high, and as much in diameter : the body of the fhell is rounded,
as in the two former kinds ; but the mouth is more depreffed, and the
clavicle has four turns, and is terminated by a little round button :
the fhell is confiderably thick and firm, and the general colour is of a
dullcy yellow, only it has a fingle broad ftreak of a deep brown, "fol-
lowing the fpiral turn of the {hell, and placed exactly in its middle.
It has alio fome other faint variegations of brown, and the mouth is
furrounded with a thick rim of white. It is n»t very common, but
may be met with under hedges in the weft of England : there are three
oth"r forts of the common large Snail, namely the brown and white Snail,
with a depreffed clavicle : the great brown Snail with a few variega-
tions, and a raifed clavicle ; and the large blueilh Snail.

The plain yellow Snail, is of the fmaller fpecies, it being no more
than half an inch in height, and about as much in diameter : the body
of the fhell is not fo diitinct from the clavicle, as in the larger forts,
and yet there may be five turns, which are ealily difcovered in the
whole fhell, and the clavicle rifes from the reft of the fhell, but it has
a blunt termination : the mouth is large, and is nearly round, but it is
depreffed, and is partly filled up by the fucceeding turns of %hi fhell:
the colour is generally of a plain bright yellow, without variegation,

only

NATURAL HISTORY. 20?

only the lip or verge of the mouth is of a lighter colour than the reft
being fometimes whitifh. It is every where to be met with in gardens'
orchards, and hedges.

The yellow Snail, has a very beautiful fhell, which is nearly half an
inch in diameter, and almoft as much high. It confifts of five turns,
and has a depreffed mouth, with a whitifh rim or lip : the colour of
the fhell is yellow, only along all the fpiral turns, there runs a broad
ftreak, of a deep purplifh blown colour: this is alfo to be met with in
gardens, orchards, and hedges.

The yellow Snail with three ftreaks, is near half an inch in diameter,
and as much high, with a roundifh depreffed mouth : the fhell is com-
pofed of five turns, and the clavicle terminates in a button : the gene-
ral colour is yellow, except the three ftreaks, which run along the fpi-
ral turns of the fhell, of a purplifh brown colour : the middlemoft of
thefe is broad, and the two outermoft narrower, this is alfo common
in orchards, gardens, and hedges.

The yellow Snail with four ftreaks, is of the fame fize as the former,
and has the fame number of turns, and it has likewife a button at the
extremity of the clavicle: the mouth is large and roundifh, but depref-
fed and encompafTed with a thin rim, of a whitifh colour. The gene-
ral colour of the fhell is yellow, only there are four narrow ftreaks or
lines, of a purplifh colour, that follow the whole fpiral turn of the fhell,
running along the middle thereof: this may be eafily met with in fields
and gardens.

The yellowifh Snail with five lines, is of the fame fize with the for-
mer, but has a thinner fhell, which is very brittle, and the clavicle ter-
minates in a whitifh button : the mouth is large and depreffed, and is
encompafTed with a thin whitifh lip, the general colour of the fhell is a
whitifh yellow, according to its fpiral turn, there run five ftreaks or
lines to the top of the fhell, through the center of each turn : they are
not fo plain as in the former.

The flefh coloured Snail is one of the depreffed kind, and is near an
inch in diameter, and yet no more than the third of an inch high ; the
fhell confifts of four fpiral turns, and the clavicle, which is very flat,
is roundifh at the extremity: the mouth is large, roundifh, and encom-
pafTed with a thin round lip. It is of a faint reddifh or flefh colour,
and is beautifully radiated with a deep purplifh brown : this Snail is
common in Germany, and it is faid to have been feen on the buflies in
LancaJJnre.

The whitifh flatted Snail, is about three quartes of an inch in diame-
ter, and more than a third of an inch high. It confifts only of three
fpiral turns, and has a roundifh depreffed mouth, encompafTed with a
thin rim : the general colour is a pale whitifh grey, only it is faintly
radiated with lines and clouds of an obfcure purplifh brown. It is
common in France and Germany, and fome fay it is to met with in
Tori/hire.

The whitifh depreffed Snail with a dentated mouth, is about half an
inch broad, and its height no more than the third of an inch. It con-
fifts of three or four fpiral turns, and has a flat clavicle : the mouth is
above a quarter of an inch long, and about as much broad, which
makes the figure nearly roundilh. It has a pretty broad lip, of a pearly
white, and is fliehlly dentated on each fide : the colour of the whole

Dd fhell

3,o NATURAL HISTORY.

{hell is whitifh, without any variegation. It is faid to be met with ia
Charlton foreft in Stifle x, and is pretty common in Italy.

The Jamaica ribband Snail, is an inch and a half in diameter, and
yet is not above half an inch high : the fhell confifts of three or four
fpiral turns, the outermoft of which is confiderably large, and the reft
grow gradually fmaller, as they approach the centre : the clavicle is
very little raifed, and has a blunt termination: the mouth is roundifh,
and the general colour of the fhell is of a pale brown, except a white
ftreak or ftripe, that runs according to the fpiral turns of the fhell,
which is of a white colour, and appears fomewhat like a ribband.

The white depreffed Jamaica Snail, is about an inch and a quarter in
diameter, and about the third of an inch high : the fhell confifts of
four evident turns, but the clavicle is very little raifed, and it has a
blunt termination : the general colour is white, only there is an orange
coloured ftre?#k runs along all the fpiral turns : the mouth is placed
tranfverfely, and has a very large and broad lip, deeply dentated o»
both fides.

I N I S.

7>/a* 7.

F.lephant Beetle .

y. J^ra/fr- /c .

Several sort? of Kretlos.

Plait g

Sort of
Mav T^Mg.

J -Fra/ir- ,<?

~/>/ate J.

j:s=>

>W/V/* /£•

/Vff/r J.

1 lie I icnuli'la,

,/T fm/ir /c.

*t<

^/afc J.

Careen Chafers.

01 Beetle

A ^TO-ScaTatae .

J*, -/'/ix/hr- ^~

Pla& 6\

J- Jf>-«/5,:

••'■ si.

7>?afr 7.

J J" 'safer- /c

TlaU A

A sort of Grafslvo

pper.

Locuils.

JTra/tr

/V///V J} '.

.Z Fra/ier /?

/%/,• 70.

j~ JFr-a/ir- />•

Plate JZ.

Ta{lea Y\y,

y 7''r<}7e^/T.

J*t*tle /?.

Burnet Motlx

C tmimoii "Butter flv.

C&rv/aas.

C aZerjtfi 7/r/7:

Great Butterfly;

J. -Fra-fer /C-

T/a/e 7,3.

'

Tie Z/arZ Butfrrtfy of tie W#
J?i die*?.

Buffer// i' /rem Coina.,

\F7jg Jr,a?i/j*a7'en2- nfalabl

The Ye//vti> Bnfie/'//v of G&wta ■

"Vo/fc- /?

JPZate 74.

Drone.

Queen H ee.

J. .7*'ra./i>- /

J'fate Al

^T ^a/i.?- /c.

Plml* 7d

Two HorfeYlies.

Tint Eoife TV of th eWeft In if

7 J^ra/er

7J/a?<> //

TlieAValkitiq- T^eat*

L

The Nettle CatterjnHar.

p/77

The Crowfoot Caterpillar

Tlie Y aimer AVonii.

AVelt Indian Spider.

.

Grey S ,,,,/, ,■

^^

2Va?e /Q.

./. f''r,x<rtr 7c,

/'.'„/<■ ?a

'Water Iixiects.

T unl>er Worm.

Horfe Xeecli.
/

* *=v.

ft, -^

*..*

\>

*•'

vmm
<BBm

jiililMiiilSfy

IB

WKHHH

m

111

II
■■

mm