VI 



(peats of Sphhtx indeed arc met whh at that time on gourd blof- 

 foms; and various kinds of moths occafionally fly into the houfes 

 towards the candle, or may Ije caught by torch light upon the blof- 

 Corns of fruit-trees, but Ids plentifully than in England. 



Many American caterpillars fling like a nettle, railing little white 

 bliflcrs in the llciri, efpccially when accidentally or (lightly touched; 

 hence they are in general held in great abhorrence* Mr. Abbot how- 

 ever obferves, that he never yet found any caterpillar that it was 

 really dangerous to handle; and he has often permitted the moft 

 flinging kinds to fall upon his hand, or into his liofoni, to the great 

 admiration of the negroes as well as of the white inhabitants. 



The worms of the Scarti&Bi referable that of the Englifli Cock 

 Clufcr, and all live in the earth. Their bodies arc generally white, 

 with black or brown heads, the different fjxreies differing chiefly in 

 iizc. The larva of the Ccramfyx genus, and thofc of the Lepturx^ 

 all nearly agree in lhapc and colour They live in trunks of trees, 

 often immediately under the bark. Iloth the larva and pupa* how- 

 ever, of Ccrambyx coriarius f refemblc thofc of Scaralhtt* The Coc* 

 ehitlla; and Chryjhmelx in their early ftatcs arc much like thofc of 

 Europe. 



Mr. Abl>ot defcribes as veiy curious the caterpillar of the fmall 

 lantern fly, Vound in rotten wood; but he has not mentioned the 

 fyftcmalic name of the perfect infcA. Tins larva is about an inch 

 and lialf long, fliining throughout its whole body like phofphoric 

 touch-wood, or the light of the moon. It is rarely met with; but 

 the fly, though not very frequent in the day, is in feme warm nights 

 fo plentiful, tliat the woods appear full of (Jxirks of fire. Its light is 

 emitted by a dilatation or elongation of the abdomen, the Alining 

 matter being lodged in the two laft rings; fo that, when thofc rings 

 are contracted, the jnfc& is no longer luminous. 



