72 NORTH AMERICAN" INSECTS. 



That Muscovite barbarian certainly exhibited more 

 common sense than the Congressman in our modern 

 time, to whom Wilson showed his work on American 

 Ornithology, and who replied, "We do not at all 

 want such books, for any one can see birds every 

 day in our woods and orchards, without paying one 

 penny for it," or that Reverend gentleman who was 

 visiting the museum of the New Jersey College, at 

 Princeton, in which I was then Professor, and who 

 remarked to me, "that he could not understand how 

 the Bev. John Maclean, Vice President of that Insti- 

 tution, could be such an enthusiast for such useless 

 articles, particularly for bugs and other vermin." Yet 

 it is owing to the sound principles, prudent manage- 

 ment, and even pecuniary sacrifices, of that excellent 

 man, John Maclean, that the College of New Jersey 

 is still now in honourable existence. 



But to return to the Herbivorous Beetles. The 

 first of which we shall speak, are the Spring-beetles, 

 (Elater,) which are also called Skippers, or Snapping- 

 bugs. They are distinguished from all others, by 

 having an organ by means of which they are enabled, 

 when laid on their backs, to Bpring up' into the air 

 and recover their standing posture, which they could 

 not otherwise effect, as their legs are very short. This 

 organ is on the under side of the thorax, between 

 the. fore-legs, directed towards the extremity of the 



