MISCELLANEOUS. » 369 



collection of butterflies and other insects, and told him that 

 she had personally instructed her children in botany, history, 

 and geography by means of her entomological cabinet — 

 botany, from the plants on which the various larvae feed ; 

 history, from the names, as Menelaus, Berenice, etc., given 

 as specific names to the perfect insects ; and geography, from 

 the native countries of the several specimens.^ From the 

 scientific names of insects, and the technical terms employed 

 in their study, quite a knowledge of Latin and Greek, and 

 philology in general, might also be gained. 



In R. Brookes' "Natural History of Insects, with their 

 properties and uses in medicine," we find the following 

 statement: "There have been the solid shells of a sort of 

 Beetle brought to England, that were found on the eastern 

 coast of Africa, over against part of the Island of Mada- 

 gascar, which the natives hang to their necks, and make use 

 of them as whistles to call their cattle together."^ What this 

 "sort of Beetle" is I have not been able yet to determine. 



Mr. Fitch W. Taylor, chaplain to the squadron com- 

 manded by Commodore Geo. C. Read, gives a translation 

 of several Siamese books, and among others the Siamese 

 Dream-book. It was translated by Mrs. Davenport, and the 

 subject is thus introduced : 



" In former times a great prophet and magician, who had 

 much wisdom and could foretell all future events, gave the 

 following interpretation of signs and dreams. Whosoever 

 sees signs and visions, if he wishes to know whether they 

 forebode good or evil, whether happiness or misery, if he 

 dream of any animals, insects, birds, or fishes, and wishes 

 to know the interpretation, let him examine this book." 



Of these signs and dreams I make extract of those which 

 refer to insects, as follows : 



" If a person be alone, and an insect or reptile fall before 

 the face, but the individual see it only without touching it, 

 it denotes that some heavenly being will bestow great 

 blessings on him. If it fall to the right side, it denotes that 

 all his friends, wherever scattered abroad, shall again meet 

 him in peace. If it fall behind the person, it denotes that 

 he shall be slandered and maliciously talked of by his friends 



1 Hist, of Ins., p. 197. 



"^ Nat. Hist, of Ins., p. 35. 



