22 NORTH AMERICAN INSECTS. 



stances, and the tooth-ache was immediately relieved ; but 

 whether the remedy, or the faith of the patient, acted ther- 

 apeutically, or the tooth ceased aching of itself, I confess 

 I do not pretend to know. Thousands of these insects may 

 be gathered in summer with the greatest ease, and may be 

 kept for many years in a bottle of alcohol, and if any one 

 wishes to test the therapeutic value of the Coccinella he can 

 try it. 



Popular superstitions are sometimes beneficial in their 

 results, and this has often been the case with the animals 

 of which we speak. Thus the ancient Egyptians regarded 

 as sacred a certain Dung Beetle {Scarabceus Sacer), because 

 by feeding on putrid substances, and consuming them, it 

 purified the air, and thus proved beneficial to man. For the 

 same reason the Turkey-buzzard, on account of its destroy- 

 ing carrion, and the Ibis, on account of its devouring snakes, 

 were considered as protected by the Gods. The Lady-birds 

 have likewise been held in high estimation from the remot- 

 est ages. In Germany they have been called FraueUy or 

 Marien-Kafer (Lady Beetles of the Virgin Mary) ; and in 

 France Vaches de Dieu, or Betes de la Vierge (Cows of the 

 Lord, or Animals of the Virgin). 



Persons who have plants in their conservatories infested 

 with plant-lice will easily get rid of them, and preserve 

 their plants, by putting a number of .Lady-birds, or their 

 grubs, upon the plants. A very simple and a sure remedy 

 for a very troublesome evil. 



The Tiger Beetle, another Beetle of prey, is so called 

 on account of its variegated color and its rapacious propen- 

 sity to devour every insect that comes in its way. It acts 

 like the tiger among Mammalia, the hawk among Birds, 

 the crocodile among Reptiles, or the shark among Fishes. 

 They are ravenous wolves among insects, feeding on cater- 

 pillars, flies, other species of beetles and rain-worms, and 

 will even devour one another when shut up together, which, 



