BUTTERFLIES. 193 



three inches In length when full grown, and 

 is a very singular insect. Its head has some- 

 what the appearance of an elephant, having 

 a horny bill like the proboscis of that animal, 

 bending upwards from the under part, with 

 another pointing downwards from the upper 

 part of the head, both of a jet black, and 

 of a fine polish. On the inner surface of the 

 upper bill are raised points, like the teeth 

 of a saw, which are used by the insect in 

 the same manner. Its body is like that of 

 a beetle, but considerably larger, with double 

 wings, the inner of which is like coarse 

 gauze ; and its legs are armed at each joint 

 with crooked, sharp nails, with the same on 

 each toe, like a bird. 



The process of this insect in sawing down 

 branches of trees, is really admirable, but it 

 is hardly possible to form an idea of the 

 manner of doing it without a description- 

 This work it performs by encircling the 

 branch with its bills, the points of which it 

 fastens well into the wood, and turning 

 round it briskly by the strength of its wings, 

 which make a loud buzzing noise, it in a 

 short time saws the branch asunder. They 



