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T H 



N A T U R A 



H 



O R 





of fo \ox\° a duration as the luminous moments, which the creatur 





feems always to command at pleafi 





DYTISCUS I. Minimus nigro-fplenden 



The black Water Beetle 



This infect is frequent 



mod of the low-land ponds of J 





and moves 



ih "Teat dexterity on the fur face of the 



ELATER I. Major fufcusy phofphoricus. Tab. 44. \ 



f. 10. 



The larger Fire-Fiy. 



This infect is of an oblong form, about an inch or better in length, and mode 



ly broad in proportio 



It 



very ftrong and elaft 



being put 





back 



will fometimes 



CT 

 6 



to the height of 



or 



n 



above the level on 



which it is placed, the only means whereby it is enabled 



fkion when thus fituated. But nature, to enable 



go through this piece of 



P 



rax, 



fm,has iupplied it with peculiar org 



ay be properly called they? 



for that part of the fcuta of the tho- 

 ?, is producted a good way below the 



main body of the (hell, and received in a groove placed in the fore-part of the fcuta 

 that covers the belly. When the infect contracts the mufcles of thofe parts, the 

 back part of the fcuta of the thorax is brought clofe to the elitrcc of the back, and 

 leans a gain ft the ihould 



and tail 

 to the 



jrs, into which they are inferted. By thefe means the head 

 the infect being placed on its back, are the only parts that are contiguo 



prcffcd againft the verge of th 



the prominent part of the Jl 



1 



forced a good way 



1 



middle part of the body of the infect and the plane : the body being p 



and 

 d a large interval is left behind between the 



into this 



de, the muicles of the belly begin to act in the 



and the jlernum being 



forced over the verge of its groove, flips very fuddenly into its common lodge, which 



bring 



againft the plane, th 



the firm ne fs of the p 



middle part of the body, with fo great a force, and fo fudden a jerk 



lly rebound 



f-> 



hich is the infect is placed 



d that in a degree proportion 



This infect, befides the particularity of its fp 



ties the ifland a 



fford 



of the greateft curiofi 



of life ; moft of its 



for it really is a perfect pbofphorus for a confiderable part 



ed 



th 



gland 



parts being at times lum 



d the head furnifh 



0, 



ced juft behind the eyes in the comm 



— •* — o ~r — * i j ~j — -* ***- vu *"" iu 



fcuta of the head and (boulders, from whence it emits ftreams of light for a confi 



erable part 

 ifect while 



of the night. 



But tho' the luminous rays flow 



lly from the 



ft 



f 



and then thefe fp 



ke, it feems to have the power of interrupting them at 



quite opake. I have already mentioned 



moft 



parts of this infect emit 



P 



it from 



ppeari 



ght 



ro any 



oth 



g 





purpofe: yet on forcing the 

 little afunder, you may obfer 

 difcriminately. 



A perfon may, with 



thefe infects, if held between the fing 

 with the luminous fpots immediately 



that 

 fame 



1 



g 



but the thicknefs of the cover 



! but thofe conftituted for that 



the different parts of the body, a 



to ifTue from 



the entrails in 



fe, read the fmalleft pri 



ght of one of 



nd moved gradually along the lines, 



the 



but 



being 



eight or ten of them 



put into a clear vial, w 

 clearly by. 



They are feldom (een in the day 



give 



ght enough to read or write very 



but wake with the 



b 



and 



both to move and glow for a confiderable part of the night. They fly very difor 

 d 



1, and their frequent obfcure intervals renders their flight ftill more 



they move naturally towards each other, for nature feems to have 



given them thefe marks, to diftinguifh one another, as the only means whereby they 



ly m g 

 fufed ; 



but 



• * 





enabled to propagate their kind ; and from hence the negroes have 



2 



of 









