300 MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



This insect, which is now so much used in medicine, was first 

 imported from Spain (whence, indeed, our chief supply is obtained), 

 and from which circumstance it has obtained the name of the Spanish 

 Fly. They have also been found in abundance in the south of France ; 

 and even in certain seasons, in the middle of Germany, more than 

 one hundred pounds weight having been collected in 1783 near 

 Halle {Hoppe, Enum. Ins. Erlang. p. 36.). In the summer of 1837 

 they were found in profusion in Essex and Suffolk*, (see Ent. Mag. 

 No. 22. p. 208.) In the heat of the day they descend from the trees, and 

 are easily perceived and captured by their powerful scent. They remain 

 in the perfect state but a fewdays, whence it was supposed that they mi- 

 grated to other countries ; but the sluggish habits of the insect are com- 

 pletely at variance with such an idea. Various plans are adopted in 

 capturing, killing, and drying these insects for use, it being necessary 

 to employ considerable precaution ; the odorous particles which they 

 emit being highly corrosive, and violent affections having resulted 

 from incautiously handling them. See Loudon's Gard. Mag., 3. 

 p. 92. ; and Griffith's Anim. Kmgd., 31. p. 4'8. 



The anterior tibiae of the males are terminated by a single strong 

 spur ; the basal joint of the tarsi of the forelegs being strongly notched, 

 and serving, in conjunction with the moveable spur, as a claw to retain 

 hold of the antennas of the females during copulation. Ample details 

 of the habits and structure of this insect are given by Linngeus in his 

 Dissertatio Academica., resj). LencEo. 1762; and by Audouin in the 

 Annales des Sciences Nat. vol. ix. p. 31. My figure 34. li. represents 

 the labrum ; 34. 12. one of the mandibles; 34.13. one of the maxillae; 

 34. 14. the labium ; 34. 15. the extremity of the tibiae, and tarsus of the 

 foreleg of the male ; and mjig. 31'. IG. the base of the anterior tarsus 

 of the female. Its medicinal properties are detailed in various medi- 

 cal works, and especially in M. Leclerc's Essai siir les Epispastiques 

 (Paris, 1S35, 4to.) ; Dr. Beck's Elements of Medical Jurisprudence 

 (edited by Dunlop) ; in Orfila On Poisons, vol. ii. ; in the Memoirs 

 of Drs. Schott and Dana, in the Eclectic Repository, vol. ii. ; and of Drs. 

 Woodhouseand Chapman, in the New York Medical Repository's o\?,. ii. 

 and iii. ; whence it appears that the peculiar principle of the insect is 

 termed Cantharidin, and which, according to the analysis of Robiquet, 

 is a white substance in small crystalline plates, insoluble in water, but 



* Likewise near Southampton, by Dr. Hairby of Hundleby, who has kindly 

 favoured me with some particulars concerning the insect, which I have communicated 

 to the Entomological Society. 



