162 The Natural Historg 



Insects under two dilierent Candle-sticks ; amongst other Dis- 

 courses, he told me, he would made the Candle-sticks move 

 about the Table by a certain Spell, as he pretended : He had 

 all this time kept the Candle-sticks in his Hands on the Table. 

 I was very desirous to see this performance ; he immediately 

 takes his Hands from the Candle-sticks, and struck three 

 times under the Table, and seemed to mutter some few Words 

 (as Juglers are known to do) which he had no sooner ended, 

 but the Candlesticks began to move backwards and forwards, 

 to my great surprize, for I could imagine nothing else but that 

 it had been some secret Charm he had got from the Indians, 

 who are great Conjurers. After the Company had sufficiently 

 diverted themselves at my surprize, and hoAv desirous I was 

 to have this Charm communicated to me, one of the Company 

 takes up the Candlesticks and discovers these Insects, which 

 are of the same Shape, but something larger than the common 

 Beetles, that are to be met with in Ireland, which feed on the 

 Cow-dung, and make Holes in the Ground. There are several 

 other different Species of Beetles here, but none so remarkable 

 as these, or so beautiful, with a variety of Colours, such as 

 Red, Green, Black, Yellow, (&c. (except the Horned-Beetle, 

 Bull-Fly, or Flying-stag.) These Beetles seem to be infected 

 with little small Insects of a light brownish Colour, which are 

 commonly called the Lice of the Beetles. Their Powder is 

 used against the falling out of the Fundament, to expel Urine, 

 and cure the bite of a Mad-dog. The Juice cures Wounds, 

 and in Plasters Buboes and pestilential Carbuncles. 



The Muskeetoes (in the Indian Language called Toquani) 

 whereof there are two sorts. The first is small, hut jiernicioiia 

 and troublesome, of a dark colour, and are so mischievous, 

 and plentiful in some places on this Continent (and espe- 



ciallv 



