226 MEANS OF DEFENCE OF INSECTS. 



cus) ; since the light emitted by these animals may de- 

 fend them from the attack of some enemies. Mr. Shep- 

 pard once noticed a Carabus running round the last- 

 mentioned insect, when shining, as if wishing but afraid 

 to attack it. 



Various insects, doubtless, find the wonderful vitality* 

 with which they are endowed another mean of defence ; 

 at least of obviating the effects of an attack. So that, 

 when to all appearance they are mortally wounded, they 

 recover, and fulfil the end of their creation. Indeed fe- 

 male Lepidoptera, especially of the larger kinds, will 

 scarcely die, do what you will, till they have laid their 

 eggs. Dr. Arnold, a most acute observer, relates to 

 Mr. MacLeay, that having pinned Scolia quadrimacu- 

 lata, a hymenopterous insect, down in the same box 

 with many others, amongst which was the humming-bird 

 hawk-moth (Macroglossa stellatarum\ its proper food; it 

 freed itself from the pin that transfixed it, and, neglect- 

 ing all the other insects in the box, attacked the Sphinx, 

 and pulling it to pieces devoured a large portion of its 

 abdomen. 



We often wonder how the cheese -mite (Acarus Siro) 

 is at hand to attack a cheese wherever deposited ; but 

 when we learn from Leeuwenhoek, that one lived eleven 

 weeks gummed on its back to the point of a needle 

 without food, our wonder will be diminished 5 . An- 



* The penetrating genius of Lord Verulam discovered in a great 

 degree the cause of this vitality. " They stirre," says he, speaking 

 of insects, " a good while after their heads are off, or that they be 

 cut in pieces ; which is caused also for that their vital spirits are 

 more diffused thorowout all their parts, and lesse confined to organs 

 than in perfect creatures." Syk>. Sylvar. cent. vii. 697. 



b Leeuw. Epist. 77, 1694. 



