.MEANS OF DEFENCE OF INSECTS. 227 



other species of mite ( Uropoda vegetans) was observed 

 by De Geer to live some time in spirits of wine a . This 

 last circumstance reminds me of an event which befel 

 myself, that I cannot refrain from relating to you, since 

 it was the cause of my taking up the pursuit I am re- 

 commending to you. One morning I observed on my 

 study window a little lady-bird yellow with black dots 

 (Coccinella %%-punctata) " You are very pretty," said 

 I to myself, " and I should like to have a collection of 

 such creatures." Immediately I seized my prey, and 

 not knowing how to destroy it, I immersed it in geneva. 

 After leaving it in this situation a day and a night, and 

 seeing it without motion, I concluded it was dead, and 

 laid it in the sun to dry. It no sooner, however, felt the 

 warmth than it began to move, and afterward flew 

 away. From this time I began to attend to insects. 

 The chamaeleon-fly (Stratyomis Chamaleori) was observ- 

 ed by Swammerdam to retain its vital powers after an 

 immersion equally long in spirits of wine. Gredart af- 

 firms that this fly, on which account it was called cha- 

 maeleon, will live nine months without food ; a circum- 

 stance, if true, more wonderful than what I formerly re- 

 lated to you with respect to one of the aphidivorous 

 flies b . If insects will escape unhurt from a bath of al- 

 cohol, it may be supposed that one of water will be less 

 to be dreaded by them. To this they are often exposed 

 in rainy weather, when ruts and hollows are filled with 

 water : but when the water is dried up, it is seldom that 

 any dead carcases of insects are to be seen in them. 

 Mr. Curtis submerged the fragile aphides for sixteen 



a De Geer, vii. 127. 



b Bib. Nat. ii. c. 3. VOL. I. p. 399. 



