ON ENTOMOLOGY. 5 



hinder part of the thorax. This luminosity is so considerable, that it 

 is often employed in the countries where it prevails, as a substitute for 

 artificial lights. A single insect is sufficient to enable a person to de- 

 cipher the smallest written character, and when several are brought to- 

 gether, their light is said to suffice for all the ordinary evening occupa- 

 tions of an Indian's dwelling. They are employed for many useful 

 purposes, the Indians are said to have formerly used them instead of 

 flambeaux in their hunting and fishing expeditions, and when travelling 

 in the night they were accustomed to fasten them to their feet and 

 hands. Another important service is rendered by these insects in 

 destroying the gnats and musquitoes, which abound in tropical countries 

 to the incessant annoyance of the inhabitants, like most other animals 

 of nocturnal habits, the Jire-Jiies are attracted by strong light, and the 

 Indians obtain them for the purposes above mentioned. At Havannah 

 they are collected and sold for ornamenting the ladies head-dresses at 

 evening parties, when they are generally confined under gauze, which 

 covers the head, and from among the ringlets of hair these terrestrial 

 stars shine forth with all their beauty. 



The TUMBLE DUNG BEETLES are so exceedingly strong and active, as 

 to move about with the greatest ease things that are many times their 

 own weight. Dr. Birchell was supping one evening in a planter's 

 house, at North Carolina, when one was conveyed, without his know- 

 ledge, under the candlestick ; a few blows were struck on the table 

 and, to his great surprize, the candlestick began to move about, apparently 

 without any agency ; and his surprize was not much lessened when, on 

 taking one of them up, he discovered that it was only a chafer that 

 moved. An insect of the size of a May Bug, says another writer, 

 evidently in relation to one of these beetles, is of the greatest utility in 

 hot climates, it is the scavenger and dustman of the whole country ; it 

 labours with indefatigable industry to collect all the filth that might 

 infest the air, and makes small balls of it, which it hides very deep in 

 holes which it has dug in the earth ; it breeds in sufficient numbers to 

 keep the town and villages clean. 



The LARVA of ELATER OBSCURUS, more commonly known by the name 

 of the Wire-worm : it is of a very slender form, but so tough and horny 

 that it can resist a considerable degree of pressure without injury. It 

 is said to continue five years in the larva state, and during that time it 

 lives in the earth, devouring the roots of various kinds of corn and 

 vegetables. The damage it occasions in this way is so considerable, 

 that whole fields of grain are destroyed ; it is known to the farmers 

 under the name of the Fly, which does so much injury to the young 

 turnips. 



The OIL BEETLE, (Meloe Proscarabeus) is entirely blue black or dark 

 violet, it is found in the advanced state of spring in fields and pastures, 

 creeping slowly ; the body appearing so distended with eggs, as to 

 cause the insect to move with difficulty. On being roughly touched 



