4 ON ENTOMOLOGY. 



object that happens to be in the way, and falls to the ground ; it varies; 

 greatly in size and colour. 



A very curious little insect is the DEATH WATCH (Anobium Tessela 

 turn) ; which makes a ticking noise, like the beating of a watch. And 

 it is believed by many people that, when the noise is heard, it is a 

 sign of the death of some of their relations or friends. There are two 

 species, one of a dark brown colour, having pellucid wings, a cap on 

 the head, and two antennae proceeding from beneath the eyes. The 

 second kind is a small greyish insect, which is very nimble and shy ; 

 the noise which it makes is a signal between the male and female. 



THE BLISTER BEETLE or SPANISH FLY (Meloe Vesecatorius), is 

 entirely of a golden green. In Spain, where they are in abundance, 

 they are usually collected for commercial purposes in the month of 

 June ; they are shaken from the branches of the shrubs which they 

 frequent, and received in sheets spread on the ground, and are killed by 

 being held in hair sieves over the fumes of vinegar, and afterwards 

 dried ; either by exposure to the sun, or by being placed on hurdles 

 covered with cloth or paper in a well ventilated apartment. The blister- 

 ing property has been ascertained to reside in a peculiar principle, on 

 which chemists have bestowed the name of Cantharadine. 



The HYDROUS PICEUS or GREAT WATER BEETLE ; this is the 

 largest aquatic Beetle inhabiting Britain. It is common in the south- 

 ern parts of England, but becomes rare in the north ; and has not been 

 observed in any part of Scotland. In its perfect state it is by no means 

 so rapacious as the Dytisci, sometimes even feeding on vegetable sub- 

 stances j but the larva is of such destructive and blood-thirsty propensi- 

 ties, that it is known in France by the name of ver-assassin. In that 

 early condition it resembles a large soft worm, of a somewhat conical 

 form, provided with six feet, and having its large scaly head armed with 

 two formidable jaws. The head moves with such freedom in all direc- 

 tions, that it can readily seize small shell fish and molluscae floating 

 on the surface, without altering the horizontal position of the body 

 maintained in swimming, and it is even bent backwards to devour its 

 prey more conveniently, by using the back as a kind of support. The 

 female Beetle spins a silken bag, (similar to that which may at any 

 time be seen, attached to a dark coloured Spider, (Lycosa Saccata) of 

 common occurrence under stones, and interesting for the maternal 

 solicitude she shows in protecting her embryo progeny. In this recep- 

 tacle they are left to swim about till they are hatched. 



ELATER NOCTILUCUS (The Fire Fly). This insect is pretty widely dis- 

 tributed over the intertropical countries of South America, and the 

 West Indian Islands. When it walks, or is at rest, the principal light 

 which it emits issues from the two yellow tubercles placed at the 

 lateral margins of the thorax ; but when the wings and elytra are ex- 

 panded in the act of flight, another luminous spot is disclosed in the 



