BETULINE.E. 



:377 



the elongated collar, and the elbowed and thirteen- 

 jointed antenna; in both sexes. The insects are of small 

 size and of black colours ; the type is the Ccraphron 

 formicarius of Panzer. They are extremely active, and 

 are armed with powerful jaws. The proceedings of 

 one of these insects has been related by Mr. Holiday, 

 in a late number of the " Entomological Magazine," in 

 a very interesting manner. This gentleman observed 

 a female bethyllus occupied with a full-grown 

 larva in a small pit of loose sand, formed at the 

 foot of the cliffs on the sea-coast. This larva was 

 at least six times the weight of the bethyllus. The 

 latter employed the greatest perseverance in drag- 

 ging the larva up the sides of the pit, avoiding or 

 overcoming all the dangers occasioned to its passage 

 by the stems of grass, &c., with the most surprising 

 skill. " When it had ascended two feet, it came upon 

 a fragment of reed, partly embedded in the sand, the 

 stem of which was broken off and open below, a 

 few dry elastic shreds of the leaf only remaining. 

 Having reached the part where these grew, it, by 

 a strong pull, drew its burden about half through, 

 till its body was grasped between two of these 

 as in a vice, then letting go, it began to explore 

 the bank on each side to some distance, tapping 

 with its antennae the conspicuous object ; in a few- 

 minutes, seeming to be satisfied, if hastily descended 

 the reed, and entered its stem at the lower end : it 

 did not remain long in the interior, and on its 

 reappearance set off for the spot where it had left 

 the larva, which, after pulling it out of the hold-fast, 

 it seized by the mouth as usual, and began to descend 

 the reed again ; it did not complete the journey this 

 time, but taking advantage of the same kind of 

 security to detain its prey, it repeated the reconnais- 

 sance, then returning, dragged it to the opening, and 

 leaving it there, plunged in itself, but immediately 

 reappearing, drew in the larva head foremost, speedily 

 disappearing in the interior, so that I could not 

 observe its subsequent proceedings, and being obliged 

 to turn homewards, I left them undisturbed. I think, 

 however, it will seem probable that the bore of the 

 reed was employed instead of an artificial funnel for 

 the cells which should contain the progeny of the 

 bethyllus, with its store of provisions. If these 

 insects select only full-grown caterpillars, I can 

 scarcely imagine one of the smaller individuals ma- 

 naging these unwieldy bodies'' 



BETULINE^E. 'The Birch and Alder Tribe. 

 A natural suborder of dicotyledonous vegetables, 

 containing five genera and about fifty species. By 

 some authors it is included along with the willow 

 and oak tribe, under the Ameritaceae. It is allied 

 to the Cupuliferae. Its essential characters are : 

 flowers monoecious, growing in arnents or catkins ; 

 stamens distinct, rarely united together; anthers two- 

 celled ; ovary superior, two-celled ; style single, or 

 wanting ; two stigmas ; fruit membranaceous, inde- 

 hiscent ; seeds pendulous, naked. 



The plants of this order are trees or shrubs which 

 shed their leaves every season, and which are found 

 abundantly in the temperate and colder regions of 

 the globe. Several species are found in the woods 

 of Europe, North America, and the northern parts of 

 Asia, and some are said to grow on the mountains of 

 Peru and Colombia. The order contains many trees 

 which are used in ornamenting landscapes, and which 

 furnish valuable timber. They are propagated by 

 layers and seeds. 



The Betulineae, like the willows, contain much 

 tannin, and possess astringent and tonic properties. 



Bctula alba. 



The principal genus is Betula or birch, whence 

 the name of the order is derived. This genus 

 contains numerous species which are highly inter- 

 esting, and have been applied to important uses. 

 Betula alba, common European or white birch, is an 

 elegant tree familiar to every one. It is found in 

 woods and in moist heathy mountainous situations 

 in Britain. It grows in almost any kind of soil, moist, 

 dry, gravelly or chalky, and it is frequently seen 

 issuing from the crevices of rocks. It endures the 

 cold of northern regions well, and is found even at 

 the seventieth degree of north latitude. It thrives 

 well in Lapland, Norway, Sweden, and the northern 

 parts of Russia. It is seldom met with farther south 

 than the forty-fifth degree of latitude, unless upon 

 lofty mountains. On the Alps it grows at an eleva- 

 tion considerably above that at which other trees 

 thrive, but in such elevated situations it becomes very 

 diminutive in size. In general it reaches a height of 

 fifty or sixty feet, with a diameter of a foot and a half 

 or two feet. It blooms early in spring, and sends 

 forth pendulous catkins of flowers. The wood of the 

 birch is hard, tough and white, and is used by wheel- 

 wrights, turners, and carpenters, in the manufacture of 

 various useful and ornamental articles. In some 

 countries wooden shoes are made from it. The bark 

 is thick, and is covered with a white scaly cuticle. 

 It is astringent and bitter, and has been used in the 

 cure of intermittent fever. On account of the resinous 

 matter which it contains, it serves for torches to the 

 inhabitants of the Alps. A decoction of the bark is 

 used by the Laplanders in the preparation of rein- 

 deer skins. An empyreumatic oil also is obtained 

 from it, which the Russians employ in tanning, and 

 it is from this oil that Russia leather derives its pecu- 

 liar odour. The inner part of the bark in its young 

 state contains a quantity of fecula or starch, and from 

 it the inhabitants of the northern regions make a sort 

 of cake, which, along with smoked salt-fish, constitutes 

 their food during the winter. The leaves of the birch 

 are bitter, and have been used as a substitute for tea. 

 They dye wool of a yellow colour. A decoction of 

 them is said to possess vermifuge and diuretic quali- 

 ties, and has been praised in calculous complaints 

 and scurvy. A spirituous infusion of them is em- 

 ployed by the Russians and Swedes as an embrocation 

 in rheumatism. By tapping the birch in spring, a 

 sweetish sap is procured in great abundance, which 



