96 



tt nf 



both on the fruit and flowers. They fre- 

 quently also alight on the ground an< 

 search for seeds on the parched volcanic soil 



CADDICE-WORM, or CAD-BAIT. [See 

 PHKYGANEA.] 



CECILIA. The name of a genus of Ser- 

 pents, about a foot in length, and having 

 much the appearance of an eel. They are 

 natives of South America, and are said to be 

 innoxious. 



CAIMAN. [See ALLIGATOR.] 



CALANDRA : CALANDRID^. A 



genus and family of Coleopterous insects 

 closely allied to the Curculionidae ; some ol 

 the minute species of which commit great 

 havoc in granaries, both in their larva and 

 perfect state. The species are very numerous, 

 1 and among them is the well-known Corn- 

 weevil (Calandra granaria.) This insect 

 bores a hole into the grain with its proboscis, 

 I and there deposits an egg, which turns to a 

 i little grub, and devours the whole of the 

 inside of the grain, leaving the husk entire. 

 Another species of Calandra, distinguished 

 by its having 'four red spots on its elytra, 

 attacks rice in the same way as the one 

 above mentioned does wheat. 



These insects must not be confounded with 

 the still more destructive larvae of the Corn- 

 moth (Tinea graneUa), which also attack 

 stored grain, nor with the orange-coloured 

 maggots of the Wheat-fly (Cecidomyia tri- 

 tici), which are found in the ears of growing 

 wheat. Although the grain-weevils are not 

 actually injurious to vegetation, yet as the 

 name properly belonging to them has often 

 been misapplied, some remarks upon them 

 here may not be inappropriate. 



The true Grain- weevil or Wheat- weevil of 

 Europe (Calandra granaria), in its perfect 

 state, is a slender beetle of a pitchy red colour, 

 about one-eighth of an inch long, with a 

 slender snout slightly bent downwards, a 

 coarsely punctured and very long thorax, 

 constituting almost one-half the length of 

 the whole body, and wing-covers that are 

 furrowed, and do not entirely cover the tip 

 of the abdomen. This little insect, both in 

 the beetle and grub state, devours stored 

 wheat and other grain, and often commits 

 much havoc in granaries and brewhouses. 

 Its powers of multiplication are very great, 

 for it is stated that a single pair of these de- 

 stroyers may produce above six thousand 

 descendants in one year. The female depo- 

 sits her eggs upon the wheat after it is housed, 

 and the young grubs hatched therefrom im- 

 mediately burrow into the wheat, each indi- 

 vidual occupying alone a single grain, the 

 substance of which it devours, so as often to 

 leave nothing but the hull ; and this destruc- 

 tion goes on within, while no external ap- 

 pearance leads to its discovery, and the 

 loss of weight is the only evidence of mischief 

 that has been done to the grain. In due 

 time the grubs undergo their transformations, 

 and come out of the hulls in the beetle state, 

 to lay their eggs for another brood. These 

 insects are effectually destroyed by kiln- 

 drying the wheat ; and grain that is kept 



I cool, well ventilated, and frequently moved 

 is said to be exempt from attack. 



CALAPPA, or BOX CRAB. A genus of 

 Crustacea, belonging to the family Calop- 

 pidce. They arc named by the French coqs 

 de mer, from their crested chelre, which are 

 large, equal, compressed; with their upper 

 edge, which is notched or crested, very 

 much elevated, and fitting exactly to the 

 external border of the shell or carapace, 

 so as to completely cover the mouth and 

 anterior parts : the rest of the feet short 

 and simple ; carapace short and convex, 

 forming, behind, a vaulted shield, under 

 which the posterior legs are hidden when 

 the animal is in a state of repose : eyes 

 mounted on short pedicles, and not far apart. 

 There are several species widely diffused : 

 some inhabit the seas of the Indian Archi- 

 pelago, and of New Holland ; others are met 



1th in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the 

 seas of South America, &c. ; others, again, 

 inhabit the Mediterranean sea. They fre- 

 quent the fissures of rocks, some of them at 

 great depth. The females deposit their 

 eggs in summer. 



CALATHUS. A genus of Coleopterous 

 insects, belonging to the Caraltidoe. Several 

 species are found in the British islands, most 

 frequently under stones and house rubbish. 



CALLICHTHYS. A genus of abdominal 

 Malacopterygious fishes, family Silvridve. 

 The body and head are protected by large, 

 hard, scaly plates ; the mouth is furnished 

 with four long cirri ; the teeth are very 

 small ; the eyes are also small, and situated 

 on the side of the head. They are natives of 

 South America and other hot climates, 

 where the rivers frequently dry up ; and 

 they can not only live for a considerable 

 time out of water, but they are said to perform 

 long journeys over land, directing their 

 course to some other stream. 



CALLIDIUM. A genus of Coleopterous 

 sects, belonging to the family Longicorms; 

 one species of which (Callidium bajiil/'*) 

 in the larva state is particularly destruc- 

 tive to fir timber. This is a flattish rusty 

 black beetle, with some downy whitish 

 spots across the middle of the wing-covers ; 

 she thorax is nearly circular, is covered with 

 fine whitish down, and has two elevated 

 polished black points upon it ; and the wing 

 covers are very coarsely punctured. It in- 

 habits fir and spruce timber, and may often 



