822 



A HISTORY OF 



other. The male is in every respect a beetle, 

 having cases to its wings, and rising in the 

 air at pleasure ; the female, on the contrary, 

 has none, hut is entirely a creeping insect, 

 and is obliged to wait the approaches of her 

 capricious companion. The body of the fe- 

 male has eleven joints, with a shield breast- 

 plate, the shape of which is oval ; the head 

 is placed over this, and is very small, and the 

 three last joints of her body are of a yellow- 

 ish colour; but what distinguishes it from all 

 other animals, at least in this part of the 

 world, is the shining light which it emits by 

 night, and which is supposed by some philo- 

 sophers to be an emanation which she sends 

 forth to allure the mule to her company. 

 Most travellers who have gone through sandy 

 countries, must well remember the little 

 shining sparks with which the ditches are 

 studded on each side of the road. If incited 

 b^ curiosity to approach more nearly, he 

 will fiiid this light sent forth by the glow- 

 worm ; if he should keep the little animal for 

 some time, its light continues to grow paler, 

 and at last appears totally extinct. The 

 manner in which this light is produced has 

 hitherto continued inexplicable; it is proba- 

 ble the little animal is supplied with some 

 electrical powers, so that by rubbing (he 

 joints of its body against each other, it thus 

 supplies a stream of light, which if it allures 

 the male, as we are told, serves for very use- 

 ful purposes. 



The Cantharis is of the beette kind, from 

 whence come cantharides, well known in the 

 shops by the name of Spanish flies, and for 

 their use in blisters. They have feelers like 

 bristles, flexible cases to the wings, a breast 

 pretty plain, and the sides of the belly 

 wrinkled. Cantharides differ from each 

 other in their size, shape, and colour: those 

 used in the shops also do the same. The 

 largest in these parts are about an inch long, 

 and as much in circumference, but others are 

 not above three quarters of an inch. Some 

 are of a pure azure colour, others of pure 

 gold, and others again have a mixture of pure 

 gold and azure colours; but they are all very 

 brilliant, and extremely beautiful. These 

 insects, as is well known, are of the greatest 

 benefit to mankind, making a part in many 

 medicines conducive to human preservation. 



They are chiefly natives of Spain, Italy, and 

 Portugal; but they are to be met wiiii id>o 

 about Paris in the summer time, upon the 

 leaves of the ash. the poplar, and the rose- 

 trees, and also among wheat, and in meadows. 

 It is very certain, that these insects are tend 

 of ash-leaves, insomuch that thej will some- 

 times strip one of these trees quite bare. 

 Some ailirm that these flies delight in eweet- 

 smelling herbs; and it is very certain, that 

 they are fond of honeysuckles, lilac, and uild- 

 cherry shrubs; but some that have sought 

 after them declare they never could find them 

 on elder-trees, nut-trees, and among wheat. 

 We are told, that the country people expect 

 the return of these insects every seven } ears. 

 It is very certain, that such a number oi these 

 insects have been seen together in the air r 

 that they appeared like swarms of bees ; and 

 that they have so disagreeable a smell, that 

 it may be perceived a great way off! especial- 

 ly about sun-set, though they are not seen at 

 that time. This bad smell is a guide for 

 those who make it their business to catch 

 them. When they are caught they dry them, 

 after which they are so light, that fifly will 

 hardly weigh a dram. Those that gather 

 them tie them in a bag, or a piece of linen 

 cloth, that has been well worn, and then they 

 kill them with the vapours of hot vinegar, 

 after which they dry them in the sun, and 

 keep them in boxes. These flies, thus dried, 

 being chymically analyzed, yield a great deal 

 of volatile caustic salt, mixed with a little oil, 

 phlegm, and earth. Cantharides are pene- 

 trating, corrosive, and, applied to the skin, 

 raise blisters, from whence proceeds a great 

 deal of serocity. They are made use of 

 both inwardly and outwardly. However, it 

 is somewhat strange that the effects of these 

 flies should fall principally upon the urinary 

 passages ; for though some authors h;ive en- 

 deavoured to account for this, we are still in 

 the dark, for all they have said amounts to 

 no more than that they affect these parts in a 

 manner which may be very learnedly describ- 

 ed, but very obscurely comprehended. 



An insect of great, though perhaps not 

 equal use in medicine, is that which is known 

 by the name of the Kermes; it is produced 

 in the excrescence of an ojik, called the 

 berry-bearing ilex, and appears at first wrapt 



