HISTORY OF INSECTS, &c. 



BOOK II. 



INSECTS OF THE SECOND ORDER. 



CHAP. I. 



OF THE SECOND ORDER OF INSECTS. 



IN the former part we gave a concise history 

 of the most considerable insects that, without 

 wings, were produced in a perfect state ; either 

 from the body of the parent alive, like quad- 

 rupeds, or from the egg, in the manner of 

 birds. We come now to a second order of in- 

 sects, that are produced from the egg, like the 

 former, but not in a perfect state ; for when 

 first excluded, they are without wings. This, 

 however, does not hinder the exercise of their 

 animal functions ; the insect, although not yet 

 come to perfection, walks, leaps, and eats ; 

 nor is it ever deprived of motion, only that it 

 rests a little when it is about to cast that part 

 of its skin previous to its state of perfection. 

 It is then seen to assume two wings, which, 

 like a budding flower, burst through the case 

 that contained them, and the animal becomes a 

 winged insect in its state of highest perfec- 

 tion. To this order we may refer the Libella, 

 01 Dragon-Fly ; the Formica Leo, or Lion- 

 Ant; the Grasshopper ; the Locust ; the Crick- 

 et , the Wood- Cricket ; the Mole- Cricket ; 

 the Flea-Locust ; the Flying-Bug ; the Ti- 

 pula ; the Water-scorpion ; the Notonect, or 

 Water- Fly ; and many others. 



CHAP. II. 



OF THE LIBELLA, OR DRAGON-FLY. 



OF all the flies which adorn or diversify 

 the face of nature, these are the most various 

 and the most beautiful : they are of all colours ; 

 green, blue, crimson, scarlet, white: some 



unite a variety of the most vivid tints, and ex- 

 hibit in one animal more different shades than 

 are to be found in the rainbow. They are called, 

 in different parts of the kingdom, by different 

 names; but none can be at a loss to know 

 them, as they are distinguished from all other 

 flies by the length of their bodies, by the large- 

 ness of their eyes, and the beautiful transpar- 

 ency of their wings, which are four in number. 

 They are seen in summer flying with great 

 rapidity near every hedge, and by every run- 

 ning brook ; they sometimes settle on the leaves 

 of plants, and sometimes keep for hours together 

 on the wing. 



Dragon-flies, though there are three or four 

 different kinds, yet agree in the most striking 

 parts of their history, and one account may 

 serve for all. The largest sort are generally 

 found from two to three inches long ; their tail 

 is forked; their body divided into eleven 

 rings ; their eyes are large, horny, and trans- 

 parent, divided by a number of intersections ; 

 and their wings, that always lie flat when 

 they are at rest, are of a beautiful glossy trans- 

 parency ; sometimes shining like silver and 

 sometimes glistening like gold. Within the 

 mouth are to be seen two teeth covered with 

 a beautiful lip : with these the creatures bite 

 fiercely when they are taken ; but their bite 

 is perfectly harmless, as I have experienced 

 more than once. 



These insects, beautiful as they are, are 

 produced from eggs, which are deposited in 

 the water, where they remain for some time 

 without seeming life or motion. They are 

 ejected by the female into the water in clus- 

 ters, like a bunch of grapes, where they sink 

 to the bottom by their natural weight, and 

 continue in that state till the young ones find 

 strength enough to break the shell, and to 

 separate from each other. The form in which 



