320 INSECTS. 



The antennay or feelers, are horny, almofl an inch long, pointed ; the pro- 

 bofcisis moveable at its infercion into the head, and fcems to fupply the 

 place of feelers. The probofcis an inch and quarter long, turns upwards, 

 terminating in two horns, each near a quarter of an inch long; but not 

 perforated at the end like the probolcis of other infeds. About half an inch 

 above the head, next the body, is a prominence, or fmall horn, which, if 

 the reft of the trunk were away, would caufe this part to refemble the horn 

 of a rhinoceros. [There is a beetle fo called, but then the horn or trunk 

 has no fork at the end, though the lower horn refembles this.] The feet 

 are all forked at the end, but not like lobfters claws. It is impoffible to de- 

 fcribe the brilliancy of many foreign beetles ; they feem compofed of all 

 kinds of gems and precious ftones, each vying with the others for fplen- 

 dour : their beauty is not to be diftindly underflood without magnifying- 

 glafles, under which the Brazil Beetle is a moft delightful object; 

 every part of him being (tudded with furprifmg elegance j is rare, and 

 often fold for two guineas. 



To this clafs we may refer the Glow- Worm. No two infefts can 

 differ more than the male and female. The male is a beetle, having 

 cafes to its wings, and flying at pleafure j the female is entirely a creep- 

 ing infe6t, and waits the approaches of her companion. The body of 

 the female has eleven joints, a fhield breaft -plate, oval; the head over 

 this very fmall ; the three laft joints of her body yellowilh : but what dif- 

 tinguillies her, in this part of the world, is the fhining light {he emits 

 by night, and which is fuppofed to be an emanation of allurement to her 

 companion. In fandy countries the ditches are ftudded on each fide of 

 the road by her fhining fparks. If kept for fome time its light grows 

 paler, and at laft expires. It is probable this light is eleflrical. 



In tropical climates this peculiarity is very greatly exceeded : the hVht 

 from fire flies, lanthorn flies (whofe light is in their head), and many 

 others, is furprifing ; it is probably for the fame purpofe, and produced 

 on the fame principle^ greatly exalted. 



The Cantharis, or Spanijh Fly, is of the beetle kind, has feelers like 

 briftles, flexible cafes to the wing^, a breaft pretty plain, and the fides of 

 the belly wrinkled ; they differ in fize, fliape, and colour; the largeft are 

 an inch long, and as much in circumference ; fome are pure azure, others 

 pure gold, otliers a mixture of pure gold and azure; all are very brilliant 

 and beautiful. Tiiey arc chiefly natives of Spain, Italy, and Portugal. 

 They are fondof alh-leaves, and will fometimes ftrip a tree bare. Some 

 affirm, that they delii^ht in fweet-fi;xliing herbs; they are fond of honey- 

 liiCkles, lilac, aiiu vvjkl- cherry flirubs. The country people cxped their 



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