386 HisroiiY OF 



three last joints of her body are of a yellowish 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 philosophers to be an emanation 



The month of July is the time during- whirh they are principally seen. The 

 males in particular have great strength in their mandibles or jaws. With 

 these they are able to pinch very severely. It is a sing^ular circumstance, 

 with regard to these insects, that tiiere have been fouud several of their 

 lieads near together, and all perfectly aliye, wliile the trunks and abdomens 

 were no where to be seen ; sometimes only the abdomens have been found 

 gone, while the heads and trunks have been left together. How this oc- 

 curred has not yet been properly discovered ; but it has been supposed, 

 that it must have been in consequence of the severe battles which at times 

 take place among these, the fiercest of the insect tribes : but their mouths 

 not being formed for animal food, we are at a loss to guess what becomes of 

 their abdomens. They do not fly till most of the birds have retired to rest ; 

 and indeed if we were to suppose that any of these devoured them, it would 

 be difficult to say why the head or trunks alone should be rejected. The fe- 

 males deposit their eggs in decayed or worm-eaten trees. The larv*. which 

 are round and whitish, with rust-coloured head and legs, are nourished 

 upon the bark. In this state they pa.-s six years. When about to undergo 

 their change into a chrysalis, each insect forms a hard and solid ball of the 

 form of an egg, and sometimes as large as the hand. When the perfect in 

 sect issues forth, it is at tirst quite soft; its parts, however, soon harden, 

 and in a little while it is able to fly away. 



The Water-beetle Tribe. —The bodies of these insects are admirably 

 formed for passing through the water with as little impediment as possible, 

 being nearly boat-shaped, and on the surface perfectly smooth. They in- 

 habit ponds and ditches, but occasionally fly abroad, in search of other wa- 

 ters. The males are distinguished from the females by having a horny con- 

 cave flap or shield on the fore-legs. The hind-legs in both sexes are pecu. 

 liarly adapted for the aquatic residence of the insects, being furni.shed on 

 the inner sides with a series of long and close-set filaments, so as somewhat 

 to resemble fins. In the large species the elytra or wing-cases of the males 

 are smooth, and those of the females furrowed. The larva; are extremely 

 voracious, feeding on other aquatic insects, on worms, and even on fish. 

 They continue in this state about two years and a half ; .and when about to 

 change into the pupa state, they form a convenient cell, aind secrete them. 

 selves for the purpose in the banks, or amongst the weeds. 



The Marginated JVater-bcctle.— The body is black. The edges of the tho- 

 rax and other margins of the wing-cases are yellow. Although water is 

 the principal element in which these insects reside, they are, like the rest of 

 their tribe, perfectly ampliibious. They may occasionally be found in all 

 fresh waters, but are most frequently seen either in such as are stagnant, or 

 where the stream is extremely slow. They are predatory and very vera, 

 cious, devouring, in great numbers, not only other water insects, but olteii. 

 titnes also those of the land. They seize their prey in their fore-legs, .and 

 with these carry it to their mouths. Although they are able to contiuuo 

 immersed for a great length of time, yet it is necessary for them to riee ot- 



