THE BEETLE-KIND, 405 



any symptoms of life. After remaining three years, 

 with but little alteration, it becomes a large white 

 maggot, nearly as big as a walnut in size, which, after 

 some months, is transformed into a chrysalis, and then 

 becomes one of the* insect tribe. 



If we examine the formation of all animals of the 

 beetle kind, we shall find, as in shell-fish, that their 

 bones are placed externally, and that their muscles are 

 within ; that their necks appear «to be covered over 

 with a plate ; and that their fore-legs are short, and 

 perfectly adapted to burrowing in the ground. The 

 elephant-beetle is allowed to be the largest of all this 

 numerous race, and measures near four inches in 

 length ; it is an inhabitant of South America, is of a 

 jet black colour, and is covered with a shell nearly as 

 hard as that of a lob&ter or crab : the feelers are like- 

 wise of a horny substance ; and the proboscis ter- 

 minates in two crooked points. 



To this class we may also add the glow-worm, a little 

 animal which is known to emit a brilliant light : the 

 male of this species is endowed with wings, and resem- 

 bles the beetle in its perfect state ; the female is inca- 

 pable of making any aerial excursions, yet is consider- 

 ed of much more importance by the curious observer, 

 from the irradiate stream that issues from its frame. — 

 The manner in which this light is produced has never 

 yet been satisfactorily explained ; it is probable that 

 the little animal is supplied with some electrical 

 fluid, so that by rubbing the joints of its body against 

 each other, it naturally produces a stream of light. 



The cantharides may likewise be ranked amongst 

 the beetle-kind, generally known by the name of Spa- 

 nish flies, though they are natives of Italy and Portu- 

 gal as well as Spain. They differ from each other in 



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