64 CANTHARIDiE — BLISTER-FLIES. 



animals in common oil, which some use instead of oil of 

 Scorpions."^ In some parts of Spain, they are mingled 

 with the Cantharides, for the same purposes as these latter 

 insects. Farriers also employed, in some cases, oil in which 

 these insects had been macerated.^ 



Pliny tells us that Cato of Utica was one time reproached 

 for selling poison, because when disposing of a royal prop- 

 erty by auction, he sold a quantity of Cantharides, at the 

 price of sixty thousand sesterces.^ 



The natives of Guiana and Jamaica make ear-rings and 

 other ornaments of the elytra, or wing-coverings, of the 

 Cantharis maxima; the brilliant metallic colors of which 

 beetles, says Sloane, sparkle with an extraordinary lustre, 

 when worn by the Indians dancing in the sun.* 



Zoroaster says, that " Cantharides" will not hurt the 

 vines, if you macerate some in oil, and apply it to the whet- 

 stone on which you are going to set your pruning-knives.^ 



Cantharides are comparatively rare in Germany ; yet we 

 are told in the German Ephemerides, says Brookes, that in 

 June, 1667, there were found about the town of Heldeshiem, 

 such a great number of them, that they covered all the wil- 

 low-trees. Likewise that in May, 1685, when the sky was 

 serene and the weather mild, a great number of Cantharides 

 were seen to settle upon a privet-tree, and devour all the 

 leaves ; but they did not meddle with the flowers. We are 

 also told that the country people expect the return of these 

 insects every seven years. It is very certain, adds Brookes, 

 that such a number of these insects have been together in the 

 air, that they appeared like swarms of bees ; and that they 

 have so disagreeable smell, that it may be perceived a great 

 way off, especially about sunset, though they are not seen 

 at that time. This bad smell is a guide for those who make 

 it their business to catch them.^ 



1 Med. Diet. 



2 Cuvier, An. King.—Tns., i. 569. 



3 Pliny, Nat. Hist., xxix. 30. 



* Sloane, Hist, of Jamaica, ii. 206. 



* Owen's Geoponika, ii. 156. 

 6 Nat. Hist, of Ins., p. 49. 



