108 ZOOLOGY OF INDIA. 



found to occur on the mountains in more southern ones. 

 Thus the beautiful Apollo-butterfly {Parnassius Apollo) is 

 a mountainous species in France, while it inhabits the val- 

 leys of Sweden. 



Of coleopterous insects the genera Mimela, EucUora, 

 CoUiuris, Catascopus, Apogonia, &c., seem peculiar to 

 Asia. The genus Mylabns is widely spread over the Old 

 World, and in addition to the M- Cichmii, of which the ve- 

 sicatorial powers were well known to the ancients,* General 

 Hardwicke has described another species extremely plenti- 

 ful in all parts of Bengal, Bahar, and Oude, and which as 

 a blister insect is said to be equally efficacious as the Span- 

 ish fly.t 



Of the genus Buprestis many splendid species, such as 

 B. ocellata, &c., occur in India ; and throughout that vast 

 and varied country innumerable examples maybe found of 

 many other coleopterous tribes.J At night the fireflies 

 glitter by thousands among the dark recesses of the banian- 

 tree ; and these same insects are observed to dance in per- 

 petual motion around the outmost branches of the spreading 

 tamarind, producing a brilliant and singularly beautiful 

 effect. 



The Orlhopterous order, which contains, among others, 

 the locust and grasshopper groups, is the next in succession. 

 The plague of locusts is known to India in like manner as 

 to most of the warmer countries of the globe : 



" Onward they come, a dark continuous cloud 

 Of congregated myriads numberless. 

 The rushing of whose wings is as the sound 

 Of a broad river headlong in ns course 

 Plunged from a mountain summit, or the roar 

 Of a wild ocean in the autumn storm. 

 Shattering its billows on a shore of rocks."^ 



We are told, indeed, that during the rainy season in 

 India insects of all kinds are sometimes so numerous, and 

 so active in their operations, that it becomes necessary to 



* Amcenitates Academicee, torn. vi. p. 138. 



t Asiatic Researches, vol. v. p. 213. 



j See Histoire Naturelle des ln.sectes {Coliaptires), par A. S. Olivier, 

 five vols., in 4to., avec planches enlurniniSes, and Species Gfcntral des 

 Col6optdres, par M. le Baron Dtjean. 



$ Thalaba, vol. i. p. 169. 



