SAMOUELLE'if 



be numbered among the Miracula Insectorwn ; (the 

 title of the paper in the Amc&nitates Academicce, in 

 which it is announced) viz. that being a frequent 

 inhabitant of the turbid pulp used in the operation of 

 paper-making, it is often exposed to the action of the 

 wooden mallets used in the process, as well as 

 squeezed in the strongest presses ; and yet survives, 

 uninjured, these seemingly destructive operations ! ! ! 

 " The above larva commonly changes to a chrysalis 

 about the end of August ; the skin contracting, and 

 drying round the body, and the tail continuing in a 

 shrivelled state. After thus remaining about the 

 space of a fortnight, it gives birth to the complete 

 insect, which has so much the general appearance of 

 a Drone that it is very frequently mistaken for such. 

 It is extremely common during the month of Sep- 

 tember ;" and we may say October. The sexes of this 

 and many other dipterous insects are distinguished, 

 the males ( S ) by a very narrow line dividing the 

 eyes, and the females ( $ ) by a broad one : the wings 

 and eyes are fine objects for the microscope ; the 

 latter from the large and numerous hexagons of 

 which they are composed. The three stemmata, or 

 single eyes, are placed on a prominence, at the sum- 

 mit of the head, and are very brilliant. A figure of 

 the exuvia, or cast skin, of the pupa is given beneath 

 the insect. 



