13 



TAB. LXVI. 

 LARVA of an HEMEROBIUS? 



Jtebruary 6, 1806. — In an obscure corner of a new and 

 beautiful Lichen discovered by my friend Charles Lyell,Esq. 

 of Lindhurst, Hants, was found this insect. It was very cu- 

 riously clothed with scraps of the Lichen ; whether to disguise 

 itself, or to answer some other intention, we do not know. 

 It was put under a watch-glass ; and as it was not apparently 

 disconcerted, we could notice its motions easily. We first 

 observed, that it used the hinder extremity of its abdomen 

 like a seventh foot, which seemed to give it great power in 

 tugging the moss or other things to pieces ; and, after 

 having broken off a piece of a proper size, it would fix this 

 seventh foot as it were, very firmly. (And indeed this 

 hinder extremity seems formed to hold any thing, such as 

 the enamel watch-plate, or the glass, as it were by an ope- 

 ration like a sucker, or the proboscis or tentacula of some 

 insects.) When thus fixed, having secured the fragment 

 in its jaws, it dexterously turns its head and places the 

 fragments on its back ; where it not only places it, but 

 presses it, and appears much dissatisfied if it docs not seem 

 firmly fixed*. There are two protuberating parts on the 

 shoulders, covered with long hairs, which it very dexte- 

 rously avoids in this action, so that they are left free from 

 any load. There are two similar ones on the hinder part, 

 which it does not cover. It appears to have a series of 



* We were glad to observe so much of the actions of this animal, and it 

 helps to elucidate that of the Cancer plialaiigiiim in Linnsean Transactions; 

 and since we have been favoured with one of the same species from Scot- 

 land, clothed with Sertularia loriculata. 



