102 An Account of the American Cantharis. 



perforations in the earth, of which there were maiiy un- 

 der those potatoe hills where the insects fed. But I 

 could not satisfactorily determine whether the insects 

 made them, or whether being otherwise made, the in- 

 sects casually fied into them as a place of safety. 



I had some gathered by the father of the child, of both 

 kinds, separately ; but as they did not readily die, by the 

 method which I recommended, (viz. to put them into a 

 covered glass, and that into a vessel containing boiling 

 water,) he poured some water, as he said, almost scald- 

 ing hot, into the glass. On mentioning the fact to me 

 the next day, he observed, that there arose such a fume 

 from the glass, as almost stopped his breath. I asked 

 him if it was equally the case with both kinds ? He re- 

 plied, that he saw no difference. It remains yet to be 

 proved, whether those ki'Iled in this manner, will produce 

 the vesicative effect. This experiment I shall not fail 

 to try, and will endeavor to communicate the result to 

 the Academy. 



As I think the experiments published in the account 

 above referedto, by Doctor Chapman, abundantly prove 

 the vesicative quality of this species of the cantharis, I 

 should not have transmitted this statement to the Acad- 

 emy, had his description been perfect. But, as some of 

 the distinguishing marks which he has there given, do 

 not at all exist on by far the greatest part of those wliich 

 I saw ; and as none of them answered perfectly to his 

 account, I have thought it proper to communicate these 

 facts, with a view to obviating mistakes which might 

 ensue, were people guided solely by his description in 

 gathering them ; and also to render their history as per- 

 fect as may be. 



Farming TON, Sept, 9, 1800. 



