MEANS OF DEFENCE OF INSECTS. 229 
Various insects, doubtless, find the wonderful vitality? 
with which they are endowed another mean of defence ; 
at least of obviating the effects of an attack. So that, 
when to all appearance they are mortally wounded, they 
recover, and fulfil the end of their creation. Indeed fe- 
male Lepidoptera, especially of the larger kinds, will 
scarcely die, do what you will, till they have laid their 
egos.—Dr. Arnold, a most acute observer, relates to 
Mr. MacLeay, that having pinned Scolia quadrimacu- 
lata, ¥'., a hymenopterous insect, down in the same box 
with many others, amongst which was the humming-bird 
hawk-moth (Sphinz stellatarum, L.), its proper food; it 
freed itself from the pin that transfixed it, and, neglecting 
all the other insects in the box, attacked the Sphinx, and 
pulling it to pieces devoured a large portion of its abdo- 
men. 
We often wonder how the cheese-mite (Acarus Siro, 
L.) is at hand to attack a cheese wherever deposited ; 
but when we learn from Leeuwenhoek, that one lived 
eleven weeks gummed on its back to the point of a needle 
without food, our wonder will be diminished>. Another 
species of mite (A. vegetans, L.) was observed by De 
Geer to live some time in spirits of wine’. This last cir- 
cumstance reminds me of an event which befel myself, 
that I cannot refrain from relating to you, since it was 
the cause of my taking up the pursuit I am recommend- 
4 The penetrating genius of Lord Verulam discovered ina great 
degree the cause of this vitality. ‘“ They stirre,” says he, speaking 
of insects, “a good while after their heads are off, or that they be 
cut in pieces; which is caused also for that their vital spirits are 
more diffused thorowout all their parts, and lesse confined to organs 
than in perfect creatures,” Sy/v. Sylvar. cent. vil. ) 697. 
a Leeuw. Epist. 77, 1694. © De Geer, vii. 127. 
