1218 



Microscopical 



Essays, 



place, they form with their hinder feet a polifhed cavity, in this 

 they lie for fome time immoveable ; after which, by voiding ex- 

 crementitious fubftances, and by the evaporation of humidity, it 

 becomes thinner and fliorter,the (kin more furrowed and wrinkled, 

 fo that it foon appears as if it was ftarved by degrees. If it be dif- 

 fered about this period, the head, the belly, and the thorax, may- 

 be clearly diftinguifhed. While fome external and internal parts 

 are changing by a flow accretion, others are gently diftended by 

 the force of the blood and impelled humours. The body con- 

 tracking itfelf, while the blood is propelled towards the fore- 

 parts, forces the fkull open in three parts, and the fkin in the 

 middle of the back is feparated, by means of an undulating motion 

 of the incifions of the back ; at the fame time the eyes, the horns, 

 the lips, &c. call their exuvia. During this operation, 

 a thin watery humour is diffufed between the old and new 

 fldn, which renders the feparation eafier. The procefs going on 

 gradually, the worm is at laft difengaged from it's Ikin, and the 

 limbs and parts are, by a continual unfolding, transformed into 

 the pupa ftate ; after which, it twifts and compreffes the exuvia 

 by the fundament, and throws it towards the hinder part under 

 the belly. The pupa is at this time very delicate, tender, and 

 flexible; and affords a moft aftonifhing appearance to an attentive 

 obferver. Swammerdam thinks it is fcarce to be equalled among 

 the wonders which are difplayed in the infecl part of the creation; 

 in it the future parts of the beetle are finely exhibited, fo difpofed 

 and formed, as foon to be able to ferve the creature in a more 

 perfecl: ftate of life* and to put on a more elegant form. 



The 



