HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



89 



and Lithophyts, there are many rare and fingular fpecies. 

 Hernandez gives us a print of a fpunge, fent to him from 

 the Pacific Ocean, which was of the fliape of a man's 

 hand, but with ten or more fingers ; of a clay colour, 

 with black points and red ftreaks, and was harder than 

 the common fpungcs. 



Defcending, at length, to the fmaller creatures, in 

 which the power and wifdom of the Creator efpecially 

 appear ; we fliall divide the innumerable multitude of 

 Mexican infe£ls into three clafies, the flying, the terref- 

 trial, and the aquatic ; although there are land and water 

 infe^ls which afterwards become flying infe^iis, and might 

 be confidered as belonging to different clafles, at diifer- 

 ent times. 



Among the flying inre61:s are, beetles, bees, wafps, 

 flies, gnats, butterflies, and grafshoppers. The beetles 

 are of feveral kinds, and moftly harmlefs. Some of them 

 are of a green colour, and called by the Mexicans, Ma- 

 jatl ; which, by the great noife they make in flying, af- 

 ford amufement to children. There are others black, 

 of a difagreeable fmell and irregular form, which are 

 called PinacatL 



The Cucujo or fliining beetle, which beft deferves our 

 notice, has been mentioned by many authors, but not 

 hitherto, as far as I know, defcribed by any one. It is 

 more than an inch in length ; and, like other flying 

 beetles, is furniflied with double wings. Upon the head, 

 is a fmall, moveable horn, which is of great ufe to it ; 

 for if at any time it happens to be turned over and laid 

 upon its back, it is by means of this horn, by thrufl:ing 

 and prefllng it into a membrane fomewhat like a bag, 

 which it has upon the belly, that this infect recovers its 

 natural pofition. Near the eyes are two fmall mem- 

 VoL. I. M branes, 



