186 



MEANS OF DEFENCE OF INSECTS. 



Allantus Scrophularice, &c). The coat of slime of these 

 animals, as Professor Peck observes ] , retains its humidity 

 though exposed to the fiercest sun. Under this head I shall 

 also mention the phosphoric insects : the glow-worm (Lam- 

 pyris) ; the lantern-fly {Fulgord) ; the fire-fly {Elater) ; and 

 the electric centipede ( Geophilus electricus) ; since the light 

 emitted by these animals may defend them from the attack 

 of some enemies. Mr. Sheppard once noticed a Carabus 

 running round the last-mentioned insect, when shining, as if 

 wishing but afraid to attack it. 



Various insects, doubtless, find the wonderful vitality 2 with 

 which they are endowed another means 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 female Lepidoptera, 

 especially of the larger kinds, will scarcely die, do what you 

 will, till they have laid their eggs. Dr. Arnold, a most 

 acute observer, relates to Mr. MacLeay, that having pinned 

 Scolia quadrimaculata, a hymenopterous insect, down in the 

 same box with many others, amongst which was the humming- 

 bird hawk-moth {Macroglossa stellatarum), 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 abdomen. 



We often wonder how the cheese-mite (Acams Siro) 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. 3 Another species of mite 

 {Uropoda vegetans) was observed by De Greer to live some 

 time in spirits of wine. 4 This last circumstance 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 



1 Nat. Hist, of the Slug-worm, 7. 



2 The penetrating genius of Lord Verulam discovered in a 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 he cut in pieces ; which is caused also for 

 that their vital spirits are more diffused thorowout all their parts, and lesse con- 

 fined to organs than in perfect creatures." Sylv. Sylcar. cent. vii. § 697. 



3 Leeuw. Epist.17., 1694. 4 De Geer, vii. 127. 



