OF INSECTS. 
3 33 
the golden beetle; while others take near four years in 
their production, and live as winged insects one year 
more, as the stag beetle. 
Naturalists enumerate eighty-seven species of this ge- 
nus. They all concur, however, in one common forma- 
tion. The antennae are of a clavated figure, and fissile 
longitudinally; the legs are frequently dentated; they 
have cases to their wings, which is a provision admirably 
adapted to their mode of existence. Though these cases 
do not assist in flight, yet they defend the internal wings 
from injury, and make a loud buzzing noise when the 
animal rises in the air. 
Gigantic Cockroach, ( pi - 55.) This insect is 
the largest of its species, and near the size of a 
hen’^ egg. It is a native and plague of the warm 
parts of Asia, Africa, and South America. This, and 
indeed all the other species of cockroaches, are a race of 
pestiferous beings, equally noisome and mischievous to 
natives or strangers. These nasty and voracious insects 
fly out in the evenings, they plunder and corode all kinds 
of victuals, drest and undrest, and damage all sorts of 
clothing; every thing made of leather, books, paper, and 
various other articles. They fly into the flame of can- 
dles, and sometimes into the dishes; are very fond of 
ink and of oil, into which they are apt to fall and perish. 
In this case they soon turn most offensively putrid, so that 
a man might as well sit over the putrid body of a large 
animal as write with the ink in which they have died. 
They often fly into person’s faces or bosoms, and their 
legs being armed with sharp spines, the pricking excites 
a sudden horror not easily described. In old houses 
they swarm by myriads, making every part filthy beyond 
description where they harbour, which in the day time 
is in dark corners, behind all sorts of clothes, in trunks, 
boxes, and in short every place where they can lie 
concealed. In old timber and deal houses, when the 
family is retired at night to sleep, this insect, among 
other disagreeable properties, has the power of making 
a noise which very much resembles a pretty smart knock- 
ing with the knuckle upon wainscotting, in the West Indies 
