[ M« ] 
XXX. Accounts of a Capricorn Beetle, found 
alive in a Cavity within a found ‘Piece of 
Wood , and of the Horn of a Fifli ft ruck 
fever dl Inches into the Side of a Ship ; by 
C. Mortimer, M. D. Seer. R. S. 
A BOUT Michaelmas 1728. I went to c Portf~ 
mouth with fome Friends, where having taken, 
a View his M aj esty’s Yard and Docks for build- 
ing Ships of War; and fatisfied my Curiolity in 
examining feveral curious Contrivances ufed in Naval 
Architecture; Mr .Bankley, the Clerk of the Survey, 
invited me to his Houfe, where he fhewed me the 
Infect as reprefented in Tab. VIII. Fig. 6 . and 7. The 
People ofthe Yard were much alarmed at it, none know- 
ing what to make of it ; and all imagining it was venom- 
ous. On opening the Piece of Wood, (which was 
tied together with a Packthread) I found this Animal 
yet alive, and moving in a large Cavity in the Middle 
of the Wood, which appeared otherwife found, 
having no vilible Entrance into it. This Beetle, be- 
ing turned out upon a Sheet of Paper, crawled about 
upon it. Mr. Bankley gave me the following Ac- 
count of it: “ This Infed was found Auguft 2 6. 1728. 
“ in fplitting a Piece of Exotic Wood into Two 
tc Pieces, cut acrofs the Grain 4 •£• Inches thick, taken 
<f up in the Hold of his Majesty’s Ship Bredah-, 
t£ when in the Dock at Bortfmouthy after her Return 
from the Weft-Indies : It lived upwards of a Month 
“ afterwards. The Hole in which it was nourifhed, 
5 T z *1 was 
