LETTEES FEOM ALABAMA. 265 
points of interest^ so many exquisite contrivances^ 
and even so much delicacy and beauty in its several 
parts and their arrangement^ that onr dislike changes 
to pleasure and admiration as we contemplate it. 
To the last segment of the abdomen are joined 
two flexible organs tapering to a point, which so 
much resemble the antennse, that they have been 
termed caudal antenna, but I think this resem- 
blance is only in appearance, not in structure ; 
for I cannot perceive with a microscope any trace 
of those numerous joints into which the antenna are 
so distinctly divided. They appear to me to be 
mere fleshy tubes, useful probably by their sensi- 
bility to indicate to the insect the presence of any 
obstruction in its dark burrow when retiring back- 
wards. Under a lens they look very like the tail 
of a rat, being covered with short brindled hair. 
Most parts of the insect are clothed with a short 
velvety pile, particularly close and fine on the 
thorax, legs, and under surface of the body. They 
appear to be carnivorous, and even cannibal in 
their propensities ; a friend had several in one 
box, and the next morning found them reduced to 
two. It may be, however, that in a state of liberty 
this would not take place ; the habits of animals in 
a state of confinement are not to be considered as 
an invariable indication of their natural manners. 
They fly only by night, and then, according to 
Gilbert White, in curves, rising and sinking, like a 
woodpecker. This one was probably attracted by 
the light of the fire— rather an interesting circum- 
stance, when we remember that some persons have 
considered the European Mole-cricket to be lumi- 
nous, and to be the cause, or at least a cause, of the 
phenomenon known under the name of Ignis f aims. 
