Description of the Landes of Acquitania. 107 
L. selphoides, Carabus’ alyssidotus, Dejean. Tillus unifasciatus, 
Clerus octo-punctatus, Silpha granulata, Melolontha occidentalis, 
M. pini, M. campestris. Among the Trachelides, Mylabris gemi- 
nata, and Meloe punctatus, near Bordeaux. Among the Cantha- 
rides, Cantharis dubia, Sitaris humeralis. Among the rarer leap- 
ing insects, were the Tridactylus variegata, Gryllus Burdegalensis, 
G. italicus, Locusta tuberculata, L. serrata, also Truxalus nasutus, 
Acrydium lineola, and Latreille has described three species found 
in the vicinity of Bordeaux, under the names of Acrydium cceru- 
Jans, A. stridulum, A. strepens. The Sphynx of Tithymale, (S. 
Euphorbie, Latr.) whose beautiful caterpillar feeds on the leaves of 
the Euphorbia Paralias, is also a remarkable insect of these coasts. 
We must return to the fisheries, which bring in a fair proportion 
of the revenue of some of the most flourishing villages of the Landes, 
and more especially to that of the basin of Arcachon, which is very 
productive, containing most of the scaly inhabitants of the Bay of 
Biscay. ‘Sardines, a small species of Clupea, whose esteemed va- 
rieties are known by the name of royan and ruten, soles, turbot, 
conger eel, ray, sturgeon, and even porpoises, are taken in this arm 
of the sea. The oyster and mussel also multiply in great abun- 
dance. Of the latter, the principal beds consist of the Mytilus 
pellucidus. 
In the shallows of the basin termed Crassais, which low tides 
leave uncovered, Hippocampis meduse, which were also thrown 
abundantly ashore along the coast; Spatangi and some beautiful 
Echini, with spikes of pearly whiteness, are also met with. 
The eel migrates from the ponds into the sea from October to 
February,—the fishermen say from the fall of the leaves of the Be- 
tula alnus,—and are supposed to re-ascend into the fresh water, 
from March to June and July, in enormous quantities. 
The fish caught in the lagune, are mostly tench, carp, gudgeon, 
eels, pike, lampreys, dace, and perch. The latter have not, it is 
stated, been inhabitants of these ponds for more than 30 years. 
They passed there from fish-pends, and tend by their destructive 
disposition to expel the other species. 
The degree of impertance of all natural productions, depend so 
much on their value as far as regards the conveniencies, necessities, 
and luxuries of man, that the demonstration of the agricultural and 
natural riches of a country, must always be sought for in the num- 
ber and enjoyments of its inhabitants ; and certainly in the district 
now under our view, the infertility of the country will be found to 
correspond entirély with the physical characters of its inhabitants, 
exerting also as much influence on the moral deportment and in- 
tellectual advantages, as could be expected, when we- estimate 
the counterbalancing effect of so immediate a vicinity to the 
Bretons and Gascons, long acted upon by wars of liberty and of 
religion, subjugated in the dark ages by fanaticism and credulity, 
enlightened during the chivalrous reigns of the dukes of Thoulouse 
and of the English monarchs, and now so much above par in the 
two qualities of moral and intellectual acquirements. 

