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Title: Illustrations of Exotic Entomology, Volume 1

Author: Dru Drury

Editor: John Obadiah  Westwood

Release Date: December 23, 2014 [EBook #47599]

Language: English

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ILLUSTRATIONS

OF

EXOTIC ENTOMOLOGY,

CONTAINING

UPWARDS OF SIX HUNDRED AND FIFTY

FIGURES AND DESCRIPTIONS

OF

FOREIGN INSECTS,

INTERSPERSED WITH

REMARKS AND REFLECTIONS ON THEIR NATURE AND PROPERTIES.

BY DRU DRURY.

A NEW EDITION,

BROUGHT DOWN TO THE PRESENT STATE OF THE SCIENCE,
WITH THE SYSTEMATIC CHARACTERS OF EACH SPECIES, SYNONYMS, INDEXES,
AND OTHER ADDITIONAL MATTER.

BY J. O. WESTWOOD, F.L.S.

SOC. CÆS. NAT. CUR. MOSQ. SOC.
ETC. ETC.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

HENRY G. BOHN, 4, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN.

MDCCCXXXVII.

PREFACE

TO THE PRESENT EDITION.

The acknowledged value of the figures contained in Drury's "Illustrations,"^[1] the extreme rarity of many of the insects figured therein, which continue up to the present day to be unique, and the scarcity of the work itself, which appears almost unknown to Continental Entomologists, having induced the proprietor of the plates to republish the work, I have consented to undertake the charge of bringing it forth in a form more adapted to the present greatly advanced state of Entomology. How far I have succeeded must be left for the candid Entomologist to decide. It is fit however that, by way of bespeaking indulgence for the numerous errors into which I fear that I have, notwithstanding all my care, fallen, I should mention the obstacles which have operated against my giving the work that perfect style which I could have wished it to possess. Of these the chief difficulty has arisen from the non-possession of the specimens which served for the original illustrations, without which it may be readily conceived that it has been impossible to ascertain with precision many of the more minute characters, of which the present state of the science requires the investigation; thus in many cases I have been obliged to remain in ignorance of the particular structure of the antennæ, trophi and legs, and the disposition of the veins of the wings, in many of the smaller species of Lepidoptera, so that the precise genera may not in some instances be correctly stated; and to many I have been compelled to attach marks of interrogation for the like reason. Another and equally strong obstacle has been produced from the little attention paid to exotic {iv}Lepidoptera by modern Entomologists. More than two-thirds of these Illustrations are illustrative of that beautiful order of insects; and yet, with the exception of some of the showy butterflies and moths, scarcely a reference is to be found even in the works of Fabricius, the personal friend of Drury, whose Entomologia Systematica, published in 1793 and 1794, contains the last general summary of the species of this order; Gmelin also, whose Systema Naturæ it has been the fashion to decry, but which, as a laborious compilation from the works of preceding and chiefly Continental authors, is of great service,^[2] was only acquainted with these illustrations through the early works of Fabricius.^[3] It is true that M. M. Boisduval and Guérin have respectively published various new exotic Lepidoptera, especially of the Nocturnal group, in the Voyages of the Coquille and Astrolabe; but we still want a general revision, not only of the species but of the genera of this order. It was to have been hoped that, as regarded the Javanese species, this would have been effected by Dr. Horsfield, whose work upon the Lepidoptera of Java, as far as published, leaves nothing to be desired of the structural details of the species illustrated therein. M. Boisduval also, in his Histoire Naturelle des Lépidoptères, has treated the subject in a masterly manner, availing himself both of the preparatory states and veining of the wings; but we greatly miss those beautiful details which render the works of Horsfield and Curtis invaluable. It is in this comparative ignorance, both of the structural and metamorphotic details of exotic Lepidoptera, that we may attribute the want of a sound and philosophical distribution of the order in question; and which at the same time prevents us from determining the situation of many remarkable and anomalous groups. Of these the genera Castnia, Urania, &c. and the whole tribe of the Zygænidæ may especially be mentioned; and it is with the view of inciting enquiry into this part of the subject, that I have introduced many of the latter species into the genus Callimorpha amongst the Nocturnal moths.

Another obstacle has been produced by the little attention paid by the Entomologists of the last century to the geographical situation of their insects; as an instance of this, it will be sufficient to mention that Linnæus and Fabricius made use of the term "In Indiis" generally, to indicate that an insect was an inhabitant either of the West or East Indies. Drury indeed appears to have paid more than the ordinary degree of attention to this part of the subject, as appears from the Catalogue of his Insects, which I obtained at the sale of Mr. Donovan's collections, to whom, as appears by a note, they were presented by Mr. Drury. Thus under Lucanus interruptus, (Genus Passalus, Fabricius,) we find the {v}following entries:—

7.	3.	Interruptus,	Muskito Shore,	Capt. Keay,		also at Maryland, New York, Carolina, where they are very large.
8.	3.	Interruptus,	Sierra Leone,	Mr. Smeathman,
9.	3.	Interruptus,	Maryland,	Mr. Milward, 1756, Lin. Syst. p. 560, f. 4.
10.	4.	Interrupt. var.	Rio Janeiro,	Mr. Bonifas, 1775, that on the right hand from Mr. Laing, at Tobago.
12.		Interrupt. var.		Bought at Seymour's sale.

Here it is quite evident that Drury had carefully noted down the localities of all the specimens of this insect which he possessed, and which are now described as distinct species; and this extract will I think be quite sufficient to shew, that from the careful manner in which these Catalogues were kept by Mr. Drury, we are entitled to regard them, when there happens to be a difference between the works of Drury and Fabricius, Linnæus, &c. as at least of equal authority with the writings of these authors. I regret that these Catalogues did not come into my hands until after the first and second volumes of this edition were printed off. I have incorporated the notes in the third volume; and have given, as an Appendix, extracts from these Catalogues, where there happens to be any variation or doubt as to the locality of any of the species figured in the first two volumes.

I have almost invariably adopted the very proper principle of referring to that name, either generic or specific, which has the priority in point of date. In the first edition, the first volume appeared without specific names, which were at that time a novelty but recently introduced by Linnæus. In the second volume, however, an appendix was given, containing specific names both of the first and second volumes, and a similar appendix was given at the end of the third volume; but no specific names appeared in the body of the work. To many of the names contained in the appendices Fabricius referred, many he entirely omitted, and for many he substituted others. These last I have of course rejected; and have in many instances given the dates when the names were first imposed by the different authors—a plan which would be very serviceable if generally adopted. I have, likewise, made a point in many cases of restoring the specific proper names, where, in consequence of a change in the sex of the generic name, a corresponding change had been made in such specific name. This alteration had been carried to a great extent in the Encyclopédie Méthodique; and many male and female proper names had been completely altered, in order to suit them to the sex of the new genera in which they were placed. This was, however, an error on the wrong side; because it is admitted as an established principle, that if it should be thought necessary to subdivide a genus, the names of the subdivisions should be of the sex of the original generic name.

The plan upon which the first edition of this work was published may be seen from the following specimen, which is one of the shortest given, but which will be sufficient to shew not only the style of the former edition, but also the manner in which I have treated the subject and the additions which I have introduced.

Vol. I. Plate II.

The name of Papilio Eumeus was consequently proposed for this insect in the Appendix to the second volume.

Amongst the manuscripts with which I have been favoured by the relatives of Mr. Drury, or have obtained elsewhere, are comprised a variety of notes relative to the publication of this work, and of observations from which the following are selected. He notices that "his descriptions are only intended to assist the reader in ascertaining the different species; and that they are not intended to be so complete as to give a perfect idea of the animal without the help of the figure." He alludes to the difficulty not only "of ascertaining true colours or calling them by their proper names," but also of "colouring the prints so, as to exactly represent the natural specimens,"—that he has mentioned and given English names to no more parts of insects than had suited his purpose for describing them,—that "there are some parts mentioned in the descriptions which cannot be seen in the plates, such as the Gorget (Sternum), &c. which may serve not only to assist in classing them, but to ascertain their species." "The descriptions of the Hymenoptera are not intended to be so complete as to give a perfect idea of the insect, but are only given to assist the reader in observing the figures."

"All the descriptions are taken from the insects themselves; whatever defects, therefore, are to be observed in comparing them with the coloured figures must be imputed to the artist, as it would not be proper to describe them according to the prints, but to {vii}nature."—It is in consequence of this last remark that I have been careful to omit nothing of the original edition in this edition of the least importance, but have given the description as much as possible in the words of the author himself.

I have also added a general Systematic Index to the entire work, and an Alphabetic Index, in which the names employed in the first edition are distinguished by an asterisk.

The collection formed by Drury was exceedingly choice, and had occupied nearly thirty years in its formation; for although, as Drury himself says (in one of the printed circulars which he distributed with a view to its sale) "there may be in Holland collections more numerous, having in many instances a great number of a single species, yet no collection abounds with such a wonderful variety in all the different genera as this. All the specimens of which it is composed, are in the highest and most exquisite state of preservation, such an extensive collection can be supposed to be, and a very considerable number are unique, such as are not to be found in any other Cabinet whatever, and of considerable value; many of which, coming from countries exceedingly unhealthy, where the collectors, in procuring them, have perished by the severity of the climate, give but little room to expect any duplicate will ever be obtained during the present age; and the learned quotations that have been taken from it by those celebrated authors Linnæus and Fabricius, in all their late editions, are incontestable proofs of the high degrees of estimation they entertained of it."

This statement was made in 1788, when the author had consumed upwards of twenty-five years in its formation, and at which period no less a sum than £4,000. had been expended upon the collection. At this period the collection consisted of—

Subsequently great additions were made to the collection, which, as will be seen from the localities affixed to the species figured in these Illustrations was received from all parts of the world with which England at that period had intercourse. Of the earnest zeal with which this collection was made, an idea may be obtained from a copy of a letter addressed to a gentleman residing in Africa, with whom he was anxious to enter into correspondence.

Subsequently, this fine collection came to the hammer, on Thursday, May 23, 1805, and the two following days. A few of the more interesting lots, with the prices obtained for them, and the names of the purchasers, are given below as an interesting record.

The total amount obtained for the Insects was £614. 8s. 6d.; and about £300. more for the Cabinets, Books, &c. with the Copper-plates of the Illustrations.

Of the estimation in which the works and collections of Drury were held by Linnæus, Fabricius, &c. the constant references (especially by the latter) made to them, will sufficiently prove. The former dedicated a fine species of Cimex to Drury, figured in the first volume of these Illustrations, pl. 42. f. 1. 5.; whilst the latter described an American species of Stenocorus from Drury's collection, under the name of St. Drurii (Ent. Syst. 1. 2. p. 302.) and also a Danish Tinea under the name of T. Drurella. The Rev. W. Kirby also in his Monograph upon the English Bees, has named a rare species belonging to the modern genus Eucera, Apis Drurella, with the remark—"In honorem D. Drury, operis entomologici splendidissimi auctoris, cujus museum insectorum rarissimorum undique conquisitorum gazophylacium ditissimum, hanc apem ab illo acceptam nominavi." (Mon. Ap. Angl. 2. p. 286.)

That Drury was in correspondence with these "Heroes Scientiæ" will therefore be unquestioned; and the following letter from the younger Linnæus, communicated to me by the relatives of the former is interesting not only on this account, but for the curious statement relative to the Œstrus humanus then recently discovered in South America.

My late friend A. H. Haworth, Esq. thus spoke of Drury and his works in the year 1807. "In the year 1770 we arrive at the time of publication of a beautiful work on Entomology, that of my late and regretted friend D. Drury, F.L.S. in one vol. 4to. printed at London, and containing comprehensive descriptions in English and French, with an Index of Linnæan names at the end, and a great many coloured copper-plates of such interesting exotic Insects, as had not been before or insufficiently figured. The icons were executed by Moses Harris, in his best style; and are far superior to any of their predecessors in Britain.

"It is also unquestionably the first work in this country in which the trivial names of Linnæus are suffered to make their appearance, and although only given in the shape of an index, their extensive value throws a lustre on the utility of the work, which, unaided by them, would not have reached a second volume, published in 1773, and a third in 1782; and even a fourth would have appeared if the author had lived much longer;^[6] as he himself assured me, some time prior to his decease; wherein would have been delineated some of the gigantic and extraordinary insects of Demerara, in which remote territory he had successfully employed a collecting agent. Mr. Drury's Cabinet was one of the most extensive ever made; and is said to have contained, in species and varieties, the surprising number of 11,000 insects. He spared neither pains nor cost in getting them together, and like Petiver of old, sent printed instructions, in various languages, all over the world for that purpose, by captains of ships and others.

"Soon after his decease, at an advanced age, which happened about two years since, his valuable collection was disposed of in London, by public auction."—(Trans. Ent. Soc. Vol. I. 1807. p. 34.)

The decease of Mr. Dru Drury occurred on the 15th of January, 1804, at the age of eighty, and he was buried at the parish church of St. Martins in the Fields.

J. O. W.

MR. DRURY'S PREFACE

TO THE FIRST EDITION.

VOL. I.

It is universally allowed that the study of nature is one of the most pleasing employments that can engage the mind of man. The entertainment it affords is as infinite as the variety of subjects of which it is composed; and such a vast field of speculation lies open to our view, either in the animal, vegetable, or mineral worlds, that each of them is fully sufficient to engross the attention of a single person. It must be allowed, that the study of natural history is so far from having attained that degree of perfection it might have done, by the assiduity of the curious, that it cannot, at present, be considered as having attained its meridian; and the slow manner in which it arrived even to that, has subjected us very much to the reflections of foreigners; many of whom appear surprised, that a nation, not inferior to others in every branch of science and knowledge, should discover so great a want of curiosity, and little attention to a study that has been productive of so many advantages to mankind, and probably, may hereafter produce many more. Certainly, such opportunities for improvement never presented themselves in this kingdom, as in the present age. All corners of the world are visited by our ships; the remotest shores of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, are not unknown to our countrymen; but feel the effects of that insatiable thirst for traffic and gain, that animates the present generation. Every lover, therefore, of this study must naturally hope, that such noble occasions of increasing the knowledge of nature, may not be neglected. It is indeed true, that the number of its votaries, in England, are but few, in proportion to other states, where professorships and societies are established under the patronage and protection of the chief personages: yet if we consider it as affording an inconceivable fund of entertainment to its followers, it is rather to be wondered it is not more encouraged and propagated among us, than that we should find a few who have resolution enough to judge for themselves, and follow a study that is always new and always pleasing. The sneers and contempt thrown on it by men of narrow minds, who are impatient at hearing of persons bestowing their time in collecting a plant, an insect, or a stone, may perhaps contribute {xiii}not a little to prevent its progress; but whatever character may be stamped, either upon the study, or its professors, by such persons; it is certain, none but men fit to be placed in the first rank, have usually philosophy enough to prompt them to make enquiries into the works of nature. To some the task appears too arduous, to others too intricate, and to the generality too trifling; who are apt to look with contempt on every pursuit that does not coincide with their own opinions; nor must we, from vulgar minds, expect any conclusions in its favour: with these, a horse, a dog, or a cock, seem to bound the utmost limits of their gratifications. But men of refined tastes will judge otherways. They know that the inexhaustible store of entertainment nature affords in the contemplation of her works, is unbounded. It is not to be enjoyed all at once; the more we pursue, the more we shall possess, in proportion as we manifest a greater or less ardour. Nor is the serene placid enjoyment found therein, to be measured by the common gratifications of sense; as these often leave stings behind that worry the soul, and subvert the end they intended to promote; while the other offers to us its friendly aid, replete with happiness, health, and peace. And further, if the contemplation of the works of the Sovereign Architect, tends to promote that serious and attentive state of mind which disposes men to the pursuit of virtue, in order to be happy; and if the knowledge and practice of virtue are the means of supporting the mind through all the difficult passages and rugged paths of life; the naturalist bids as fair to be happy as any of the human race. His pleasures are not chequered by remorse, or damped by despair; his pursuits leave no horrors on the mind, or clash with the duty he owes his Maker, his neighbour, or his prince; his conscience suffers not for the indulgence of his mind, nor has repentance need to stalk behind him with an uplifted arm, for injustice committed on his fellow-creatures; on the contrary, it is for them ultimately his labours are pursued, for them he inquires into the various arcana of nature; every part of the earth is searched for their benefit, and its bowels are torn out and examined for their advantage.

On the other hand, if we consider natural history as connected with religion, we shall find them so interwoven and blended together as not to be separated. In this view we shall find it the best adapted for opening the mind, enlarging its conceptions, and giving us the most exalted ideas of the Deity, of any science whatever, astronomy not excepted, whose study, however noble it may be thought, tends not more to the same improvement; for certainly the power, wisdom, and goodness of the Almighty are as conspicuous in the smallest objects, as those of the first magnitude, if great and little be only relative terms. If, therefore, natural history is able to accomplish this, nothing surely can afford a more effectual cure for infidelity. For whoever heard of a naturalist being an atheist? or of an infidel, who had spent his life in studying and observing the works of nature? I believe none will hesitate to pronounce the man, who has made any considerable progress in this study, and who could entertain thoughts so injurious to the honour of his Maker, to be a more wonderful being than any that ever went before him.

The train of reflections that arise from these considerations, is greater than is consistent with the plan I have prescribed to myself in these pages. If the reader is desirous of being further informed of the uses and advantages of natural history, I shall refer him to Stillingfleet's Tracts, taken from the Amœnitates Academicæ, published at Upsal; where he may be acquainted with many curious and interesting particulars, which I have not room to insert here; my speculations having been confined to one single branch (insects) I shall only mention such observations relative thereto as may be proper for an introduction of this kind.

Insects may, with great truth, be considered as a rank of beings so wonderful and extraordinary, as to strike with astonishment every observer, if we regard either their structure, powers, or use; and creatures, who, at the same time that they challenge our regard, loudly proclaim the wisdom, goodness, and omnipotence of their great Creator. If their shape and beauty are capable of attracting our notice, their ways of living are no less adapted for exciting our admiration; and the more we enquire into their nature and history, the more occasion we shall find for confessing this great truth, "nothing is created in vain." The wondrous manner in which numbers of them pass their lives, during their first states, is unknown to the greater part of mankind. Most people, indeed, know that a Caterpillar produces a Butterfly; but thousands of persons do not know that a Caterpillar is a Butterfly in disguise, as Dr. Lister ingeniously observes,^[7] and as Swammerdam^[8] proved to the great Duke of Tuscany, by stripping off the external skins, and displaying the butterfly concealed beneath them. Many persons are ignorant that plants (even of the most poisonous nature) are the beloved and favourite food of some species of insects, and that what is wholesome and nourishing to one, is pernicious and destructive to another. Who would believe that the hard substance of the soundest Oak was capable of being macerated by an insect, and received into its stomach as food? that it should there yield a proper nutriment for its growth, and that nothing but a substance as hard and firm as that could possibly contribute to the creature's health and increase? Who would imagine that a colony of Ants, an insect so contemptible in size, considered singly, were capable of making animals, of considerable bulk and strength, retreat from them as from a formidable enemy?^[9] Who would suspect that numbers of insects are appointed to live, during the greatest part of their lives, within the bodies of other animals, many of whom receive no material injury thereby; some become frantic and {xv}diseased, and others are doomed to perish, and by their deaths give birth to these their inbred enemies? Who, that is a stranger to natural history, would believe that there are insects destined to live in the waters many months, where their principal employment is the destruction of animals less than themselves, on whom they feed and thrive, till they become inhabitants of the air, when their lives are terminated in a few weeks, perishing by the depredations of old age, if they are lucky enough to escape the power of other animals stronger than themselves? Yet such are the truths existing in nature; truths known to every one conversant with this study. In short, there is no part of the kingdom of nature, where so many wonders are unfolded to us, as in this of insects.

Nor are they to be considered in that contemptible light in which the generality of mankind are apt to place them. We are too prone to think every thing noxious and unnecessary, if we are not fully acquainted with its use. "The poor Beetle that we tread on," serves to fill up an order of beings, as useful and proper in the economy of nature, as that of a partridge or a hare, whose preservation and increase we are so solicitous for. Many others, whose very sight create the most disagreeable sensations, are not less useful and proper, under the same predicament. The carcases of dead animals, which, when putrid, send forth a most nauseous stench, would remain so for a great length of time, were it not for the various kinds of Flesh Flies, who, by depositing their eggs there, help to consume it very quickly, and prevent a continuance so offensive to our nostrils and health. Many kinds of insects are to be found here in England, in great plenty, who, it is highly probable, by a close enquiry into their natures might be rendered very serviceable to us, either mediately or immediately. The blue Dung Beetle (Scarabæus Stercorarius of Linnæus) found in great plenty in July, under horse-dung and cow-dung, it is not unlikely may yield effects, either in medicine or dyeing, that at present we are ignorant of. It is certain, it abounds with salts that are strong and pungent; but the examination of them must be left to time, and the enquiry of some ingenious person.

The Meloe Proscarebeus of Linnæus, or English Oil Beetle, described by Moffat, lib. i. cap. 23., also by Godartius in Lister's translation, number 120. yields an oil by expression in considerable quantity, which is used in Sweden, with the greatest success, in the cure of the rheumatism, by bathing the afflicted part. Of this I have been well assured by an ingenious physician who resided there. Might not the same effects be expected from it here as there? Its virtues, I imagine, are not confined to a single country; nor can I suppose the different situations of them will prevent its being equally efficacious here as in Sweden. However, it is certainly worth while to make the experiment.^[10]

The Cantharides or Spanish Flies, is a species of insect every one has heard of. They are brought us from abroad, and used medicinally; but principally to raise blisters. For these we pay great sums of money to foreign countries: but a proper examination into the nature of insects might save us the necessity of doing so; for let me not be disbelieved, when I say this very species of the cantharides is found in England.^[11] Might not, therefore, a close inquiry into the subject, spare us the trouble and expense of applying to foreigners for this article? But are the medicinal virtues of the cantharides confined entirely to that species? Is there none other found in England, answering the same purpose, which we might have by seeking for? If I am not mis-informed, there is. The Musk Beetle, or Cerambix Moschata of Linnæus, is found on the bodies of willow-trees in the month of July, or sooner, if the weather is favourable. This insect, I have been confidently informed by an eminent surgeon (the late Mr. Guy) who tried it, has the same virtues, and produces the same effects as the cantharides; being capable, when properly prepared, of procuring a strong blister in as short a space of time as the other. Whether there is not other insects to be found in this kingdom, whose properties, when examined, might be found similar to the cantharides, is a matter that time only will clear up.

I cannot here pass unmentioned the effects of ants, whose volatile effluvia, arising from their colonies or nests is so great, that a hand rubbed thereon, and applied immediately to the nose of a fainting person, exhilarates and refreshes equal to the spirit of hartshorn, or what is called sal volatile.

Such are the known medicinal uses of insects; and under the article of clothing they serve us in a more conspicuous manner. To many thousands of persons they afford the means of living with comfort and happiness. Even kings are indebted to them for their grandest garments. Immense fortunes have been procured, by their means, to persons in trade, and the great number of people who daily subsist by manufacturing silk, either by spinning, weaving, or dyeing it, have the greatest reason to thank Providence for the institution of this insect. To the last, the Cochineal (Coccinella Cacti of Linnæus) affords him the power of giving our silks and cloths the most beautiful and lasting colours; being without it unable to produce such proofs of his ingenuity; not to mention many other occasions wherein this insect is peculiarly serviceable. Nor is there any part of the world where they do not directly, or secondarily, serve mankind for food. In every kingdom of the earth, where they are to be found, shrimps, prawns and crabs are eaten by all ranks and degrees of people, if animal food is allowed them; and our cray-fish or lobsters must not {xvii}be excluded from the same order. The Locust represented in Plate 50. Fig. 2. is eaten by many tribes, and, I may say, nations of people, in Asia and Africa. These animals are frequently driven from their native soils, by strong winds, into foreign countries, where, for several days together, by their inconceivable numbers, they obscure the light of the sun, and make the inhabitants tremble for their vegetables. It is at those times the Asiatics and Africans gather them, and eat them with much delight, dressing them, either by stewing, or frying them with oil; they also pickle and sell them publicly in some of the markets of the Levant, and many other parts.

The caterpillar belonging to Fig. 1. of Plate 38. which I have mentioned in my description of that insect to be eaten in the West Indies, and considered as a dainty, is sought for by those persons who are admirers of that food, in the most diligent manner; and I have been informed, by gentlemen of undoubted veracity, that so exceedingly delighted are they with it, as to employ negroes on no other business but to go into the woods on purpose to procure these caterpillars, by digging them out of the bodies of certain trees, the only places where they are to be found. Perhaps the cossi of the Romans, a kind of food we are told they were much delighted with, might be a species not much unlike this; however that be, these are considered as amply recompensing, by their delicious flavour, the pains taken to procure them.

Honey is a substance known to every one, and the agreeable liquor made from it, which in some countries serves the inhabitants for their constant drink, is not to be procured but by the industry of the agile bee.

In fine, the limits of this preface will not permit me to dwell minutely, and point out the benefits mankind does, and may receive, by the institution of this order of animals. I shall again refer my reader to the book I mentioned before, "Stillingfleet's Tracts;" where he will find these and many other advantages I have not mentioned, treated of in a most ingenious manner; being the observations of some of the greatest men of the university of Upsal in Sweden; for this reason, therefore, I shall consider this subject no farther, but proceed to describe the plan of the work; wherein, if the reader expects to find the insects classed in systematic order, as well as represented, he will be greatly disappointed. It is not my present design to enter into the scientific part of the study, by arranging the insects according to any system now established; nor will the reader find that I have given a single name to any one here figured. This, indeed, must be the consequence of not following the system of any author, unless I had formed one of my own; for it is impossible I should give names to them, particularly trivial ones, without doing one or the other. The calling an insect by the general appellation of moth, butterfly, &c. I cannot consider as derogatory to what I have said. Hence I flatter myself I shall avoid all occasion for reflection by the disciples of different authors, in not following the method established by others; and, therefore, my desire of giving no room for exceptions of this kind, has induced me to follow no one whatever. By this, also, I have left it in the power of every person to {xviii}class them according to his own fancy; and, as every one has thus an opportunity of following his favourite author, none, I hope, will object to a method, that will put it in his power of indulging his own inclination.

I must here inform my readers, that this work can by no means be considered as a complete one. The most transitory view will confirm this. Nor can I take any merit to myself by its publication, unless the great care that has been taken to give just and accurate figures of the subjects, in which the different generical characters, according to the several authors I am acquainted with, are truly represented, will entitle me to any.

Indeed, the many opportunities I have had of observing the great tendency all kinds of insects have to perish and decay, particularly moths and butterflies, first gave me the hint of preserving them from oblivion, by thus delineating them on paper. For these last are of such tender and delicate natures, that however pleasing and agreeable they may be to our sight, they are not easily to be preserved with all their gay and striking plumage. Our utmost care can only secure them to us a few years; and if they are exposed to air or sunshine, we are quickly robbed of them; the latter being capable, in a few months, of entirely destroying their colours, and the first in as short a space, will totally consume every part of them, leaving nothing behind but a little dust.

Hence it is, I have been induced to give figures of foreign insects. In prosecuting which, the reader will find many that have never been described by any author; and if the rescuing them by this method from the ravages of time, if the delight and amusement arising from contemplating subjects of this kind, or if an attempt to promote and encourage this branch of natural history meets with the encouragement I hope for, I must assure the public, no labour on my side shall be wanting to render it complete, by adding future volumes, as the subjects I should receive from abroad, and my own leisure, will enable me to do; and this, I flatter myself, I shall be able to accomplish by the means of a few ingenious gentlemen situated in different parts of the world, whose correspondence I am honoured with, and by whose assistance I shall be able to give sometimes a tolerable history of an insect, or as much of it as has fallen within their observation; by which means, new subjects of speculation, some unnoticed circumstances in insect life, may arise, that cannot fail of being an acceptable embellishment. But I must observe, such pieces of information cannot be expected to be numerous; for the difficulty of procuring the natural history of foreign insects is so exceedingly great, that it is better conceived than described. Few persons, who visit foreign countries, have curiosity sufficient to prompt them to make such observations, or indeed any enquiry, into the works of nature. The desire of acquiring wealth, by the means of trade, is the grand motive that induces them to leave their native country; observations in natural history being generally quite foreign to their thoughts; the desire of extending their commerce, and making their fortunes, taking entire possession of their minds, and swallowing up every other consideration. Thus, we see, it is not from such persons we must expect any improvements tending to promote this study; it is {xix}only from men of a liberal and ingenious turn of mind, settled there, that we can hope to have any information of the state of nature in distant regions; and the scarcity of such men I have found to be exceeding great. For these reasons the reader must not expect to find the caterpillar and chrysalis of every insect represented. It is sufficient if I am able to give figures of many exotics that have hitherto been unknown. The natural history, the forms of the caterpillars, ways of life, haunts, &c. can, in such cases, be known only to persons living on the spot, and who have speculation enough to observe them. Whenever I receive such pieces of information, they shall, certainly, not be withheld from the public.

When I first engaged in the business of describing the different insects that compose the following work, I found myself surrounded with difficulties of so unexpected a nature, that I had more than once entertained thoughts of postponing, if not totally relinquishing so arduous a task. Nothing but the strong desire I had of promoting the study of natural history, could have led me to overcome a sense of my own incapacity of writing with that precision, which the public eye demands; and, therefore, I have reason to hope for the candid allowance of the ingenious, to faults, which might, perhaps, escape from the pen of a master, on a subject so new as the present. Among the rest, I laboured under no little trouble from a want of knowing what names to give to many colours found on the wings of some of the farinaceous tribe. The want of a series, or standard for names to colours, is a matter much to be lamented in this kingdom. I know no English author that has attempted it; perhaps the arduousness of the task may be the reason it has not been done; for if we form to ourselves an idea of the difficulty of bringing forth that innumerable train of colours that is to be done from only a yellow, a red and a blue, we may partly judge of the labour that man has to undergo who shall attempt it. In my case, the great variety of tints to be found on the insects, the harshness of some, the softness of others, together with the manner of their running into one another, increases the difficulty, and renders descriptions a matter of such labour, that nothing but the strongest resolution and perseverance could overcome. From hence, I hope, if the reader should chance to meet with any part among them, that does not entirely correspond with the colour given to the print, he will impute it to its proper cause, the painter. I know of no defects of this kind; but it is not impossible some may have escaped my observation, among such a multitude of figures which I had to correct. It is necessary I should inform the reader, that all my descriptions have been taken from the natural subjects themselves, and not from the coloured prints of them; and that my intention therein, is not to give a perfect idea of the insects, without the help of the figures, but only to assist the imagination in knowing what is described. And when we consider the advantages that good engravings have over verbal descriptions, the former representing to the mind, at first view, the object designed to be understood, without putting us to the trouble of calling all our ideas, all our powers of conception to our assistance, in order to discover what is intended to be described; {xx}while the latter, though given by the best writers, often puzzles and confounds the mind, if our ideas do not keep pace with the author's meaning, the present work, by having every coloured figure explained, must render it superior to any hitherto published in this kingdom. The last author that published any figures of exotic subjects in natural history, was Mr. Petiver, who, in his Gazophylacium, delineated a great variety of all the different orders; many of them exceeding curious and uncommon, being collected from various parts of the world. But they were sent forth uncoloured, and almost undescribed; circumstances that render them less estimable by the difficulty there is, in many instances, of knowing what the author meant; the shape of the animal, plant, &c. being the principal, and, sometimes, the only thing, we can understand. But although many of the figures consist of mere outlines, not exquisitely well engraved, it is not without merit. There are a great many very uncommon subjects exhibited, that were not known to exist in nature, till he held them forth to public view. It is, in short, a work, that, at the same time it manifested his desire for promoting his favourite study, was a proof of his assiduity, affording great room for speculation; and as the present is an improvement on his plan, I flatter myself it will not be unacceptable to the lovers of natural history. There is yet another advantage arising from the descriptions, that is not less than what I have already mentioned. If this work should fall into the hands of a bookseller, after my decease, the public would not probably be pestered with copies so execrably coloured, as is generally the case with books of this sort, after the author's death; the descriptions will be such a guide for colouring the prints, that capital errors will not be able to find admittance: the grossness of colouring a part yellow that should be red, or green, that ought to be blue, would immediately be detected; and the publisher, for his own sake, would undoubtedly be careful to have the prints justly and accurately done.

The experienced naturalist will perceive, that, throughout the quotations, I have not availed myself of any of the ancient authors. I have scarcely mentioned Mouffet, Aldrovandus, and others. It is certain, the figures to be seen in the works of most of the ancients are so bad, I dared not give any quotation from them. The incorrectness of the outlines, the irregularity and impropriety of the spots and marks, together with the looseness of the engravings, renders them too imperfect for any one to venture mentioning them. Indeed they are, in general, so little expressive of the insect intended to be represented, that no dependance can be had on their figures, especially the farinaceous winged tribe. Clerck, Merian, Roesel, Petiver, &c. are the authors I have principally mentioned, among the iconographers; and if the insect has been figured by a great many authors, as particularly Plate 34. Fig. 7, 8. I have only mentioned a few: the rest may be known by looking into the Systema of Linnæus^[12], under the title mentioned in the quotation. This author is the principal one I have quoted among the descriptive writers: his great judgment in this study, the plain method he has laid down for the classing of insects, together with the {xxi}excellency of his generical characters, are what must endear him to every professor of this study. I speak only of that part relating to the insect kingdom; the merits of the other parts are best known to those conversant in the respective branches. I must not here pass over a circumstance, which it is proper to apprize my readers of, by way of apology for giving a few figures (but a few) that have been published already in this kingdom. When I first laid down the plan of this work, I had no intention of confining myself to those subjects that were non-descripts; but proposed to give figures of any exotic insects that might fall into my possession, or what I could procure drawings of, by the assistance of those gentlemen who were friends to an attempt of this sort. I was willing to promote this branch of natural history, by any method that lay within the compass of my little sphere. This I was the rather prompted to, by the consideration of its being an attempt entirely novel in this nation, and conducted in a way different from any yet pursued. But a little recollection convinced me I was wrong. I was soon sensible, that the giving figures, already known and published here, could do no service to the study, or benefit the reader; it is possible I might give a better figure than that before published; the engraving might be softer, more delicate, and better becoming the subject; or the colouring more exact and just: but this would not be improving the reader's judgment, or increasing his knowledge. In short, from that moment I altered my plan; and it is to this mistake a few figures are inserted in different places, which have before made their appearance in England, either separately, or mixed with other subjects of natural history. From that time I took care to delineate none that I was conscious had engaged the pencil of any preceding author; but confined myself to such, whose novelty and striking appearances could not fail to recommend them. To such non-descripts I have paid the greatest deference; for in some of the plates, among the butterflies and moths, I have given complete figures of both the upper and under sides; a practice that, as deviating from my general rule, I should not have done, if the richness and softness of the colouring had not been so extremely pleasing, as to render it scarcely possible to dispense with it. It is only to a few I have paid this particular respect. In general, I have given to the butterflies, only figures of one half their under sides, but whole upper ones; and of those moths that have no representations of their under sides, the reader may conclude there is no material difference between their upper and under ones, or else the latter is too poor and mean to justify the giving a figure of it. I must just mention, that although I used this forbearance to those figures that had been heretofore published, I by no means meant to debar myself from representing such as had been only verbally described; as is the case with a great many to be met with in the Systema of Linnæus, and in other authors. The refraining, therefore, from such subjects, would have been rather condemnable than fit to be approved, for the reasons I mentioned before, of the great difficulty there is in understanding, sometimes, the best verbal descriptions that ever were given; therefore figures of this kind may not improperly be considered as explanatory, or as illustrations to {xxii}such verbal descriptions, affording the student a two-fold pleasure, by comparing them together.

If the reader has made no progress in the study of natural history, he will probably find it difficult to understand the several names, or terms, the different parts of insects are called by; and which occur in every description. For this reason I think it incumbent on me to give the most plain and familiar explanation of them I possibly can. This I have done two ways; by methodical definitions, and figures; and in both of them shall make no scruple to follow the method laid down by that great master of natural history, the judicious Linnæus, whose excellent plan, for the knowledge and classing of insects, demands the utmost thanks and regard from every lover of this branch of science. From his plan I have taken the hint of giving some figures of different genera, with the proper names of the respective parts in a plate by themselves. By these the reader will not only be greatly assisted in understanding the descriptions; but it will enable him to class them with more facility, if he is inclined to do so. I therefore go on to explain, first the terms used throughout the whole; and afterwards the distinct and different parts of insects. In doing this, I divide them into

Order, Class, Genus, and Species.

To these I must add the word

I shall next proceed to explain and describe the different parts composing insects, by dividing them into the Head, Thorax, Abdomen, and Limbs.^[17]

The Head (Fig. 1, 2, 3, a.) includes the ANTENNÆ, MOUTH, PALPI, EYES, TONGUE, JAWS, and HORNS.

The Thorax is principally composed of the BACK, BREAST, and in some the SCUTELLUM, in others the MESOSTERNUM and DILATED POSTERIOR COXÆ.

The Limbs comprehend the TAIL, LEGS, and WINGS, with their cases.

It is necessary to observe, that I have not been so prolix and explanatory in the foregoing definitions as I should be, if I intended to arrange the figures under their respective classes, or establish any system for doing so; I have explained no more terms or parts than what are sufficient to enable the reader (if he is not an adept) easily and clearly to understand the descriptions. It is likewise necessary to mention, that I have given English names to most of the parts, where I could do it with the necessary propriety for serving this particular purpose; and where I could not substitute an English word, that was apposite and significant, I have preserved the Latin one, as used by Linnæus and others. Thus, for instance, the term palpi I would have altered, if I could have found an English word that conveyed the same idea; but not easily finding one, I have kept to the original. I have not forgot the terms mustachios, whiskers, &c. which I might have used in its stead; but as these parts in many insects bore no analogy or resemblance thereto, it being in a great many of them like a short jointed filament or thread, I rather chose to preserve the Latin one. The same practice I have observed with the term antennæ. For though feelers is the general explanation given to this word, I could not prevail with myself to use it. The reason is, because these animals seem to have a power {xxv}of applying these parts to purposes different from that of feeling. By the antennæ they are capable of distinguishing and perceiving, as well as feeling; and I am strongly inclined to believe, it is by them the males are capable of discovering the females at a great distance. It is certain their powers of perception are very obvious and remarkable, which, by close observations, we may soon discover; and unless we allow them capable of smelling without nostrils, I do not know what parts they exercise, or by what means they so readily discover, not only their females but their respective kinds of food, the places proper for depositing their eggs, &c. The male moths appear to have this faculty of discovering their females in a greater degree than most other insects; for there are but a very few, if any, belonging to this genus, whose females pass the first night after they quit the chrysalis without coupling with the males; owing to unconquerable desire in the latter, and the strong effluvia or scent emitted by the former for attracting their mates. Every adept is fully acquainted that a female moth, known by the name of the Egger (Phalæna Quercus of Linnæus), taken into the fields the first day it is hatched, will most certainly (though shut up in a box) allure all the males round the country that are within the sphere of its attraction, and even from a great distance; who will at first fly round the box with wonderful swiftness and eagerness, and afterwards settling thereon will hunt and run about it with the greatest impatience, endeavouring to get at the inclosed female; and all this from the strongest desire of copulation; for the minute that action is performed by a male, the attractive property of the other ceases. The powers of perception and distinction, therefore, are very great; and what parts of the insects, unless it be the antennæ, are employed in this search I am at a loss to discover. However, at present, I presume it will not be necessary to offer any further reasons for using this term, as the name substituted is sufficient for it to be known by, it will fully answer the intended purpose.

The names of the other parts are too intelligible to require any explanation.

The plate annexed (being the last thing I shall speak of) requires but little to be said in its favour. The use and advantage of it is too obvious to dwell on. I have already mentioned, that engravings and delineations claim the preference in the highest degree of verbal descriptions; and as such, I presume, the reader will find this plate of the greatest service in assisting him to understand the descriptive parts with clearness and ease. I must only recommend it to him, if he is desirous of avoiding difficulty and trouble, to make himself fully acquainted with the terms and names of all the parts of insects, before he begins to read the descriptions.

The terms upper side and under side, mentioned in all the descriptions of the farinaceous tribe, require no explanation.

Fig. IV. is inserted only to shew the three little eyes, which are placed in a triangular manner, and mentioned in some of the descriptions, viz. Plate 43. Fig. 4, 5, 6, &c.

ILLUSTRATIONS

OF

EXOTIC ENTOMOLOGY.

PLATE I.

NYMPHALIS (CHARAXES) JASON.

Plate I. fig. 1.

I have thought it more in accordance with the principles which are now almost universally adopted, in regulating specific nomenclature, to revert to the original Linnæan {2}name of Jason in preference to that of Fabricius. This butterfly may be regarded as one of the most splendid of the Lepidoptera of Europe, to the southern portion of which and to the northern shores of Africa it appears to be confined. The strength of its general structure indicates great powers of flight, and we accordingly find that it is able to sustain itself in the air with very little motion of the wings. The female differs from the male only by having the centre of the posterior wings adorned with small blue spots on the upper side. There are two broods in the year, namely in June and September, and, according to M. De Villiers, the insect emits a strong scent of musk. The caterpillar is naked and thickened in the middle of the body; the tail tapering into two short points, the head is also armed with two conical erect horns. In this respect, therefore, this insect very nearly approaches the genus Apatura, of which the purple Emperor, Ap. Iris is the type, thus proving the advantages to be obtained, in studying the natural relations of this difficult order of Annulosa, from an accurate acquaintance with the structure and habits of the early stages of the insect.

There are several species, having the same general form as the Jason, including Athamas, pl. 2. fig. 3. 4; Eudoxus, vol. iii. pl. 33. f. 1. 4; Camulus, vol. iii. pl. 30. f. 1. 2. Mr. Swainson has, accordingly, formed them into a distinct group, to which he has given the name of Jasia, in pursuance with his customary, but scarcely correct plan, of raising the specific name of the typical species into a generic name, and then giving a new specific name to such type. M. Boisduval, rejecting this system of nomenclature, has more recently proposed for the same group the name of Charaxes, which I have adopted.

Amongst the species very nearly resembling Jason, is one sent from Africa^[20] to Mr. Drury by Mr. Smeathman, which, according to the observations of that traveller, published by Drury, in the introduction to his third volume, flies in the heat of the day with amazing rapidity, and seldom descends within eight feet of the ground. It glances from the prominent branches of one tree to those of another, as swift as a swallow, and turns its head about instantly to the glade, or path, and will not suffer any person to approach within a striking distance of it, but darts away on the least motion of the body. If the collector exert his patience it will at last become more familiar and careless, and is then to be caught upon some particular branch, to which it will appear more attached than to another.

THECLA ACIS.

Plate I. fig. 2.

This species is nearly allied to Papilio Echion, Linn. Syst. Nat. p. 788. figured by Roesel, tom. i. tab. 7. f. 3. 4. which is also an American species, but differs, as Drury observes, in wanting the red spots on the upper surface of the lower wings, in having a red line crossing the wings on the under side, &c.

THECLA SIMAETHIS.

Plate I. fig. 3.

Nearly allied to the common British species, Thecla Rubi.

PLATE II.

POLYOMMATUS THERO.

Plate II. fig. 1.

Drury confounded this species with the European Papilio Rumina, Linn. belonging to a distant genus (Thais), whilst Fabricius described it twice under the specific names cited above.

ERYCINA LYSIPPUS.

Plate II. fig. 2.

HIPPARCHIA EUMEA.

Plate II. fig. 3.

I have reverted to the name given by Drury, in preference to following Fabricius, and the authors of the Encyclopédie Méthodique.

NYMPHALIS (CHARAXES) ATHAMAS.

Plate II. fig. 4.

Donovan has confounded this species with the Linnæan Pap. Pyrrhus, although Drury had previously pointed out the diversity of the two species.

PLATE III.

EREBUS ODORA.

Plate III. fig. 1.

Drury notices another insect, also received by him from Saint Christopher's, of smaller size, and differing only in having a narrow indented bar, of a flesh colour, crossing the upper and lower wings, and which, he thinks, may possibly be the other sex of the insect here figured; considering also, that the references to Linnæus and Sloane, apply rather to the smaller insect. Fabricius states, that the female of Odora is distinguished by having a fascia, composed of three waved white lines, in the middle of the wings.

SPILOSOMA ACREA.

Plate III. fig. 2. ♀. 3. ♂.

This species is closely allied to the common British species, Spilosoma lubricepida, and Menthrastri; but is of larger size, the spots being also larger. The two figures given by Drury, are now ascertained to be the sexes of the same species, as, indeed, our author had surmised might be the case. It appears to be a very common species, and is stated by Drury to breed twice a year, namely, in June and September. The caterpillar is very hairy, and when young is white; as it advances in age, it acquires a fox colour, and, in its last skin, becomes almost black. Dr. Thaddeus W. Harris, a distinguished American entomologist, to whom I am indebted for many valuable insects of that country, has published a very interesting notice, in the work above cited, upon this insect, under the title of "The Natural History of the Salt-marsh Caterpillar," under which name the larva of this insect is commonly known, and which is exceedingly destructive to grasses of various kinds. He states, that when nearly full-fed, "they become very voracious, and continue eating all the day and night without intermission. Soon they leave the meadows, aggregated in great numbers, and commence the wandering state, or begin to run, as is the phrase, devouring everything in their progress; corn-fields, gardens, and even the coarse and rank {8}produce of road sides, afford them temporary nourishment, until they have found a place of security from the wind and weather." Dr. Harris, in a communication to me, has stated, that he had ascertained that this insect was the Acria of Fabricius, and that Professor Peck's name must, therefore, be rejected. Abbot observes, respecting this caterpillar, that it is "a general devourer of all field and garden-plants, and weeds. It spun up in a thin web, intermixed with its own hairs, on the 16th of May, and the moth came out on the 2d of June. Others of the autumnal brood, taken in September, spun up on the 18th of that month, and remained in the chrysalis until the 21st of April."

PLATE IV.

CETHOSIA CYANE.

Plate IV. fig. 1.

The insect described in the Encyclopédie Méthodique, from Malabar, differs from that figured by Drury, in having the disc of the posterior wings of a fulvous buff colour, and the spots larger, with the markings at the base of this pair of wings, on the under side fulvous instead of blue. Is this to be regarded as a variety, the opposite sex, or a distinct species?

CETHOSIA BIBLIS.

Plate IV. fig. 2.

Fabricius has confounded this species and another, under the name of Penthesilea. Latreille and Godart have altered the specific name proposed by Drury to that of Biblina, "parce qu'il a été imposé ultérieurement à un genre de Lépidoptères diurnes." I have, however, restored the specific name of Biblis, because the same name, was not {10}proposed for a genus by Fabricius, until many years after the publication of Drury's work, in the Synopsis of the Systema Glossatorum, published in Illiger's Magazine; and because the employment of a proper name, like Biblis, for a species, even when previously used for a genus belonging to a perfectly distinct group, is not incorrect.

PLATE V.

CYNTHIA HUNTERA.

Plate V. fig. 1.

The caterpillar of this insect is described by Drury as being green, with black rings round the body, and as feeding about New York upon the wild balsams, appearing about the latter end of July, or beginning of August. Once in about five or six years they are exceedingly plentiful, at other times very scarce; a peculiarity also noticed in the very nearly allied European species, Cynthia Cardui (the Painted lady), of which species, indeed, Drury appears to have regarded it as a geographical variety.

The caterpillar, according to Abbot, is of a brown colour, with the incisions, and a {11}lateral line yellow; it has also two dorsal lines, formed of alternately white and red points; the head is black, and the spines, with which the body is armed, are of the prevalent colour of the surface. It feeds upon the Gnaphalum obtusifolium. The chrysalis is rather yellow, with black spots, and is assumed towards the end of April or beginning of May. The butterfly appears at the end of about ten days. It continues breeding during the summer, and is very commonly seen sucking up moisture from damp places near houses. The caterpillar folds and spins the leaves together, in the same manner as the English Painted lady, Cynthia Cardui.

PIERIS (THESTIAS) PYRENE?

Plate V. fig. 2.

There is the greatest confusion respecting the specific names of this, and several nearly allied species, which would be very difficult to unravel. Drury considered this insect as a variety of Evippe, whilst Fabricius, Latrielle, and Godart, give it as identical with the Linnæan Pyrene, which opinion I have adopted, although I am by no means certain as to the identity of the species; the under side of the wings offering no trace of the central discoidal black spot existing in that species. M. Boisduval has not diminished the confusion, in his work just published, by giving a species from Guinea, under the name of Evippe (which Linnæus states is from China), with the erroneous observation, "Il est probable que les anciens auteurs auront confondu sous le nom d'Evippe trois ou quatre espèces Africaines."—Hist. Nat. Lépid. 1. p. 574.

CYNTHIA LAOMEDIA.

Plate V. fig. 3.

PLATE VI.

ARGYNNIS NIPHE.

Plate VI. fig. 1.

ARGYNNIS TEPHNIA.

Plate VI. fig. 2.

The specific name given to this species by Drury, having the priority in point of date, would have been retained, had it not been identical with that of the genus to which it belongs. Engramelle and several other authors have, inadvertently, given it as an inhabitant of the south of Europe.

PLATE VII.

NYCTALEMON PATROCLUS.

Plate VII. fig. 1. (Upper Side). Plate VIII. fig. 1. (Under Side).

This is one of those anomalous forms, whereof examples occur in every tribe of animals, baffling the skill of the most profound systematists. By Linnæus, and many other authors, it was considered as a butterfly, and certainly the genus Urania (in which it is placed by Latreille), as we learn from Mr. W. S. MacLeay's valuable memoir upon that genus, published in the first volume of the Transactions of the Zoological Society of London, is composed of day-flying species. Fabricius, however, regarded it as a moth, belonging to the genus Noctua, and nearly related to the genus Erebus, of which the Erebus Odora, figured in the third plate of the present volume, is a conspicuous species; and when we examine the structure of the palpi, and the spurs upon the posterior tibiæ, we find good reason for adopting this relation, admitting, at the same time, that the group in question is one which, from its various affinities and analogies, it is very difficult to assign to any single section.

CALLIMORPHA PHYLLIRA.

Plate VII. fig. 2.

The caterpillar of this species is brown, with small dorsal and lateral diamond-shaped yellow spots, emitting fascicles of hairs. It feeds, according to Abbot, on the cross-wort, corn, peas, wheat, &c. One of the caterpillars spun up on the 4th of April, and the moth appeared on the 29th. Another spun up on the 27th of May, and came out on the 16th of June. It continues breeding during most part of the summer.

SPILOSOMA NAIS.

Plate VII. fig. 3.

This species is nearly related to our common British species, Spilosoma lubricepida.

PLATE VIII.

GEOMETRA TRANSVERSATA.

Plate VIII. fig. 2.

This species seems nearly allied to the moths, which English collectors call the Thorns, and to which Stephens restricts the name of Geometra, but which M. Duponchel terms Ennomos.

BUPALUS CATENARIUS.

Plate VIII. fig. 3.

PLATE IX.

CERATOCAMPA IMPERIALIS.

Plate IX. fig. 1. 2.

This species breeds twice in the year, namely in June and September. The caterpillar, according to Abbot, feeds on the plane-tree (Platanus occidentalis Linn.), oak, liquidambar, and pine trees. Some of them are of a tawny colour, others tawny and orange, others green. They are furnished with long rigid hairs, and the second and third segments of the body are also armed with two pair of short, erect, rugose horns. {18}This insect is placed by Mr. Kirby in his new genus Cerocampa, together with Phalæna regalis, Fabr. Mr. Kirby had, however, evidently in view the caterpillars of the latter insect, when he proposed this generic name, and which are armed with numerous, long, erect, rigid spines, those near the head being curved, and giving the insect somewhat the appearance of a cockatoo. This larva is figured by Abbot and Smith, pl. 61, and specimens, admirably preserved by Abbot, are contained in the collection of the Entomological Society of London, presented by Mr. Kirby. There is also considerable difference between the chrysalides of these two insects, that of imperialis being more elongate, with a bifid tail, and with transverse rows of short abdominal spines, of which the chrysalis of regalis is destitute. One of the caterpillars observed by Abbot, went into the ground on the 16th of September, and the moth came out on the 4th of July. They are extremely difficult to rear in confinement.

NOCTUA SQUAMULARIS.

Plate IX. fig. 3.

I am unable to ascertain to which of the modern genera of Noctuidæ, this and the following species are referrible.

NOCTUA UNDULARIS.

Plate IX. fig. 4.

PLATE X.

NYMPHALIS FERONIA.

Plate X. fig. 1. 2.

PIERIS (IPHIAS) GLAUCIPPE.

Plate X. fig. 3. 4.

M. Boisduval has formed the present species, and another large Pieridean, into the genus Iphias, which differs from Thestias, and Mancipium (Anthocharis Bdv.), in the structure of the antennæ. The larva and pupa of this species are described and figured by Dr. Horsfield, in his Lepidoptera Javanica, pl. 3, fig. 7, and 7a, (copied by Boisduval, pl. 2A. fig. 3.). The former is long subcylindrical, with the dorsal segments somewhat rugose, being transversely shagreened; it feeds upon the Capparis. The pupa is navicular, the head being produced into a point. The female imago differs from the figure here given (which represents the male), in having the black markings more diffused.

PLATE XI.

PAPILIO PHILENOR.

Plate XI. fig. 1. and 4.

This butterfly is one of the most beautiful, and, at the same time, most common of the North American species; abounding wherever the Aristolochia serpentaria grows, the larva feeding upon that plant. It is described by Boisduval and Abbot, and is brown, with four rows of small fulvous tubercles, and a row of brown spines near the legs; moreover, it has two long spines directed forwards upon the first segment, three upon the penultimate, and two upon the tenth segment. The neck is also furnished with a furcate retractile reddish tentacle; the chrysalis is of a violet grey, or reddish colour, with two yellow spots, the head being truncate. The female is larger, with brown-coloured wings, with cupreous reflections. The insect assumes the chrysalis state on the 26th of April, and the fly appears on the 4th of May. Another, observed by Abbot, went into chrysalis on the 21st of June, and the butterfly came out on the 5th July. The latter delights to frequent the blossoms of the peach and other trees in the spring.

PAPILIO ASTERIAS.

Plate XI. fig. 2. 3. and 5.

This species is subject to considerable variation in the size of the internal series of yellow spots, which is sometimes even entirely obliterated in the females, in which the yellow is much less brilliant, and the spots smaller than in the males. These varieties somewhat resemble Papilio Troilus of Linnæus, with which, indeed, Drury and Smith^[21] confounded the insect here described. Godart and Boisduval have added to the confusion by their incorrect references to our author, the first of these writers giving figure 2 of this plate as alone representing P. Asterias, and figs. 3, 4, and 5, (which represent two distinct species) as P. Troilus, Linn. which species Drury has not figured; and both of these authors quoting figure 2, both under Troilus and Asterias, although Drury expressly states, that the specimens figured at 2 and 3, were reared by him, with many other individuals, from chrysalides, sent from America by his correspondent, who assured him that they proceeded from the same brood. The preparatory states of P. Asterias are figured by Abbot and Smith, and Boisduval. The larva feeds upon Umbelliferæ, especially the fennel (Anethum fæniculum, Linn.), and Daucus Carota, and is very similar to that of Pap. Machaon, which species appears to be replaced in America by P. Asterias, and which makes its appearance in the perfect state three times in the year. Abbot states, that one of the caterpillars assumed the chrysalis state on the 12th of July, and the imago appeared on the 20th.

PLATE XII.

PAPILIO PARIS.

Plate XII. fig. 1. 2.

This very handsome species is often received from China, but in an imperfect condition. The female, according to Godart (Enc. Méth. ix. p. 67.) is the Papilio Bianor, Fabr. which has no trace of the shining green spot on the posterior wings. M. Boisduval, however, asserts, that this is not correct, and that the female differs only from the male in having the ground of the wings rather darker, and possessing a transverse interrupted fascia of green dots near the external margin of the upper wing; these being represented in Drury's figure, therefore indicate that his specimen was of the female sex.

Dr. Horsfield has figured another species from Java (Lepid. Javan. pl. 1. fig. 14.), differing very slightly from the preceding, under the name of Papilio Arjuna, of which he has also figured the larva and pupa (pl. 4. fig. 11.). The former has the three first segments of the body covered, as it were, with a leathery shield, elevated behind, and ornamented with several ocelli; the other segments are simple; the chrysalis is considerably curved, with the head bifid.

COLIAS (CALLIDRYAS) PYRANTHE, var.?

Plate XII. fig. 3. 4.

There is much confusion respecting the specific names of this and several other Asiatic species, as may be seen from the citations in the synonyms. I have followed the French authors in assigning Drury's insect to the Pyranthe of Linnæus, although that author describes his insect as having a discoidal red spot on each of the wings beneath. The species of this group are variable in the intensity of their markings, and the males are less strongly marked than the females; and as Drury's figure represents a male (distinguished by the bundle of hairs on the interior margin of the anterior wings) it may possibly be an extreme variety of the male of Pyranthe. Boisduval has indeed described another species of considerably smaller size, which is destitute of the discoidal spot (Call. minna), which also, he considers, may possibly be a variety of C. Pyranthe.

PLATE XIII.

ARGYNNIS IDALIA.

Plate XIII. fig. 1.3. ♀.—2. ♂.

PAMPHILA PHYLÆUS.

Plate XIII. fig. 4. 5.

A specimen of this species is stated to have been captured by the late Dr. Abbot in Bedfordshire. It is most probable, however, now that the Pamphila Bucephalus has been proved to be an indigenous species, that the specimen the capture of which is recorded by Mr. Haworth, belonged to that species. The caterpillar of this skipper-butterfly feeds upon a species of panic grass (Panicum Crus-Galli) and on the buffalo grass.

PLATE XIV.

NYMPHALIS BOLINA.

Plate XIV. fig. 1. 2.

The flight of this species is said by Drury to be exceedingly quick and rapid, so that it is very difficult to catch them, and hence they are seldom obtained in fine condition, being generally secured in a faded state when they are taken with more ease. The purple tint upon the upper side of the wings is most intense, and when the insect flies in the sun, glancing before the eye of the observer at a little distance (for it is by no means a timid creature), the vivid purple, observes Drury, is not much less than the electrical spark, and its changes depending on the degree of obliquity which it presents to the sun, are scarcely less rapid.

NYMPHALIS IPHICLA.

Plate XIV. fig. 3, 4.

PLATE XV.

VANESSA CHARONIA.

Plate XV. fig. 1. 2.

ARGYNNIS ERYMANTHIS.

Plate XV. fig. 3. 4.

HIPPARCHIA LEDA.

Plate XV. fig. 5. 6.

Drury observes (Introd. to vol. iii. p. 16.) that this insect very much resembles a species sent by Mr. Smeathman from Africa, which comes out only about sunset, and is then to be found in dark shades, wavering about amongst the early flying noctuæ, and other nocturnal species. In some manuscripts of the late Professor Weber of Kiel, in my possession, the East Indies are given as the habitat of this species.

PLATE XVI.

CASTNIA LICUS.

Plate XVI. fig. 1. 2.

The genus Castnia is another of those curious anomalous forms, which exhibit the characters of several groups. The general form of the wings is that of a moth, whilst the variegated colours, indicating diurnal flight, and the structure of the antennæ are those of a butterfly. It is much to be regretted, that travellers in South America have not ascertained the preparatory states of this extraordinary group, which alone will enable us satisfactorily to ascertain its real relations.

GASTROPACHA? OTUS.

Plate XVI. fig. 3.

This insect, which appears to have been overlooked by modern authors, seems to form a connecting link between Zeuzera and Gastropacha, agreeing with the former in the general form, and with the latter in the transverse denticulated fasciæ on the anterior wings, and the curved antennæ feathered to the tips.

PLATE XVII.

PAPILIO POLYDAMAS.

Plate XVII. fig. 1. 2.

Linnæus states, that this insect inhabits the Hibiscus mutabilis. By other authors it is stated to feed upon the Aristolochia Serpentaria, or Virginian snake-root. The caterpillar is brown, with fleshy spines of the same colour, and red stripes, each segment also being ornamented with four eye-like spots, half yellow and half red.

NYMPHALIS ASSIMILIS.

Plate XVII. fig. 3. 4.

PLATE XVIII.

LIMACODES? ARENACEA.

Plate XVIII. fig. 1.

This insect appears most nearly to approach the genus Limacodes, Latr.

SATURNIA CECROPIA.

Plate XVIII. fig. 2.

The caterpillar of this fine moth feeds upon the wild American plum (Prunus Pensylvanica), garden plum, &c. It is thick and fleshy, of a pale green colour, with a pair of small blue spots on each segment, and with two rows of short and setose yellow dorsal tubercles. One observed by Abbot, spun up on the 17th of June, and the moth came out on the 30th of March following. The cocoon is attached to a twig. The outside web is coarse, and the inner covered with silk, like a silk-worm's cocoon. Abbot states that this silk has been carded, spun, and made into stockings, and that it will wash like linen. The species is, however, too rare to be of any utility in Georgia. It is, however, much more abundant in the neighbourhood of New York, and has been bred in England from some brought over in the chrysalis state. It is difficult to rear it in confinement.

SPILOSOMA ARGE.

Plate XVIII. fig. 3.

The caterpillar of this insect is brown, with five pale longitudinal lines, and with long hairs arising from fulvous tubercles. It feeds, according to Abbot, upon plantain, corn, peas, and many other plants. A specimen observed by this author was hatched on the 23d of July, spun up on the 28th of August, and the moth appeared on the 9th of September. It is said occasionally to make great devastation among Indian corn. Sir J. E. Smith ascertained the specific identity of this insect from Dr. Hunter's Museum, examined by Fabricius, who has neglected to cite Drury's figure.

SPILOSOMA CUNEA.

Plate XVIII. fig. 4.

There seems little reason for doubting that this is identical with the Phalæna punctatissima of Abbot and Smith, of which the female is entirely white. The last named species feeds upon the mulberry, persimmon, willow, and wild cherry of America. One observed by Abbot spun up on the 16th of May, and came out on the 1st of June. The whole brood of caterpillars feed together in a web, and will often entirely destroy the leaves of a small tree. The name proposed by Drury evidently alludes to the triangular spots on the margin of the anterior wings, and seems quite as expressive as that employed by Sir J. E. Smith, who seems to have treated Drury's work on several occasions as scarcely deserving of notice.

NOCTUA (ACONTIA?) NUNDINA.

Plate XVIII. fig. 5.

PLATE XIX.

PAPILIO PALAMEDES.

Plate XIX. fig. 1. 2.

The caterpillar is described by Boisduval as living upon several species of Laurus, and of a green colour, with pale blue spots, and scarlet belly and legs, with a scarlet eye-shaped spot on each side of the third segment. The chrysalis is gibbous, ferruginous on the back, with the belly rose-coloured, and four rows of pale blue dots. I have reverted to Drury's specific name, which has certainly the priority, as appears from the dates which I have introduced amongst the synonyms. Dr. Boisduval has given another species of this genus under the name of Palamedes, described by Fabricius under that name, but considered by him to be a Nymphalis. This latter species must consequently receive a new denomination.

MELITÆA PELOPS.

Plate XIX. fig. 3. 4.

HESPERIA ARCAS.

Plate XIX. fig. 5. 6.

PLATE XX.

EREBUS CREPUSCULARIS?

Plate XX. fig. 1. 2.

The diversity of the habitats, given by Drury and Linnæus, render it doubtful whether that figured by the former be identical with that described by the latter.

NOCTUA LUNATA.

Plate XX. fig. 3.

GEOMETRA (ANGERONA) SERRATA.

Plate XX. fig. 4.

PLATE XXI.

ARGYNNIS PHALANTA.

Plate XXI. fig. 1. 2.

MELITÆA PHAETON.

Plate XXI. fig. 3. 4.

MELITÆA THAROS.

Plate XXI. fig. 5. 6.

PLATE XXII.

PAPILIO THOAS.

Plate XXII. fig. 1. 2.

The caterpillar of this butterfly feeds upon the orange-trees, from Paraguay to Georgia. Its back is covered with large irregular white spots, with brown marks, which extend along the middle and posterior parts of the body. The chrysalis is of a bright brown, with several black dots.

PAPILIO SINON.

Plate XXII. fig. 3. 4.

M. Boisduval states that Drury's figure is "peu exacte." It is true, indeed, that the figure does not agree with the description given by that author, who describes the fourth pale fascia as "bifide dans la cellule discoidale des premières ailes." The exact uniformity in the shape of this fascia, in both of Drury's figures, renders its correctness evident, and consequently the insect figured by Drury must be regarded as a variety of the species described by Boisduval.

PLATE XXIII.

NOCTUA MELICERTA.

Plate XXIII. fig. 1.

Fabricius appears to have described this insect in his Entomologia Systematica, under three different names. It probably forms the type of a distinct subgenus in the family Noctuidæ.

CATOCALA EPIONE.

Plate XXIII. fig. 2.

NOCTUA PALES.

Plate XXIII. fig. 3.

CALLIMORPHA? VINOSA.

Plate XXIII. fig. 4.

This insect seems to form the type of a distinct subgenus between Nudaria and Callimorpha.

NOCTUA NUMERIA.

Plate XXIII. fig. 5.

CATOCALA AFFINIS.

Plate XXIII. fig. 6.

PLATE XXIV.

ACTIAS LUNA.

Plate XXIV. fig. 1.

Drury's correspondent informed him that the caterpillar of this handsome moth is red, and feeds on the leaves of the sassafras tree. When they are full-fed they inclose themselves in a strong case composed of the substance of the tree, and a glutinous matter which they secrete. They appear in June and August. The caterpillar, however, figured by Abbot is green, with short hairs scattered over the body, and with about eight small red {46}spots on each segment, placed transversely. This author also states that it feeds upon the sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua, Linn.), different kinds of walnut, and the Persimon (Diospyros Virginiana). One of them spun up on the 31st of May, and came out on the 8th of June; another on the 23rd of June, and came out on the 10th of July; and a third, which did not spin up until the 6th of September, remained in the chrysalis till the 3rd of March. It continues breeding throughout the summer, but is not very plentiful.

DEIOPEIA ORNATRIX.

Plate XXIV. fig. 2.

DEIOPEIA BELLA.

Plate XXIV. fig. 3.

In the 'Systema Naturæ' this and the preceding most nearly allied species were placed far apart in the genera Noctua and Tinea. This species appears in May and August. The caterpillar is of the same colours as the anterior wing of the moth, and feeds on the blue lupine.

PLATE XXV.

SPHINX CAROLINA.

Plate XXV. fig. 1.

According to Abbot the caterpillar is pale green, with white lateral oblique stripes, and a pink tail. It is said to feed on the potato, tobacco, red pepper (Capsicum?), &c. One of these caterpillars, observed by Abbot, went into the ground on the 19th of June, and came out on the 15th of July; whilst another went in on the 8th of July, and came out {48}on the 1st of August. The caterpillar is stated by the same author to be very destructive in plantations of tobacco, the cultivators being obliged to pick them carefully off the young plants. The chrysalis is of a chesnut colour, with a long nearly straight tongue case, extending to the middle of the breast, and clubbed at the end. The moth is generally seen in an evening, sucking the James-town weed and gourd blossoms, and continues breeding all the summer; the moth is common in the West Indies, as well as in Georgia and Carolina. Dr. Brown says it is called the musquito hawk, from its appearing at that time of the evening when those insects abound, and being vulgarly but erroneously supposed to prey upon them. Abbot and Smith, loc. cit.

Specimens of this American insect have from time to time been captured in this country. "It unquestionably cannot," however observes Mr. Stephens, "be considered as indigenous, and ought to be rigidly excluded from our cabinets; otherwise the most perplexing consequences must inevitably arise, to the total confusion of our inquiries into the geographical distribution of insects. If this be admitted, as well might 'the noble monarch of the forest,' because a captive lioness which had escaped from her prison was retaken on Salisbury Plain."

SYNTOMIS PHEGEA.

Plate XXV. fig. 2.

GLAUCOPIS FENESTRATA.

Plate XXV. fig. 3.

SPHINX CINGULATA.

Plate XXV. fig. 4.

The caterpillar of this insect, according to Abbot and Smith, is brown, with four dorsal dark flesh-coloured lines, and a series of short lateral oblique cream-coloured marks united together over the legs. It feeds upon the sweet potatoe plant (Convolvulus Batatas, Linn.), and is sometimes frequent though the moth is rare. The chrysalis is chesnut, with a long curved tongue case, the extremity of which is recurved. It is often dug up with the potatoes. In Virginia one of these insects buried itself October 3rd, and came forth in the perfect state on the 30th of May; whilst one observed in Georgia went into the ground on the 20th of August, and came out the 11th of September.

This species was considered by Drury and Smith as a climatal variety of the Europæan Sphinx Convolvuli. Fabricius, however, considered it distinct, and designated it by the specific name adopted above.

PLATE XXVI.

GLAUCOPIS POLYMENA.

Plate XXVI. fig. 1.

SYNTOMIS CERBERA.

Plate XXVI. fig. 2.

DEILEPHILA CHIRON.

Plate XXVI. fig. 3.

ZYGÆNA? THETIS.

Plate XXVI. fig. 4.

MACROGLOSSA ZONATA.

Plate XXVI. fig. 5.

PLATE XXVII.

SPHINX ALOPE.

Plate XXVII. fig. 1.

Fabricius, on the authority of Dr. Pflug, states that this insect frequents the Carica Papaya. The larva is tailed, without hairs, the back cinereous anteriorly, with a broad fascia of a brown colour, ocellated in the middle and ending in a black spot. The chrysalis is brown, with red annuli and striæ.

SPHINX PINASTRI.

Plate XXVII. fig. 2.

This insect is attached to the pine, and is consequently found in the great forests in Germany, and other parts of Continental Europe. This accounts for its scarcity in England, and for its having been occasionally found in the pine forests of Scotland by Dr. Leach and Mr. Wilson. The larva is described by Mr. Stephens as being entirely yellow in its first skin, in the second green with yellow stripes, in the third deeper green, with three longitudinal lemon-yellow lines on each side, and finally of a rich green with a {54}brown dorsal line; the sides with two deep yellow ones; the anterior and first segment of the body yellow, the latter spotted with black; the horn, which was previously straight, becomes curved and black. It feeds on various species of pine, as Pinus abies, sylvestris, Strobus, &c. The chrysalis is dark brown, changing to maroon; the tongue-sheath is short.

SPHINX ELLO.

Plate XXVII. fig. 3.

PLATE XXVIII.

SPHINX VITIS.

Plate XXVIII. fig. 1.

The caterpillar of this beautiful Sphinx is remarkable for having only a slight protuberance at the extremity of the body in place of the erect spine or tail, which is possessed by the majority of the caterpillars of the Sphingidæ. It is of a pale yellowish colour, with numerous slender transverse black lines, and white oblique lateral marks directed towards the head. Its food is very various. One, observed by Abbot, went into the ground on the 14th of August, and came out on the 7th of September; whilst another which went in on the 29th of September, did not come out until the 18th of July following. The moth is rare; but may occasionally be seen sucking the gourd blossoms in the evening. The chrysalis has a pointed tail, but is destitute of a porrected tongue-case.

THYREUS LUGUBRIS.

Plate XXVIII. fig. 2.

The caterpillar of this hawk-moth was found by Abbot on the Virginian Creeper. It went into the ground on the 18th of August, and the fly came out on the 11th of September. The tail of the male spreads like a fan. This is a very rare species; one was caught in the evening on a gourd blossom. It flew exceedingly swift, making a noise like a humble bee. The caterpillar is of a very pale greenish colour, with two dark dorsal lines, terminating at the base of the straight tail; the sides of the body are also ornamented with pale yellow oblique stripes, margined with brown. The chrysalis is chesnut, with a short point at the extremity of the body, and without any tongue-case.

DEILEPHILA TERSA.

Plate XXVIII. fig. 3.

The caterpillar of this insect, figured by Abbot and Smith, is of a pale green colour, with the three anterior segments elongated and attenuated in front, having seven beautiful white eye-like spots on each side, with a red pupil, and margined with black; the anterior ocellus being the largest. These ocelli are united by a lateral white line, terminating at the base of the straight red tail. It feeds upon the wild thyme (Spermacoce Hyssopifolia, Sm.) Some of them are stated by Abbot to be brown. One was observed by the same author to spin itself up on the 31st of July, from which the moth appeared on the 15th of August; whilst another which spun up on the 11th of September, remained in the chrysalis state until the 9th of May. When disturbed, the caterpillar contracts the anterior segments of the body.^[22] The chrysalis is of a pale brown colour, freckled with darker marks. It is not provided with a porrected tongue-case.

SPHINX STRIGILES.

Plate XXVIII. fig. 4.

PLATE XXIX.

SPHINX SATELLITA.

Plate XXIX. fig. 1. ♀.—fig. 2. ♂.

DEILEPHILA EUPHORBIÆ.

Plate XXIX. fig. 3.

Since the days of Drury this handsome insect has been ascertained to be a native of our island. It has, however, until lately been deemed one of the rarest as well as most beautiful species in the rare family to which it belongs. Entomologists are indebted not only for a considerable number of specimens, but, what is more interesting, for a knowledge of the habits of the insect to William Raddon, Esq. the celebrated engraver, by whom an interesting notice has been published in the Entomological Magazine. It feeds upon the sea {59}spurge (Euphorbia paralias), which grows in plenty on the sand hills in the neighbourhood of Barnstaple and Braunton Burrows, in Devonshire. These sand hills are of great extent, and, as suggested by Mr. Curtis, must have been collected by the winds and storms to which they are constantly exposed. During the winter the whole soil is frequently removed, so as completely to alter the surface of the country; a great number of the pupæ must consequently be destroyed or buried at a considerable distance below the surface, where probably they lie hid until they are brought to light and life by the influence of the elements. These circumstances account for the great irregularity in the appearance of the insects. In 1814, for instance, they were so plentiful that Mr. Raddon found not less than one hundred minute larvæ upon an armful of spurge, which he had cut at dusk the preceding evening. The rarity of the insect is also increased by the difficulty of rearing it. The late Mr. Fuseli, the royal academician, who was a zealous entomologist, was enabled only to obtain one moth from twenty chrysalides. The larvæ are full grown in September, and the moth appears in the following June.

PLATE XXX.

DYNASTES HERCULES.

Plate XXX. fig. 1. ♂.—2. ♀.

Drury adds to this insect the following remark—"I have observed many species of beetles whose males have been furnished with horns, either on the head or thorax, but in which the females have none, but have those parts quite smooth and plain; and my observations incline me strongly to think that this rule subsists in every one of them, through the whole class. The instances I could bring in support of this opinion are too many to be admitted in this place."

The circumstance observed upon in the preceding note is certainly very interesting in a physiological point of view. In quadrupeds we find both sexes of cornuted species armed with horns; but in insects almost universally the males alone are provided with these appendages. It is also worthy of remark, that although in the majority of insects the females considerably surpass the males in size, yet in those species in which the males are cornuted, the females are almost invariably smaller than their partners.

Burmeister lays it down as a rule, that with regard to the differences of the sexes, their whole character may be thus distinguished; viz. that the male displays a preponderance of evolution, and the female a preponderance of involution; and observes, "that some beetles have processes upon the head and thorax, which, like the mandibles, can meet, like tongs, and thus serve as a weapon. This is asserted of Hercules and its large comrades." This opinion as to the uses of these horns can, however, scarcely be maintained, since the number of species in which the horns really meet is very few. Kirby and Spence observe, "What may be the use of these extraordinary appendages to the males, has not yet been ascertained. Whether the individuals of this sex are more exposed to the attack of birds and other enemies, in consequence of being more on the wing than the females, and are therefore thus provided with numerous projecting points of defence, is a question worth considering." It is also to be observed that these appendages, instead of being deciduous, as in many of the higher animals, are in insects component parts of the external skeleton.

There are a few exceptions to the observation of Drury; thus in the Lamellicorn genus Hoplites Dej. Catal. (Scarabæus Pan,) the females are cornuted as well as the males; and in the genus Osmia, belonging to the section of wild bees, Dasygastres, Latr., the females alone have the head furnished with two porrected horns.

BUPRESTIS (CHALCOPHORA) VIRGINIENSIS.

Plate XXX. fig. 3.

PLATE XXXI.

GOLIATHUS GIGANTEUS.

Plate XXXI. fig. 1.

This magnificent insect may be regarded as one of the rarest species figured in these Illustrations. Drury states, that the specimen here represented was brought from Africa by Mr. Ogilvie, surgeon of His Majesty's ship the Renown, being found floating, dead, in the river Gaboon, opposite Prince's Island, near the equinoctial line. Nearly seventy years have elapsed since the insect was first described, and yet the insect remains, as far as my knowledge extends, unique.^[23] It would appear that the specimen either belonged to or passed into the hands of Dr. Hunter after the death of Mr. Drury, for Fabricius describes the species with a citation of the museum of Dr. Hunter alone; and Olivier's figure was taken from the specimen whilst it was in that gentleman's possession. After his decease it passed, with his collection, by bequest, into the possession of the University of Glasgow, where it now forms one of the most interesting objects in the Hunterian Museum. Joseph Hooker, Esq., son of Sir W. Hooker, the highly distinguished botanist of Glasgow, tells me that the individual in question was picked up by a sailor in the river above mentioned, and that it is stated in the MSS. of Dr. Hunter that it cost Mr. Drury £10. In the Catalogue of the Insects of Mr. Drury, which were sold by auction at the Natural History Sale Rooms in King Street, Covent Garden (now occupied by Mr. J. C. Stevens), on the 23rd of May, 1805, and two following days, the 95th lot is described as "Scarabæus Goliathus, var." Whence it would appear that the insect here figured was not in the possession of Mr. Drury at his decease, and that he only possessed the insect figured in the 3rd volume of these Illustrations, pl. 40, which evidently on the authority of Fabricius he had regarded as a variety only of the specimen here figured.

The genus Goliathus is exceedingly interesting, not only on account of the gigantic size and singular form of the species of which it is composed, but also from the geographical range of the group. Mr. Kirby observes upon this subject, "Mr. W. S. MacLeay has remarked to me that Goliathus Lam. appears to belt the globe, but not under one form. The types of the genus are the vast African Goliaths (G. giganteus, &c.), which, as well as G. Polyphemus, and another brought from Java by Dr. Horsfield, have, like Cetonia, the scapulars interposed between the posterior angles of the prothorax and the shoulders of the elytra, while the South American species (G. micans,^[24] &c.) have not this projection of the scapulars; in this resembling Trichius; Mr. MacLeay further observes, that the {63}female of the Javanese Goliathus is exactly a Cetonia, while that of the Brazilian is a Trichius."—Introd. to Entomology, vol. 4. p. 494.

Since the publication of this passage, the genus Goliathus has undergone a considerable revision; the South American species, Cetonia Ynca, Fabr. barbicornis, MacLeay, &c., have been separated from the genus by Saint Fargeau and Serville in the Encyclopédie Méthodique, under the generic name of Ynca, and the Javanese species above noticed (Gol. Rhinophyllus^[25] Wiedemann) is stated by Latreille in the Règne Animal, 2nd edition, not to belong to the genus Goliathus, but to that of Cetonia. The genus is thus restricted to the African species,^[26] with the exception of a Mexican insect which Dejean has named Goliathus Hoffneri. The genus Ynca may thus be regarded rather as a geographical subgenus, or type of form belonging to and representing the African species of Goliathus.

PLATE XXXII.

DIAPREPES SPENGLERI.

Plate XXXII. fig. 1.

COPRIS MOLOSSUS.

Plate XXXII. fig. 2.

PHILEURUS DIDYMUS.

Plate XXXII. fig. 3.

BRACHYCERUS GLOBOSUS.

Plate XXXII. fig. 4.

HIPPORHINUS VERRUCOSUS.

Plate XXXII. fig. 5.

LAMIA (STERNOTOMIS) PULCHRA.

Plate XXXII. fig. 6.

PLATE XXXIII.

CETONIA AURATA, var. γ.

Plate XXXIII. fig. 1.

CETONIA FASCICULARIS.

Plate XXXIII. fig. 2.

CETONIA CAPENSIS.

Plate XXXIII. fig. 3.

CETONIA FASTUOSA.

Plate XXXIII. fig. 4.

GYMNETIS NITIDA et var.

Plate XXXIII. fig. 5. 6.

MACRASPIS TETRADACTYLA.

Plate XXXIII. fig. 7.

GYMNETIS LANIUS.

Plate XXXIII. fig. 8.

PLATE XXXIV.

DYNASTES SATYRUS.

Plate XXXIV. fig. 1. ♂.—2. ♀.

DYNASTES ANTÆUS.

Plate XXXIV. fig. 3. ♂.—4. ♀.

PELIDNOTA PUNCTATA.

Plate XXXIV. fig. 5.

AREODA LANIGERA.

Plate XXXIV. fig. 6.

ORYCTES NASICORNIS.

Plate XXXIV. fig. 7. ♂.-8. ♀.

This insect has been introduced into the list of British species on the authority of the late Mr. Haworth, who recorded the fact of a living specimen having been taken by a bricklayer amongst old timber, on pulling down the roof of a building at Chelsea, (Entom. Trans, vol. i. p. 76.) Mr. Stephens, however, (loc. supra citat.) thinks it very doubtful whether the species be really indigenous, as it appears highly probable that the specimen above alluded to, may have been imported amongst some of the Continental plants which abound in the above vicinity, the insect occurring very copiously in rotten bark, the refuse of conservatories, and putrid wood in various parts of the Continent.

PLATE XXXV.

ONITIS SULCATUS.

Plate XXXV. fig. 1.

COPRIS CAROLINA.

Plate XXXV. fig. 2.

PHANÆUS CARNIFEX.

Plate XXXV. fig. 3. 4. ♂.—5. ♀.

COPRIS MINUTUS.

Plate XXXV. fig. 6.

COPROBIUS LÆVIS.

Plate XXXV. fig. 7.

The advantages resulting from the modern method of investigation adopted in Natural History in general, and especially in Entomology, are no where more conspicuous than in the case of the present species of dung-rolling beetles or pillularii, as they were aptly termed by Pliny and other old writers; the present species inhabiting North America, having been long confounded with an inhabitant of Southern Europe, which indeed possesses a similarity in general appearance and habits, but belongs to a distinct genus. Linnæus applied the term pilularius specifically to the species inhabiting Italy and Spain; referring, however, to Catesby's Carolina, pl. 11., so that it is evident that this writer had never seen the North American insect. Schonher however remarks, "scarabæus pillularius Linn. pertinet ad At. volvens Fabr;"^[28] whilst Fabricius, although quoting Drury and De Geer (who both figure the North American species) has increased the confusion by giving Southern Europe as its habitat. Under these circumstances I have done our author the justice to revert to his specific name; his being certainly the earliest systematic specific reference to the American species, which may be distinguished from the European one by the following particulars:—

ONITIS SPINIPES.

Plate XXXV. fig. 8.

PLATE XXXVI.

DYNASTES CENTAURUS.

Plate XXXVI. fig. 1.

Drury states that this insect was brought from Sierra Leone, and that it lives in the mangrove trees; many specimens having been taken from thence.

TRICHIUS FASCIATUS.

Plate XXXVI. fig. 2.

The insect here figured is regarded by most authors as a variety only of the Trichius fasciatus. Fabricius, however, considered it as a distinct species, which he named Trichius succinctus. Dessau also, in the Bulletin des Sciences Naturelles (February 1829), has published some observations, in order to prove the specific distinctness of this and two other species with which it is generally regarded as identical. Its habits are different from those of the other Trichii; being generally found upon flowers, a peculiarity, with which its hirsute body and bee-like appearance apparently offer some indicatorial connexions. It is extremely rare in this country.

DYNASTES TITANUS.

Plate XXXVI. fig. 3. ♂.—4. ♀.

DYNASTES GIDEON.

Plate XXXVI. fig. 5.

CYCLOCEPHALA SIGNATA.

Plate XXXVI. fig. 6.

COPROBIUS TRIANGULARIS.

Plate XXXVI. fig. 7.

ONTHOPHAGUS SERRATIPES.

Plate XXXVI. fig. 8.

PLATE XXXVII.

PRIONUS (ORTHOSOMA) PENSYLVANICUS.

Plate XXXVII. fig. 1.

PRIONUS (DEROBRACHUS) LATICOLLIS.

Plate XXXVII. fig. 2.

STENOCORUS (EBURIA) QUADRIMACULATUS.

Plate XXXVII. fig. 3.

CLYTUS LONGIPES.

Plate XXXVII. fig. 4.

STENOCORUS (CHLORIDA) FESTIVUS.

Plate XXXVII. fig. 5.

STENOCORUS (CERASPHORUS) BALTEATUS.

Plate XXXVII. fig. 6.

PLATE XXXVIII.

PRIONUS (STENODONTES) DAMICORNIS.

Plate XXXVIII. fig. 1.

The larva of this beetle is a great fleshy grub, which lives in the stumps of tree. It is eaten by many persons, by whom it is considered a great dainty. The perfect insect is called by the natives the macokko beetle. The following observations, published by Mr. Drury in the introduction to his third volume, will be read with interest from the spirit of practical utility in which they are written.

"The larvæ or caterpillars, not only of this but of all the beetles that feed on decayed wood, seem to be rich and delicate eating, particularly those of the Curculio palmarum (vid. Linn. Syst. Nat. p. 606. 1.), and in general all those of the Cerambyces. So that every forest in the torrid zone affords a man plenty of very wholesome and hearty nourishment, who has an instrument strong enough to cut in pieces the decayed trees. This knowledge might have saved the lives perhaps of many seamen who have been shipwrecked on desert equinoctial shores, which are generally covered with thick woods. Mr. Smeathman has met with many maritime people, who, by living on a scanty allowance of unripe fruits, crude roots, coarse seeds, nuts, and other trash, after a shipwreck, or in other cases of distress so frequent with people in the African trade, have made themselves exceeding sick, and much increased their hardships, which by means of these caterpillars only, might have been greatly alleviated. The very best kind of vegetable food is but poor nourishment for the labouring Europeans, if not accompanied with animal flesh, or at least with animal or vegetable oils; and such foods as seamen in distress meet with, as above mentioned, have oftentimes very acrimonious qualities, and are dangerous even in small quantities to those who eat them at intervals, either out of mere curiosity or to gratify their appetites; while these kinds of insect foods, abounding with a very rich and delicious oil, are consequently the most wholesome and nutritious which men in the situation above described could possibly procure, requiring no other preparation than roasting in any manner. (See Philosophical Transactions.) To this kind of food may be added that of the termites and locusts in general among the insect tribes, which are not only wholesome to all, but palatable to many. At any rate they are sufficient to support life; and the knowledge of such a resource universally extended, might in many instances be the means of saving the lives of adventurers to distant climes. Besides these means of subsistence, if the botanists could point out a plain and obvious method for men in general to distinguish the noxious roots and herbs from those which are edible, men thrown on any thing but mere rocks and sandbanks would readily find subsistence, the kind hand of nature being extended all over the {82}surface of our globe to every one who will accept the friendly invitation, and use the means she has with such a motherly tenderness offered for our benefit and support.

"Mr. Smeathman has assured me, that in clearing the ground in Africa he has found great quantities of roots of the yam and potatoe kind (Convolvulus Batatas), that grew spontaneously, and which the slaves from distant interior regions knew exceedingly well, and sought for with great avidity. He lived near two years in Africa before he found that the most excellent greens for boiling grew wild in every open glade of the island, and even close to his very door. I mention these things because they are all within the power of men in the most naked, unarmed, and unprepared situation, and require neither fire-arms or other powerful apparatus to obtain them; and shew that in these cases, as well as many others, the study of natural history is of no small importance to mankind, since it may not only promote trade, arts, and sciences, but be conducive to the immediate happiness and safety of men's lives."

PRIONUS (MALLODON) MELANOPUS.

Plate XXXVIII. fig. 2.

PRIONUS (MALLODON) MAXILLOSUS.

Plate XXXVIII. fig. 3.

PLATE XXXIX.

CERAMBYX (HAMATICHERUS) HEROS.

Plate XXXIX. fig. 1.

TRACHYDERES SUCCINCTUS.

Plate XXXIX. fig. 2.

LAMIA CAPENSIS.

Plate XXXIX. fig. 3.

CERAMBYX (CALLICHROMA) AFER.

Plate XXXIX. fig. 4.

PLATE XL.

CERAMBYX (CALLICHROMA) VIRENS.

Plate XL. fig. 1.

PRIONUS (ORTHOMEGAS) CINNAMOMEUS.

Plate XL. fig. 2.

LAMIA VERRUCOSA.

Plate XL. fig. 3.

PLATE XLI.

SAPERDA TRILINEATA.

Plate XLI. fig. 1.

CLYTUS PICTUS.

Plate XLI. fig. 2.

STENOCORUS (ELAPHIDION) IRRORATUS.

Plate XLI. fig. 3.

STENOCORUS (ELAPHIDION) SPINICORNIS.

Plate XLI. fig. 4.

SAPERDA CARCHARIAS.

Plate XLI. fig. 5.

This fine insect has, within a few years, been found in considerable abundance in the fenny districts of Cambridge and Huntingdonshire, upon low sallows.

STENOCORUS ATOMARIUS.

Plate XLI. fig. 6.

PLATE XLII.

SCUTELLERA DRURÆI.

Plate XLII. fig. 1. 5.

GALERITA AMERICANA.

Plate XLII. fig. 2.

BRENTHUS MINUTUS.

Plate XLII. fig. 3. natural size, and 7. magnified.

CASNONIA LONGICOLLIS.

Plate XLII. fig. 4. natural size, and 6. magnified.

PLATE XLIII.

XYLOCOPA VIRGINICA.

Plate XLIII. fig. 1.

TESSERATOMA PAPILLOSA.

Plate XLIII. fig. 2.

This very common Chinese insect has been confounded by Fabricius, &c. with an African species (Tesseratoma confusa Westw.) and by Saint Fargeau and Serville, with another from Java (Tesseratoma Javana, Klug. Burm. 2. 350. figured by Stoll. t. 1. fig. 2.) As, however, Drury's specific name, as applied to the Chinese species, has the priority in point of date, I have here reverted to it, and would apply a new specific name to the species from Sierra Leone. The Fabrician species belongs to a different section of the genus having the terminal joint of the antennæ elongated. The only specimens which I have seen of it are those contained in the Banksian Collection in the possession of the Linnæan Society of London. Wolff figures the Chinese species. I have little doubt that Donovan's figure is intended to represent the true papillosus, although it is given as an inhabitant of India.

LEPTOSCELIS BALTEATUS.

Plate XLIII. fig. 3.

CENTRIS SURINAMENSIS.

Plate XLIII. fig. 4.

OPHION MACRURUM.

Plate XLIII. fig. 5.

This insect very closely resembles the common English species Ichneumon luteus, Linn. It is, however, considerably larger.

After describing this insect our author took occasion to enter into the natural history of the family to which it belongs, namely, the Ichneumonidæ, so named from the Linnæan genus Ichneumon, which last he says, "appears to be taken from its nature and way of life." He then proceeds as follows:—

"It is generally known that butterflies are produced from caterpillars, and that these caterpillars put on different forms before they arrive to that of the butterfly; but few persons know, who have not engaged in this study, that the bodies of these caterpillars are receptacles or habitations for lesser insects, that live and grow within them during a certain time; where they are nourished and fed by the juices of their bowels, till they arrive to a mature age; when, by the appointment of nature, they kill their fosterers, being totally unable to live on any other kind of food but what the intestines of these animals supply them with. The uses and advantages accruing to mankind by the institution of such a genus of insects, together with their natural history, are the subject of the following lines.

"If we examine the glorious works of the creation, and reflect on the paternal care and wisdom of the Almighty, displayed in the preservation and increase of all ranks and kinds of animals; that even the most direful and noxious, have such a proportion in the scale of life, as is most agreeable to the ends of His divine providence; that the limits He hath prescribed to each, extend so far and no farther; and that each species shall multiply in such abundance or scarcity, as are best adapted to preserve, by a just equilibrium, the harmony of the universe: When, I say, we behold this, the mind can scarcely forbear crying out, under a rapturous sense of conviction, "every thing is good." It is to this end we see the strong are permitted to prey on the weak; and that the number of the latter increase in a proportion sufficient to supply the wants of the former; it is to this end we see some feed on herbs and plants, some on fruits and seeds, and some on flesh; each being furnished with appetites and powers, suited to their respective ways of life: and it is to this end, we see those of the most minute kinds, abounding in a degree far beyond those of the first magnitude. The knowledge of the insect kingdom illustrates this observation beyond all possibility of doubt; and the number that may be bred from a single pair, in many species, would exceed all credibility, if it was not to be proved by any person who {94}would take the trouble. The wonderful increase that only two summers would be capable of producing among many of them, if each egg was to yield its respective insect, is amazing. The world itself, in a few years, would be incapable of affording plants sufficient for the nourishment of one single species.^[29]

"Hence will appear the 'loving kindness' of the Almighty, in setting such bounds, and keeping them within such limits as best answers the purpose for which He created them; and hence appears the necessity of their becoming food to other animals. Birds, fishes, and the smaller kinds of beasts, are at eternal war with them; but as all these would be insufficient of themselves to restrain and prevent them from multiplying too fast, other kinds of beings are instituted for this end, whose existence depends on their destruction. Of these, the species of insect I am describing, is the most singular, of which (genus) there are several sorts, differing greatly in size and shape. Some are furnished with three setæ or bristles at the extremity of their bodies, the middle one being a hollow tube, secured or fenced by the outer ones, through which they eject their eggs, after they have penetrated the body of the caterpillar they settle on. Some appear to have no bristles, others have them bent close under their bodies, and are not to be seen, unless closely examined. As their whole business appears to be the destroying the caterpillars of the butterfly and moth tribes, they are indefatigable in the pursuit of them; but as this is confined to the pregnant females, they are observed ranging about continually in search of the proper subjects to lay their eggs on; flying on every bush, and running with unwearied diligence on every twig, till they have arrived to the place where the scent of the caterpillar soon furnishes them with the certainty of its being there. Having thus discovered the animal it was in quest of, the Ichneumon immediately settles on it, with an intent to discharge its eggs; but the caterpillar being sensible, from a natural instinct, of its enemy's assault, bends its head backwards to the place where it feels itself attacked, and endeavours by various means, either by striking its head violently against the part, falling to the ground, or by some sudden contortion, to disengage itself: but this seldom happens, unless the Ichneumon is feeble, and unable to withstand the shocks of the caterpillar; in which case they will frequently relinquish their attack, and seek out some other subject, whose resistance they are more capable of encountering. On the other hand, if the Ichneumon is strong enough to withstand the efforts of the caterpillar, it either lays its eggs on the outside of the skin, as is the nature of some to do, or else perforates the body with the bristle before described, and immediately discharges an egg. Some of these Ichneumons quit the caterpillar upon the emission of an egg, but others {95}continue thereon till they have emitted them all; which sometimes is more than an hundred. It is necessary to observe, that many caterpillars of moths and butterflies (the former more especially) are infested by a particular species of these Ichneumons, that confine themselves entirely to them alone, and never, that we know of, attack any other. Thus that of the Privet Hawk or Sphinx Ligustri of Linnæus, that of the Elephant Hawk or Sphinx Elpenor of the same author, &c. are always found to yield particular kinds of Ichneumons. Others, indeed, attack any kind of caterpillar belonging to the farinaceous-winged tribe; and, as I observed above, if not too powerful and strong for them, will there deposit their eggs.

"If the egg is laid on the body of the caterpillar, and not within it, a few days, by the warmth of the sun, ripens it to maturity; and then the young destroyer, directed by nature, eats its passage through the under-side of the egg, and passes into the body of the caterpillar, but if the egg is discharged into its body, it there ripens, unseen, to maturity. In either case, it lives on the substance or juices of its intestines; thriving and increasing in bulk, in a proportion equal to the creature it is doomed to kill. The caterpillar, also, notwithstanding its having thus received the means of a slow but certain death, increases in size, and, to outward appearance, in health; arriving to the period when it is to undergo its metamorphosis, and become a Chrysalis, in as much strength and vigour as any other of the species: but when the time arrives for its enlargement into its complete state, and to become a moth or butterfly, the Ichneumon makes its appearance; having arrived to its time of completion within the body of its supporter, and exhausted its juices by the nourishment drawn from it, leaving behind it a dry empty shell, in the form of a chrysalis.

"In this manner many of these Ichneumons exist. Others, when arrived to maturity, having lived within the bodies of the caterpillars, as described, eat their way out through its sides, and, crawling to a small distance, form round themselves cases of a substance like silk; wherein, having lain a few days, they quit their prisons in the shape of very small flies, some having two wings, others four."—Vide Goedartius, Albin, Wilks, Harris, &c.

POLISTES ANNULARIS.

Plate XLIII. fig. 6.

POLISTES SQUAMOSA.

Plate XLIII. fig. 7.

POLYDESMUS (FONTARIA) VIRGINIENSIS.

Plate XLIII. fig. 8.

PLATE XLIV.

MYDAS CLAVATUS.

Plate XLIV. fig. 1.

TABANUS PLUMBEUS.

Plate XLIV. fig. 2.

TABANUS AMERICANUS.

Plate XLIV. fig. 3.

SPHEX JAMAICENSIS

Plate XLIV. fig. 4.

Drury described this insect as having the wings doubled or folded together, a peculiarity observed only in the wasps, amongst which the insect was placed by our author, who named it Vespa Jamaicensis. My specimen of this insect, which I have reason to believe belonged to Drury, is so pinned, that the upper surface of the thorax is pressed down, and the upper wing forced backwards, and thrown nearly upside down, which was evidently the case with the specimen described by Drury.

SCOLIA FOSSULANA.

Plate XLIV. fig. 5.

I should have retained the specific name given to this insect by Drury, on account of its priority, but it is so inappropriate, not only being applicable to one sex alone, the female, but the spines on the fore legs being found throughout the genus, as well as in nearly all the burrowing Hymenoptera. Fabricius has incorrectly referred this figure to his Scolia radula, which has a spotted thorax.

PELOPÆUS CÆMENTARIUS.

Plate XLIV. fig. 6. Imago—fig. 7. Cocoon—fig. 8. Imago taken out of the Cocoon.
Plate XLV. fig. 8. Nest—fig. 9. Section of the Nest—fig. 10. two Cocoons exposed.

The following particulars relative to the economy of this species were communicated to Mr. Drury from a correspondent in Antigua, who forwarded to him specimens of the insect.

"This insect is called at Antigua, and several other places in the West Indies, the Mason Fly, a name given it from the remarkable manner in which it builds its nest, or receptacle for its young.

"When the male and female have performed the business of copulation, their^[30] next care is to provide a proper habitation for raising and securing their future progeny; to this end they seek out a proper spot that is secure from rains, &c. and is so situated as to afford a {100}sufficient warmth for the young offspring, but not so hot as to destroy instead of nourishing them. The sides of a wall underneath the eaves of a house, is the place often pitched on for this purpose. Thus prompted by nature, and instinctively knowing the necessity of performing this work, they carry a quantity of dirt, and place it against the wall, which they temper and soften with a liquor issuing from their bodies, that renders it sufficiently strong and tenacious, and when dry, is proof against any rains that may happen to get at it. The nest is composed generally of about a dozen cells, that are round, and sufficiently capacious to hold the caterpillar when grown to its full size; each of which is about an inch long, and about three-eighths of an inch in diameter, lying parallel with each other, and formed in such a manner, that each cell lies between two others, both above and below it, except the outward ones, having a hole left open at the extremity of each, for the parents to go in and out at pleasure. See Plate 45. Fig. 8. that at 9 being a nest supposed to be cut through its middle, to shew the form of the cells, and manner of their being built. The industry exerted on this occasion is remarkably great, for in a few days the whole is completed. There is no doubt but the heat of the climate greatly contributes to facilitate this work, as the dirt of which it is composed is quickly dried, and by that means enables them to be very expeditious. Their next employment is procuring a number of small spiders, with which each cell is properly filled, and are to serve for food to the young brood; of these they always take care to lay in such a sufficient store, that the young ones seldom, if ever, perish from want. I have opened many of these cells, and constantly found a spider remaining uneat, sometimes two, and not seldom three, so that it is evident the parent animal makes ample provision for the appetite of its young. By the time one cell is replenished with provision, the pregnant female, finding the eggs within her ripening to maturity, and under the necessity of discharging them, lays a single one in the cell, and then covers up the hole with dirt, which was left open for a passage, in so neat and curious a manner, that the nicest eye could not discover the place where they used to enter. She then proceeds in the same manner to the next, and so on, till all her eggs are emitted and laid in their respective cells, each cell being furnished with a single egg and no more. My correspondent assures me, he is not certain whether the male assists in building the nest, or whether it is the sole production of the female; but they both equally contribute to furnish it with provision, which they carefully watch and preserve from the ants, that in that hot climate would soon rob them of. In a little time the young ones are hatched; and each, finding in its respective habitation a proper quantity of food, subsists thereon, and there lives unseen, till it arrives to its complete state. When it (the caterpillar) is advanced to its full size, it forms round itself a brown case, as appears at Fig. 7. Plate 44. and at Fig. 10. Plate 45. and in that inclosure undergoes its transformation; when it puts on its form as at Fig. 8. Plate 44. remaining with its legs, wings, and horns, closed round, as is there shewn, till it has acquired strength to break its enclosure. At its first assuming this form, it is white, soft, and tender, and its wings shorter than those in the figure; in a few weeks its becomes hard, strong, and of its proper {101}colour. The wings, also, before that time, grow to their proper size; and now, finding itself arrived at a period when the forementioned circumstance of its confinement is no longer necessary to its well being, it obtains its liberty, by making a hole at the end of its cell, with its jaws and fore legs, large enough to permit its escape.

"The separation of the thorax and abdomen, by such a long slender membrane or ligament, is very singular, and the power the insect is invested with, by means of those jaws or forceps placed at its mouth, is really wonderful; for the number of insects, of a superior strength, as well as size, which it is capable of destroying, is scarcely credible. It will overcome a spider of twice its own size, if it can but get upon the back of it, by means of its forceps and sting: nor will multitudes of other insects find it a less formidable enemy, if they are not guarded by nature with a covering too hard to yield to the force of these destructive weapons. In short, it seems to be an animal formed by nature, as one of those instruments instituted for subduing and lessening the vast numbers of small insects that abound in warm climates."

PLATE XLV.

LEPTOSCELIS PICTUS.

Plate XLV. fig. 1.

This species is very closely allied to the insect figured in Plate 43, fig. 3.; nevertheless, their descriptions are placed very widely apart in the Systema Rhyngotorum. They appear to form a good subgenus, nearly allied to Hypselopus of Burmeister, which is confined to Africa.

EUMENES ABDOMINALIS.

Plate XLV. fig. 2.

CENTRIS GROSSA.

Plate XLV. fig. 3.

This fine species appears nearly allied to the Centris versicolor, Fabr. (Syst. Piez. 359. 23.) which is an inhabitant of the Islands of America, but which is described thus, "thorace hirto cinerascente, abdomine cyaneo, ano rufescente."

ECHINOMYIA HIRTA.

Plate XLV. fig. 4.

REDUVIUS (CONORHINUS) VARIEGATUS.

Plate XLV. fig. 5.

The antennæ of this insect, as represented in the figure, are quite unlike those of any of the Reduviidæ, although in every other respect, and more especially in the peculiar neuration of the membranous part of the upper wings, it agrees with the Reduvius gigas of Fabricius, a species very widely dispersed, being found in South America, Sierra Leone, East Indies, as well as the Island of Mauritius.

ERISTALIS CINCTUS.

Plate XLV. fig. 6.

ECHINOMYIA PILOSA.

Plate XLV. fig. 7.

PLATE XLVI.

MYRMELEON LIBELLULOIDES.

Plate XLVI. fig. 1.

Fabricius gives the Cape of Good Hope as the habitat of this species, referring not only to the present figure, but also to that given in Vol. 3. Plate 41. which is said by Drury to have been brought from Sierra Leone. This is the more inexcusable, because Drury expressly observed in a note, "There is a species found near the Cape of Good Hope very much like this, but distinctly different," although in the synoptical appendix to the third volume, he gives the large species from Sierra Leone as a variety of M. Libelluloides.

EUPTILON ORNATUM.

Plate XLVI. fig. 2.

Latreille, in his Genera Crustaceorum et Insectorum, Vol. 3. p. 199, after describing the genus Chauliodes belonging to the family Hemerobiidæ, observes, "Congenerica videntur insecta a Dom. Drury iconibus vivis expressa, tom. 1. Pl. 46. Fig. 2. 3." I have never seen the present species, but from the admirable accuracy of Moses Harris (by whom the figures were drawn) it is evident that the neuration of the wings of this species is identical with that of Myrmeleon, agreeing especially with the insect represented at Fig. 4. of this plate, and exhibiting the irregular longitudinal nerve below the subcostal nerve and the strong furcate nerve running along the middle of the wing; whilst, at the same time, the neuration is quite unlike that of Fig. 3. Hence I have no hesitation in placing this insect in the family Myrmeleonidæ. It however disagrees with the genera of which that family is composed, viz. Myrmeleon, Linn. (Myrmecoleon, Burm.) Ascalaphus, Fabr. and Nymphes, Leach, in having bipectinated antennæ, so that I have been compelled to establish a new genus for its reception. Can it be possible that, according to the not uncommon practice of the time, the specimen had been mended, and that pectinated antennæ had been substituted in the stead of the ordinary ones of a Myrmeleon?

CHAULIODES VIRGINIENSIS.

Plate XLVI. fig. 3.

Drury has figured the wings as of an uniform colourless appearance, which induces me to consider that it may be distinct from the Linnæan H. pectinicornis, that species being described by the great Swede with "signaturis nervisque fuscis albo subarticulatis." From the paleness of the present species it is evident that the transverse nerves connecting the longitudinal ribs of the wings in the typical species of this genus have been overlooked, especially as the longitudinal nerves are correctly represented. This genus and Corydalis, seem to form a connecting link between Hemerobius and Perla.

MYRMELEON AMERICANUM.

Plate XLVI. fig. 4.

LIBELLULIDÆ, Pl. 47 & 48.

All the insects represented in these two plates belong to the genus Libellula of Linnæus, or the family of Dragon-flies, Libellulidæ. When the original edition of this work was published, there was no English work in which the natural history and curious transformations of this tribe of insects were detailed. Our author, therefore, in order to supply the deficiency, published the following interesting series of observations upon the subject:—

"As I have not met with any English author who has given the natural history of the insects delineated in these two plates, I shall make no apology for its introduction; {107}the frequent opportunities I have had of observing their mode of life and action, together with the many singular circumstances observable in both, being motives for its publication too powerful to be resisted.

"It is not easy to determine whether they should be ranked among the water insects, or those of the land, nor shall I attempt here to ascertain it; my present business being only to relate the several circumstances attending them during their respective states in which they are passing from the egg to the complete animal: and although these observations have been confined to our English ones, yet they so exactly agree and coincide with those of foreign countries, (as my correspondents have assured me), that their nature and behaviour appear to be just the same; so that what is observable in ours, is at the same time applicable to the whole genus wherever found.

"If we take a cursory view of the different ranks of animals that inhabit our globe, we shall hardly find one that can excite our wonder and astonishment more than this genus; nor is it from that general ignorance of the insect world, that reigns so strongly in these kingdoms, that I am emboldened to say this; but if we reflect that the beasts, birds, and reptiles are furnished with powers for living only in the air, and that even the amphibious tribes can perform the office of respiration only in that element: if we also consider that fishes, on the contrary, are unable to respire but in water, and when deprived of that must certainly perish, we cannot but conclude that all these animals are most wisely fitted with means and faculties for filling up the respective orders and ranks wherein they are placed. But let us cast our eyes on the subjects I am about to describe, and there behold a tribe of beings, who, as soon as they leave their eggs, subsist for a certain number of months, (I had almost said years), creeping and swimming in the liquid element; are there invested with organs and powers for existing and weathering out the utmost severity and intemperance of the winter; that afterwards as the spring and summer advances, and the period arrives when they are to appear in other forms, in the space of about half an hour those very organs and powers that before enabled them to live under water should be so entirely altered, the very natures and abilities of the creatures so changed as to permit them to quit their former element and place of residence, insomuch that all the remaining part of their lives is spent in the open air, furnished with wings, and flying about in the full glee of wanton liberty; that in a very few weeks after, having performed the business of generation, the same animals should die of mere old age, with their wings quite ragged and worn out, their strength exhausted, and all the powers of their bodies lost by a total imbecility and weakness, which but a little before enabled them to transport themselves through the air with the swiftness of a bird. If, I say, we reflect on all these circumstances, we cannot but allow them to be objects of a very extraordinary nature, and well adapted for leading the mind to the contemplation of their supreme Author, who has thought proper to exhibit to us these kind of insects, thus differing from almost all the animals in the creation.

"They have been variously named by different authors, owing perhaps to the time when they wrote, or the progress natural history had made in the world. Some have called them by the name of Dragon Fly, others Adder Bolt, Balance Fly, Perla, Libellula or Libella. I shall prefer the last, as conveying an idea well known to English adepts. The caterpillars of them all live in ponds and stagnant waters (that are undisturbed by cattle) during the greatest part of their lives, and make their appearance under three general forms. The first is shewn by Fig. 1. 1.; the second by Fig. 2.; and the third by Fig. 3. See Plate 47. As these are the shapes in which they all appear, it will not be improper to mention each particularly.

"The two caterpillars at Fig. 1. 1. Plate 47, belong only to or produce those that sit at rest, with their wings erect, (see Plate 48. Fig. 2.), and differ from both the others not only in size but in the roundness and slenderness of their bodies; at the extremity whereof they are furnished with three tails, each of which upon examination being found to be a kind of feather, and is an appendage that neither of the others have. Their behaviour also in the water is different from the others, being enabled to twist and bend their bodies in a more circular manner. [Subfamily Agrionides.]

"The second sort of caterpillars, at Plate 47. Fig. 2. are much shorter and thicker in their bodies than either of the others, producing those Libellas with flat bodies, as Plate 47. Fig. 4. and 6. and Plate 48. Fig. 1. and 5. These are, of all others, the most disagreeable in their appearance; most of them having their bodies and legs very rough and shaggy, and of the exact colour of mud. Others appear of a dirty green, and very unpleasing hue, a colour that in general reigns among them all; for none can boast of any beautiful appearance while in this state, unless the different shapes here exhibited can be called so. Indeed the beauty and symmetry, so apparent in their complete states, make ample amends for the want of it in this; all of them in general being then very beautiful, discovering colours superior to art. [Subfamily, Libellulides. Genus, Libellula.]

"The caterpillars of the third sort (see Plate 47. Fig. 3.) are very different from the preceding, being the size of the figure, with the abdomen flat at bottom and rounding at top, longer and slenderer than those at Fig. 2. but not so much as those at Fig. 1. 1. These produce those large Libellas with long slender bodies, who sit at rest with their wings expanded, as Plate 47. Fig. 5. [Subfamily, Libellulides. Genus, Æshna.]

"Under these three forms are all the caterpillars of Libellas found, there being but little difference in the colours or marks of the respective tribes; the various sizes and shapes being the chief observable circumstances attending them. They are all furnished with six legs, and have each of them four little membranaceous substances issuing from the back, or upper part of the thorax, that are the follicles, or cases, wherein the wings are inclosed. When the young caterpillars issue from their confinement in the eggs, there is no appearance of these cases, nor till a considerable time after; but as they arrive to a maturer state they become more conspicuous, and, like the young leaves of trees that open {109}and expand themselves on the arrival of the spring, their appearance increases, till having approached the period when they are to forsake their former habitations and become inhabitants of the air, these wing-cases have then arrived to their due size, and carry the appearance in which they are here seen. They are all of them, from the largest to the smallest, armed with a strong offensive weapon, which serves them, and is indeed the means they are endued with, for obtaining their food. This weapon being placed in the under part of the head, just beneath the mouth, I have displayed in Fig. 1. and 3. of Plate 47. where it appears just in the same manner as when they are endeavouring to catch their prey. In the largest figure at 1. and also in Fig. 2. it appears contracted and shut up, as when at rest. The strength and power that these animals discover in the use of this instrument is very singular and extraordinary. There are two joints to it, one about the middle, the other underneath the mouth, close to the throat; and in some (particularly all those of Fig. 2.) when it is closed or contracted, it appears fastened to the face of the creature, by fitting it so exactly as to form a perfect mask; covering the mouth, and reaching almost as high as the eyes. In others it is made to fit only the under part of the mouth, and when at rest is drawn up close underneath it. At the extremity of those that are extended may be observed two very strong and remarkable fangs; that, shutting over each other, form a pair of forceps, of such strength that few, if any of their captives, can escape if once inclosed therein. [This organ is the greatly developed lower lip of the larva, and is analogous in its structure to the same part in the imago.]

"The motion of these creatures in the water, particularly those of the largest size, is very slow; seldom exercising any swiftness or activity, unless they are disturbed and threatened with danger, in which case they can transport themselves to places of more security with the quickness or agility of a fish; but, in general, they appear to have so little inclination to move, that I have often seen them (I mean those that I have kept in glass bowls) remaining in their respective places above a week together, and could not discover the least motion in them, unless under the circumstance above mentioned, or when they had seen their prey and were advancing to seize it. The caterpillars of Fig. 1. 1. and 3. generally fix themselves to some little stick or straw, &c. that they find in the water, and there remain, as I said before, without stirring. Those of Fig. 2. are more frequently seen in motion among the thickest part of the roots and plants that grow there, routing and searching for those small animals inhabiting that part, which are their proper food. This aversion to motion, so apparent in those of No. 1. and 3., appears to me to be the effect of an extraordinary cunning and sagacity; and may be considered as the principal means by which they obtain their prey: for while they continue thus motionless in the water, the small animals, who constitute their proper food, approach them with less fear than they would otherwise do, not suspecting their grand enemy lies upon the watch to seize them the moment they come within his reach; but no sooner has their insensibility of danger brought them within a small distance of those destructive weapons (mentioned before, being placed under their mouths) but that very instant they dart upon them with {110}the utmost rapidity, suddenly throwing out their forceps, and seizing them with as much eagerness as a pike does the unwary gudgeon; they then bring their forceps up to their mouth with their prey in it, and feast on their captive prisoner. Nor is their voracious nature less astonishing; and the greediness with which the large ones seize other small animals would hardly gain belief among persons entirely ignorant of this study. I have seen one of them, in less than an hour's space, devour three insects, each of which was full two thirds as big as itself; but, in general, the small ones are the sacrifices made by the greater; wherein I must observe, that when they have got a caterpillar of the small Libellas in their forceps, such as those of Fig. 1. Plate 47., they leave no part uneaten, except the three tails, which they let fall to the bottom, as perhaps not having substance in them sufficient to afford them proper nourishment; for as their food consists altogether of animals less than themselves, they neither spare the caterpillars of the lesser Libellæ, nor confine themselves to those belonging to other tribes. They will eagerly prey upon the different kinds of Cads, or caterpillars of the Phryganeæ; great numbers of whom, at certain seasons, quit those husks or cases they make and swim about, with less fear and dread than in the early part of the spring. I have also seen the caterpillars of the Notanecta's or Boat-flies devoured by them, and not seldom the small blood-worms, as they are called. In short, there are but few of the lesser animals that live in the water, but when once they get within the reach of their instruments will certainly fall victims to these freshwater Leviathans.

"I could never observe that these caterpillars ever threw off any exuvia, or skin, in their progress from the egg to the complete animal, as most other insects do that live in the open air; neither could I ever perceive any difference between the caterpillars and chrysalis's of this genus in their outward forms^[31]: the same voracious behaviour in seizing and devouring their prey, reigning both in one and the other; but that they internally undergo some material alteration, when passing their respective states, is what I do not entertain the least doubt of; as the organs of respiration during the creature's life in the water, appear to me to be under a necessity of receiving a great alteration, when they are to perform the same office in so different a medium as the air; nor can I suppose this business to be done in so quick and sudden a manner, as the short space of time in which the creature would then be passing from the caterpillar state to the perfect one would permit, without having the intestines prepared, as it were, and fitted by some previous change. However, as this is conjecture only, I shall dwell no longer on this head, my present purpose being to point out and describe their general circumstances and behaviour.

"When the caterpillars of the respective species have arrived to their full growth, and nature informs them they are to quit their former element of water, for one wherein they are to appear invested with very different powers, they prepare for this extraordinary change; and, creeping up the sticks, straws, or plants they find for their purpose, whose tops grow out of the water, they entirely quit that element, and, stopping at about six or {111}eight inches above its surface, there fix themselves, and continue some time, till their internal form, growing too big to be confined within the skin, that a few minutes afterwards will be entirely thrown off, on a sudden, that part of it that covers the thorax, splits or bursts on the upper side, and the creature, pushing out its head, next disengages its fore legs, which fastening to any substance within its reach, draws gently the remainder of its body and legs entirely out, just as a man draws his leg out of a boot, leaving its slough or skin sticking in its place, and in the exact form wherein it appeared itself but a few moments before. Having thus quitted its former covering, it waits for the wings to expand themselves, and grow to their proper size, being before confined within those small cases I mentioned were placed on its back. In about half an hour, if the weather is favourable, this extraordinary operation is completed; and the wings having arrived to their proper size, the creature generally makes an effort to try its strength, well knowing, that if it fails in attempting to fly without being endued with a sufficient degree of it, it must certainly fall in that water it lately quitted, and there perish; but having made several motions with its wings, and finding its power equal to its desire, it suddenly flies into the air, and there fills up a character, as different from the former as one element is from the other. At the time this change is accomplishing, the instrument or weapon for catching their prey, before mentioned, by an effect of nature, totally disappears, and not the least vestige of it then remains; the mouth, indeed, is furnished with jaws, and those of a very extraordinary form (dividing themselves both horizontally and perpendicularly), but no part of them appear extended beyond the rest, or have the least appearance of being furnished with an instrument like what they had in their former state.^[32]

"Hitherto I have considered these creatures only in their infant or incomplete states; wherein the faculties and powers they are endued with, are entirely different from those of their perfect and complete ones. In the former I have described them swimming and grovelling about in the water, preying upon the lesser kinds of insects, being incapable of subsisting for any length of time out of that element; in the latter we must view them capable of flying in the open air, and conveying themselves from place to place. If they are then confined to the limits of a small pond, they are now capable of roving from tree to tree, and from field to field, darting and skimming along with all the rapidity and seeming joy, that a being sensible of, and exulting in its own powers, can be supposed to do; in short, we {112}must now view them in shapes so distinct and different from their former ones, that they hardly seem to bear any relation to each other, except in their nature and appetites; for although they appear in a far more elegant dress than when in their caterpillar states, yet these are just the same, the same voracious inclinations subsisting now as formerly; hunting after, and preying upon, the lesser genera, with the same eagerness and desire as they did when inhabitants of the water. Incredible numbers of small moths, bees, flies with four and two wings, are the daily sacrifices offered to the insatiable appetites of these hungry gluttons; and where they devoured one insect in the water they now destroy a hundred, if the mildness of the season will permit them to range about in quest of them. In rainy weather they seldom or ever move, nor when the wind is very strong and boisterous. Indeed, it is not to be wondered at. The small insects, who are their proper food, being by the same reasons prevented from being abroad, consequently are an impediment to those motives, that so strongly induce the Libellas to fly about. During such inclement times they generally shelter themselves from the wind, &c. being suspended by their feet in a perpendicular position on some twig, that is remote and separate from any boughs, waiting in that manner, without motion, for better weather and sunshine.

"I am strongly inclined to believe, that the greater part, if not all the Libellas, are two years in passing from the egg to the complete animal. But as this is a circumstance I do not remember to have seen in any author, I shall not attempt to establish my opinion as an absolute truth. I shall mention my reasons for this belief, and leave it to every person either to confirm or confute it, as his observations shall hereafter give him an opportunity.

"In order to do this, it would be necessary I should mention the times when each species first makes its appearance here in England. But as this would not only take up too much of the reader's time, (there being at least twenty-two of them) but it would likewise be impossible to be understood by any, but the experienced adept, unless I gave figures of them all; I shall therefore content myself with observing, that the Libella figured in Plate 47. Fig. 5. though found in America, about New York, &c. is nearly the same with our English one, differing but a very little from it, and which I have inserted chiefly as an instance to illustrate this subject. Ours is the last species but one, that comes forth in the summer, breeding only once a year, appearing about the 2nd of August. Therefore, to elucidate this point, suppose we allow a fortnight or three weeks from that time for all the Libellas of this species to make their appearance in, that nature intended should be bred that year; but in order to set this matter in the strongest light, I shall allow a month to that purpose. If, therefore, the Libellas were only one year in passing from the egg to the perfect state, we might justly conclude, that after the 2nd of September, (a month from the time of their first appearing) all of this species would have arrived to their complete states; and that none of their caterpillars could be found in the waters after that time, by reason they had all quitted that element, and were become flying insects. This, I say, is the conclusion we might fairly, and without presuming on the matter, make. But this is {113}very far from being the case. For let any one examine stagnant waters at any time during the months of August, September, or October, and from thence in any part of the following winter, and he will find these very caterpillars at any of those times: and this, not in any one particular year, but they will be found also in any one whatever, fully fed, and of the largest size. Nor are the caterpillars of this species the only ones to be found fully fed. Those of N^o. 2. belonging to the flat-bodied Libella, will also be found very plentifully, many of them being of the first magnitude, together with numbers of the same species, very young according to the time of year when sought for; and appearing to have been hatched from those eggs that were laid by parent insects in the spring; for such I must conclude them to be, how else can we account for their smallness, at the same time that we may find others of the largest size? We must not suppose there can be this difference of size in the same species, owing to some eggs having been laid three weeks or a month sooner than others; that, being so short a space of time as not to allow it possible for one of those caterpillars to attain its full size, (and all the species of flat-bodied Libellas appear within a month of each other.) Nor can we be so deceived as to mistake a species of the long-bodied caterpillars, for one of the short-bodied; the difference being extremely apparent at the first glance.

"These reasons appear to me so convincing, I should have thought myself inexcuseable to have passed them over in silence, when I was giving the history of these animals. I shall therefore think myself happy to have this circumstance corroborated by future experience, or rectified and cleared up, if found to be an error. I shall only say, I have dwelt the longer on it, as it is an observation I never heard of before. I have likewise singled out the largest Libella, and the flat-bodied ones for its illustration, as being more conspicuous by their size, and easier to be observed than those of the smaller sorts.

"The two principles of hunger and lust, so apparent through the animal kingdom, are in no class or tribe more manifest and visible than in these insects. The former I have described and explained through their different states; it remains for me to shew the manner in which they obey the calls of the latter. And herein I must observe, that the different manner in which the act of copulation is performed, depends on the difference of the respective kinds; the organs of generation being placed in different parts of the body, according to the distinct species. All the flat-bodied ones have those parts placed in common with most other insects, at the extremity of the tail. In all the slender-bodied ones, the organ of the male is placed next the breast, close to the part where the thorax and abdomen unite; while the same organ in the female lies in the very extremity of the tail, and the singular manner of these creatures coupling is a circumstance worthy of observation.

"As soon as they have arrived to their perfect state, the males seek out their mates, in order to propagate their species; for this purpose they frequent ponds and standing waters, places where the females generally harbour, and when the male in the course of his flight comes within a certain distance of her, if it be one of that species whose sexual parts {114}in both sexes are placed in the tail, he immediately flies to her, and fixing himself by his feet to the hinder part of her abdomen, bends his body round her tail, and performs the business of generation, both flying about all the time this act is performing; the whole transaction not exceeding the space of half a minute. Within a few hours after, the female, thus impregnated, begins to lay her eggs in the following manner. She singles out a leaf, grass, or some such matter, that is floating just below the surface of the water, in some pond, and, hovering in the air about a foot above this spot, on a sudden she descends, and dips the extremity of her tail in the water, at which instant she discharges an egg, that at the moment of its emission is inveloped in a glutinous liquid, sufficiently tenacious to enable it to adhere firmly on the floating substance above-mentioned without sinking. In this manner she continues depositing them till she has discharged the proper quantity, hovering in the air all the time, and emitting them as fast as the pendulum of a clock performs its vibrations; placing them close to one another in no regular or exact order. Whether she discharges at one time all her quantity of eggs, or only those that were fecundated and ready for emission, waiting to have the remaining eggs within her again fecundated by the male, or whether the first act of copulation sufficiently impregnates the whole quantity which she discharges at different times, as nature ripens them, is a circumstance I cannot determine. However this may be, it is certain she does not discharge them all at once; but comes again to the same place, when those within her are ready for emission, and there lays them in the same manner as at first.

"In this manner all the flat-bodied Libellas copulate and lay their eggs; the others, which are formed with slender bodies, behave very differently in every circumstance; for in each of those species, when the male has singled out its mate, he flies to her, and by means of two little bony substances placed at the end of his tail, issuing on each side, and composing a kind of forceps, he fixes himself to the forepart of her neck, close behind the head, the female discovering no sign of fear while he is performing this action; having fixed himself in this position, he remains there several days, sometimes appearing with his body quite erect, at other times bending himself, and settling with his legs on the same substance she may happen to alight on, without ever quitting his hold; but flies through the air, thus united, wherever the fancy or inclination of the female disposes her to go. This behaviour we must consider as a prelude to copulation, for that is not performed till a considerable time after they are thus united; and therefore I look on it as a wooing, or act of courtship in the male. But having remained a sufficient time in this manner, that is, till the female is disposed to receive him, she bends her tail round to that part where I described the organ of generation to be placed in the male, and, being still held fast by the neck, in that attitude they perform the mandate of nature. This action being over, that in the smaller kinds takes up a considerable space of time (for I have known them in this posture above eighteen hours) the female soon after begins to lay her eggs. She flies to some rush, reed, or other plant growing in the water, and settling close to its edge dips {115}the end of her tail a little below the surface, and fixes her eggs to the rush or substance she is settled on; which, by means of the glutinous matter all eggs of this kind are surrounded with, adheres sufficiently fast, and there remains till the heat of the sun has brought the young animal into life; which immediately on quitting its confinement sinks to the bottom, or repairs to the place where nature directs it to seek out its food.

"In this manner all the slender-bodied tribe behave, differing only in some particular circumstances; as, for instance, the largest Libellas, as that at Fig. 5. Pl. 47. are not near so long in copulating or wooing as the small ones; for by the former this act is performed in a very short space, and while they are flying about in the air. Others, of a smaller size, are less quick in this performance; and as we descend to the smallest species, we shall find they take by much the longest time; observing, by the way, that all these slender-bodied ones lay their eggs in the same manner, that is, by fixing them to some substance to which they adhere, till they are ripened into life. My experience well informing me they never scatter them in any loose careless manner as some insects do, but are placed in such proper and apt situations as to receive the influence of the sun to bring them to maturity.

"If we attentively consider these creatures, either in their caterpillar or complete states, we cannot help concluding them to be a rank of beings of greater benefit and advantage to mankind than they appear to be at first view; for, not to mention their being annual 'ministers of nature,' they are appointed by the great Governor of the universe as grand instruments for assisting to preserve that equilibrium so apparently reigning through the insect world, and which all who have made any progress in the study of natural history unanimously confess. Hence the voracious disposition of the Libellas is wisely made to answer a most necessary and beneficial purpose; and the great numbers of small insects which are daily sacrificed to their insatiable appetites, both in their caterpillar as well as complete states, is as strong an instance as any I know of the necessity and propriety of the existence of these animals. The general principle reigning through the whole animal kingdom, of the stronger preying upon the weak and defenceless, can hardly be explained to the purpose of being useful to mankind, and agreeable to the laws of nature, in any one instance more than is evidently to be observed in the subjects I have been describing. The least reflection will confirm this; for if the food of the Libellas when in their complete forms had consisted of the leaves of plants, like the locust genus, and not of those small insects they now prey on; or had it, like the beetle tribe, consisted of the superfluous parts of nature, as the putrid carcases of dead animals, rotten wood, &c. how great a chasm would there have been in the universal chain? how evident and conspicuous would it have appeared? and how could the vast number of small insects, increasing every day during the summer, be restrained and lessened? what genus of the transparent-winged class could possibly have performed this business singly? or could all the genera of flies, and even birds that we know of, have accomplished this end? could all the Dipteræ, or any other {116}kinds that prey on the lesser genera, have prevented such an increase of them as to become in a little time a plague too great to be borne? No. The Almighty Creator has most wisely constituted this genus for executing His commands in the manner I have described; and for this reason they must be considered as beings of greater consequence than the inconsiderate part of mankind allow them to be.

"Nor is this the only advantage arising from their existence. The still waters, where these creatures are inhabitants during their infant state, are in some degree by their assistance preserved sweet and good, that otherwise might corrupt and putrify, for the motion the waters receive by these insects is not trifling; the respiration they perform in that element being observable by a close attention, which, together with that and the motion of thousands of other insects, does in some measure contribute to keep it sweet and wholesome."

PLATE XLVII.

LIBELLULA LYDIA.

Plate XLVII. fig. 4.

ÆSHNA JUNIA.

Plate XLVII. fig. 5.

"This insect is very much like one we have in England, but not entirely so, differing in some circumstances from ours; and is introduced rather as a subject for illustrating the history of these insects, than as a specimen meriting a place in this work."—Drury.

LIBELLULA SERVILIA.

Plate XLVII. fig. 6.

PLATE XLVIII.

LIBELLULA CAROLINA.

Plate XLVIII. fig. 1.

AGRION VIRGINICA.

Plate XLVIII. fig. 2.

Drury observes of this insect, that "it is somewhat like one we have in England, but distinctly different, and soon to be discovered by comparing them together." He nevertheless applied to it the name of the English species, which I have been consequently obliged to reject.

LIBELLULA BERENICE.

Plate XLVIII. fig. 3.

CORDULEGASTER SABINA.

Plate XLVIII. fig. 4.

LIBELLULA PULCHELLA.

Plate XLVIII. fig. 5.

PLATE XLIX.

LOCUSTA (RUTIDODERES) SQUARROSA.

Plate XLIX. fig. 1.

Our author states, that he was informed by a gentleman who lived several years at Sierra Leone, and by whom this species was communicated to him, that "they appear about the end of June, and soon afterwards retire among the branches of the palm trees, where they reside till the violent rains compel them to quit that situation, and live among the plants, &c. on the ground." In the Introduction to the third volume, he however states on the authority of Mr. Smeathman, that "this beautiful locust is an inhabitant of the sandy plains, called Savannas, which indeed abound with palms; but my friend is in doubt whether they have any kind of predilection for those trees.

"'Although the hot climates abound in every part with insects of the locust and cicada kinds, insomuch that their chirping, particularly that of the cicadas, becomes in some instances intolerable; yet in the sandy plains before mentioned, which are thinly covered with grass, their numbers are immensely greater, and of various kinds, sizes, and colours, skipping or flirting about in all directions at every step of the traveller.' Perhaps, indeed, their kinds may not be so various as one would at first imagine, the same insect differing so much from itself in the various periods of its life. From the fact however here mentioned, it seems most certain that these insects breed under ground in Africa, as well as in these climates, according to Linnæus and other entomologists."

From the knowledge which we possess at the present time relative to the economy of this tribe of insects, it is necessary to observe, upon the last above-quoted passage, that the term "breeding under ground," must be restricted to the mere circumstance of the eggs being buried beneath the surface of the earth, because the insects in all their active stages (including that of the pupa) feed upon grass and other vegetable substances above ground.

In following up the very proper plan proposed and partially effected by Mr. Kirby, in the Zoological Journal, of restoring to the primary divisions of the Linnæan genus Gryllus the names which he gave to them, and which have been so confusedly employed by Fabricius and the French entomologists, and of which I have elsewhere given a more complete explanation, it is necessary that the generic name Locusta should be restored to the true migratory locusts composing the genus Acrydium of Latreille, and that a new name (Rutidoderes) should be given to the subgenus Acrydium of Serville, comprising the present and other allied species.

LOCUSTA TARTARICA?

Plate XLIX. fig. 2.

The different habitats given of this insect by Drury, leads to believe that he had confounded several closely allied species under one name, Americanus; which I should have adopted, but for its inapplicability for the individuals of the Old World. It is also on the like account that I have given the reference to Linnæus with doubt, although Fabricius cites Drury's figure under Gryllus tartaricus without any hesitation.

PLATE L.

EMPUSA PENNICORNIS.

Plate L. fig. 1.

This insect has been considered by all writers as identical with the Linnæan Mantis pectinicornis; but as that insect is described by Linnæus as an inhabitant of China, and the former as found in Jamaica, I have thought it more correct to restore the name of pectinicornis to the Linnæan insect, and give that figured by Drury another denomination.

EMPUSA GONGYLODES.

Plate L. fig. 2.

BACTERIA LINEARIS.

Plate L. fig. 3.

This insect belongs to a singular and numerous family, known to collectors by the names of Spectres, or Walking-stick insects; and others, Walking-leaves, from the strong resemblance which they exhibit to pieces of dried sticks and detached leaves.

The insect here figured appears to be in an immature state, and would probably in its final state have acquired wings. Our author appears to have been aware of this, but he incorrectly describes it as the caterpillar of an insect like that at Fig. 1.

END OF VOL. I.

G. NORMAN, PRINTER, MAIDEN LANE, COVENT GARDEN.

NOTES.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Illustrations of Exotic Entomology,
Volume 1, by Dru Drury

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ILLUSTRATIONS OF EXOTIC ENTOMOLOGY, V.1 ***

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