spotted with red, and furnished with a pair of short horns, which it occasionally protrudes. (4.) P. priamus. Wings indented, silky; upper pair green above, with a black, disc and edge; lower ones with from four to six black spots. This Linnæus considered as the most beautiful of the whole papilionaceous tribe. It measures more than six inches from wing's end to wing's end; the upper wings are velvet-black, with a broad band of the most beautiful grass-green drawn from the shoulder to the tip, and another on the lower part of the wing, following the shape of that part; the lower wings are of the same green color, edged with velvet-black, and marked by four spots of that color, while at the upper part of each, or at the part where the upper wings lap over, is a squarish orange-colored spot; the thorax is black, with sprinklings of lucid green in the middle; and the abdomen is of a bright yellow or gold color. On the under side of the animal the distribution of colors is somewhat different, the green being disposed in central patches on the upper wings, and the lower being marked by more numerous black as well as orange spots. It is a very rare insect, and is a native of the island of Amboyna. Genus 2. Sphinx.-Antenna thickest in the middle; tongue generally stretched out; palpi two; wings deflected. The species of this genus are the largest of the lepidoptera order; they fly fast, and mostly in the evening. They derive their generic name sphinx from the posture of the larvæ of several large species, which are often seen in an attitude much resembling that of the Egyptian statues, viz. with the fore parts elevated and the rest of the body flat to the leaf. The most remarkable species is the sphinx atropos, or death's-head hawk-moth, but in England it is rather rare. It is thus described by Dr. Shaw :The upper wings are of a fine dark gray color, with a few slight variations of dull orange and white; the under wings are of a bright orange celor, marked by a pair of transverse black bands; the body is also orange-colored, with the sides marked by black bars, while along the top of the back, from the thorax to the tail, runs a broad blue-gray stripe; on the top of the thorax is a very large patch, of a most singular appearance, exactly resembling the usual figure of a skull, or death's-head, and is of a pale gray, varied with dull ochre and black. When in the least disturbed, or irritated, this insect emits a stridulous sound, something like the squeaking of a mouse; and from this circumstance, as well as from the mark above mentioned on the thorax, it is held in much dreau y the vulgar in several parts of Europe, its appearance being regarded as an ill omen. The caterpillar, from which this curious sphinx, proceeds, is in the highest degree beautiful, and far surpasses in size every other European insect of the kind, measuring sometimes nearly five inches in length, and being of a proportional thickness; its color is a bright yellow; the sides are marked with a row of seven most elegant broad stripes or bands, of a mixed violet and sky-blue color; the tops of these bands meet on the back in so many angles, and are varied on that part with jet-black specks; on the last joint of the body is a horn or process, This not in an erect position, but hanging or curving over the joint in the manner of a tail, having a rough surface, and a yellow color. This caterpillar is principally found on the potatoe and the jessamine, which are its favorite food. It changes into a chrysalis in the month of September, retiring for that purpose deep in the earth; the perfect insect emerging in the following June or July. The noise of this insect is remarkable, inasmuch as it seems to have the power of affecting the bees in such a manner as to disarm them of their fury, and thus enables her to procure her favorite honey with perfect impunity. cry does not appear to be produced by the wings, for when they and the thorax are held down the noise only increases. Schræter says that the animal, when it utters its cry, rubs its tongue against its head; and Reaumur found, after the most minute examination, that sound was produced by the friction of the palpi against the tongue. When, by means of a pin, the spiral tongue was unfolded, the cry ceased; and when the palpi were prevented from touching it, it again stopped; and, upon removing one of them only, though it continued, it became much more feeble. Huber, however, denies that it is produced by the friction of the tongue, but as he has stated no reasons for this opinion, his mere assertion cannot be allowed to counterbalance Reaumur's experiments.' Genus 3. Phalana.-Antenna setaceous, and gradually tapering; tongue spiral; wings deflected. The moths of this genus fly only at night, and obtain their food from the nectar of flowers; the larvæ feed voraciously on the leaves of plants. This genus includes the bombyx of Fabricius. Of this almost innumerable tribe of insects, we can select here but a few specimens. (1.) The first species would undoubtedly be the silk-worm, P. mori; but this insect is of sufficient importance to demand a separate article; we shall therefore refer our readers to PHALENA and SILK-WORM. (2.) P. atlas, the largest and most splendid of the phalænæ yet known: its wings are falcate, varied with yellow, white and brown, with a transparent spot on each, and two on the upper one. The extent of the wings of this insect measures between eight and nine inches; the ground colour is a fine deep orange-brown, and in the middle of each wing is a large triangular transparent spot; each of these transparent parts is succeeded by a black border, and across all the wings run lighter and darker bars, exhibiting a very fine assortment of varying shades; the upper wings are slightly curved downwards at their tips, and the lower wings are edged with a border of black spots, on a pale buff-colored ground; the antennæ are widely pectinated, with a quadruple series of fibres, exhibiting a highly elegant appearance. This insect is found in America and the East Indies. (3.)P.sarcitella.--Wings cinereous, thorax with a white dot on each side. This belongs to the division tinea, and is found in skin-cloths and woollen furniture; to which it proves terribly destructive. These moths construct the abode in which they reside of the grains of wool or other materials, which they gnaw off. Their food is of The insects of this order have four membranaceous wings generally transparent. At the tail they have often pincers but no sting. Genus 1. Libellula.-Antennæ short and slender; marille inore than two; lip trisected; wings extended; tail of the male having pincers. The eyes of this genus are finely adapted for microscopic examination, and by the assistance of a good instrument it will be seen that the eye is divided into a number of hexagonal cells, each of which forms a complete eye. The external parts of these eyes are so perfectly smooth, that, like so many mirrors, they reflect the images of all surrounding objects. Leuwenhoeck says, there are 12,544 lenses on each eye of the libellula. If one of these groups of eyes be nicely taken from the head of the insect, washed clean, and placed before the microscope, its structure is elegantly seen, and it becomes an object worthy of the highest admiration. Each of the eyes is an hexagon, and has the same effect as a convex lens in forming the image of an object placed before it, lessening and beautifying it. The whole of this beautiful tribe is exceedingly ravenous, and may be generally seen hovering over stagnant waters in pursuit of its prey. The amours of the libellulæ are carried on in a peculiar and violent manner. The male hovers on the wing till a female makes her appearance; he then watches an opportunity of seizing her by the head with those pincers with which his tail is armed. In this manner he travels through the air, till the female, yielding to superior strength, forms her body into a kind of circle; hence the libellulæ are frequently seen coupled in the air, exhibiting the form of a ring. The female afterwards retires to some stagnant water, where, by the assistance of a stick or reed, she lowers herself down backwards, till the tip of the tail is immerged a little in the water; she is then seized with a tremor of the body, during which she deposits the egg in the water. The tail is withdrawn from the water, by contracting the annuli; and, by the pressure of these upon each other, the egg is gradually forced from the ovary to the extremity of the tail; whence it is separated by shaking that part in the water. The eggs are of a white color, resembling those produced by the common blow-fly. Of all the insect tribes none are greater enemies of their fellow tribes than these libellulæ, and none are provided with more powerful and singular instruments of assault. They pursue prey in every state, and in the larva are furnished with two pairs of strong jaws covered by a kind of mask. The whole of this apparatus is so singular and admirable that we cannot refrain from giving the following account of it from Messrs. Kirby and Spence's interesting and elegant work;- In other larvæ the lower lip is usually small and inconspicuous, and serves merely for retaining the food and assisting in its deglutition; but in these it is by far the largest organ of the mouth, which when closed it entirely conceals; and it not only retains, but actually seizes the animal's prey, by means of a very singular pair of jaws with which it is furnished. Conceive your under lip (to have recourse, as Reaumur on another occasion, to such comparison) to be horny instead of fleshy, and to be elongated perpendicularly downwards, so as to wrap over your chin and extend to its bottom-that this elongation is there expanded into a triangular convex plate, attached to it by a joint, so as to bend upwards again and fold over the face as high as the nose, concealing not only the chin and the first mentioned elongation, but the mouth and part of the cheeks: conceive moreover, that to the end of this last-mentioned plate are fixed two other convex ones, so broad as to cover the whole nose and temples,-that these can open at pleasure, transversely like a pair of jaws, so as to expose the nose and mouth, and that their inner edges where they meet are cut into numerous sharp teeth or spines, or armed with one or more long and sharp claws:-you will then have as accurate an idea as can be given of the strange conformation of the under lip in the larvae of the tribes of libellulina; which conceals the mouth and face precisely in this manner. You will probably admit that your own visage would present an appearance not very engaging while concealed by such a mask; but it would strike still more awe into the spectators, were they to see you first open the two upper jaw-like plates, which would project from each temple like the blinders of a horse; and next, having by means of the joint at your chin let down the whole apparatus and uncovered your face, employ them in seizing any food that presented itself, and conveying it to your mouth. Yet this procedure is that adopted by the larvæ provided with this strange organ. While it is at rest, it applies close to and covers the face. When the insects would make use of it, they unfold it like an arm, catch the prey at which they aim by means of the mandibuliform plates, and then partly refold it so as to hold the prey to the mouth in a convenient position for the operation of the two pairs of jaws with which they are provided. Reaumur once found one of them thus holding and devouring a large tadpole; a sufficient proof that Swammerdam was greatly deceived in imagining earth to be the food of animals so tremendously armed and fitted for carnivorous purposes. Such an underlip as I have described is found in the tribe of dragon-flies (libellulina), varied, however, considerably in its figure in the different genera. You will admire the wisdom of this admirable contrivance when you reflect that these larvæ are not fitted to pursue their prey with rapidity, like most predaceous animals; but that they steal upon them, as De Geer observes, as a cat does upon a bird, very slowly, and as if they counted their steps; and then, by a sudden evolution of this machine, take them as it were by surprise, when they think themselves safe.' The larva remains in the same state about a year before it attains its full size; and, when the period of its transformation has arrived, repairs to the margin of the pond in quest of a convenient situation. It here attaches itself to a plant or piece of dry wood; and the skin, which has gradually be come parched and brittle, at length splits opposite the upper part of the thorax, and the perfect insect makes its appearance. L. grandis is the largest of this genus found in Britain. The fore part of the head is yellow; the eyes brown, and so large that they meet at the top of the head. The thorax is of a dun color, with four oblique bands on each side of a lemon color. The abdomen is reddish, often spotted with white and black upon the top and bottom of each segment; the small appendices which terminate the abdomen are very long; the wings have more or less of a yellow complexion, and are distinguished by a brown spot on the exterior edges. The colors of the insect vanish when dead. The larvæ of these insects are peculiar for the manner in which they swim, and force themselves along in the water. In most creatures this is done by means of either fins, or arms, or legs; some, indeed, swim along by striking with the tail, but this curious animal moves forward by means of a kind of force-pump in its tail. By means of this curious mechanism it spirts out, with considerable force, the water it has previously sucked up, and the stream thus serves to propel it along. Genus 2. Ephemera.-Antennæ short and subulated; palpi four, short and filiform; mouth having no mandable; jaws membranaceous and short, and connected with the lip; two large stemmata above the eyes; wings erect, lower part very small; tail setaceous. Proverbially short as is this creature's life, in the state of a perfect insect; in the larva and pupa states the ephemera live one or two years, and some species, it is believed, live even three years from the time of hatching from the egg state, before they arrive at the perfect form. The larvæ are found in the water, wherein they constantly reside, and are the favorite food of fishes. They are active, furnished with six legs, a tail, six lateral fins, or gills, and prey on smaller insects. The pupa, like the larvæ, are carnivorous, and resemble the former state, except in having the rudiments of the wings apparent. The ephemeræ are so abundant in some countries, that they are used for the purpose of manure, the species vulgata especially. This is the common practice with the husbandmen in Carniola. They are also very numerons on some parts of the Rhine, the Maes, and Isel. The season of their appearance in such multitudes continues, however, only for about three days annually. See the article EPHEMERA. Genus 3. Hemerobius. - Antennæ setaceous; mandible straight and horny; maxilla cylindrical and cleft; lip forward and ent.re; palpi four, filiform; rings deflected; thorar convex. The species of this genus in all their stages feed upon small insects, especially the aphides; their larvæ have six feet; in most species they are oval and hairy; the pupa are inactive, and enclosed in a case. The eggs are deposited on leaves in the midst of aphides, and the larvæ attain their growth in fifteen or sixteen days. The most remarkable species is the H. crysops; the wings of which are hyaline with green veins and brown spots; body variegated black and green. The larva of this insect feeds on the aphides, among which it makes terrible havoc, and invariably covers itself with the skins of those it has slain. From the head to the tail, this pigmy destroyer is covered with a thick coat, or rather mountain, composed of the skins, limbs, and down, of these creatures. Reaumur, in order to ascertain how far this covering was necessary, removed it, and put the animal ito a glass with raspings of paper; and, in the space of an hour, it had clothed itself with a coat of twice the usual thickness. Genus 4. Phryganea.- Antenna long and bristly; mandible short, corneous, arched, and sharp; maxilla membranaceous; palpi four; stemmata three; wings incumbent; hinder ones folded. A principal species is P. grandis. Wings browntestaceous, with cinereous spots. One of the largest of the European phryganeæ: it usually measures an inch, or more, in length, and has very much the general aspect of a phalana; the upper wings are gray, marked by various darker and lighter streaks and specks, and the under wings are yellowish-brown and semi-transparent. The larva, which measures nearly an inch and three-quarters in length, is of a flesh-colored gray, with brown head and legs, and inhabits a tube composed of pieces of hark, small fragments of grass-stalks, or other substances. Like other larvæ of this genus, it is known by the name of cadew, or caddis, worm, and is frequently used by anglers. When arrived at its full growth it fastens the case or tube to the stem of some water-plant, or other convenient substance, in such a manner as to project a little above the surface of the water, and casting its skin changes to a pupa of a lengthened shape, displaying the immature limbs of the future phryganea, which emerge in the space of a fortnight. The larvæ in question, says Mr. Kirby, are well known to fishermen by the title of caddis-worms, and, if you take them out of the water, you will observe that they inhabit cases of a very singular conformation. Of the larva itself, which somewhat resembles the caterpillars of many lepidoptera, nothing is to be seen but the head and six legs, by means of which it moves itself in the water, and drags after it the case in which the rest of the body is enclosed, and into which on any alarm it wholly retires. The construction of these habitations is very various. Some select four or five pieces of the leaves of grass, which they glue together into a shapely polygonal case; others employ portions of the stems of rushes, placed side by side so as to form an elegant fluted cylinder; some arrange round them pieces of leaves like a spirally-rolled riband; others enclose themselves in a mass of the leaves of any aquatic plants united without regularity; and others again form their abode of minute pieces. of wood either fresh or decayed. These are usually open at each end. Since they must reside in these cases, when they are become pupa, till the time of their final change approaches, if they are left open, how are the animals, now become torpid, to keep out their enemies? Or, if they are wholly closed, how is the water, which is necessary to their respiration and life, to be introduced? These sagacious creatures know how to compass both these ends at once. They fix a grate or portcullis to each extremity of their fortress, which at the same time keeps out intruders and admits the water. These grates they weave with silk spun from their anus into strong threads, which cross each other, and are not soluble in water. One of them, described by De Geer, is very remarkable. It consists of a small thickish, circular lamina of brown silk, becoming as hard as gum, which exactly fits the aperture of the case, and is fixed a little within the margin. It is pierced all over with holes disposed in concentric circles, and separated by ridges which go from the centre to the circumference, but often not quite so regularly as the radii of a circle, or the spokes of a wheel. These radii are transversed again by other ridges, which follow the direction of the circles of holes; so that the two kinds of ridges crossing each other form compartments, in the centre of each of which is a hole One forms a horn-shaped case composed of grains of sand, so equal in size, and so nicely and regularly gummed together, the sides throughout being of the thickness of one grain only, that the first time I viewed it I could scarcely persuade myself it could be the work of an insect. The case of P. bimaculata, which is less artificially constructed of a mixture of mud and sand, is pyriform, and has its end curiously stopped by a plate formed of grains of sand, with a central aperture. Other species construct houses which may be called alive, forming them of the shells of various aquatic snails of different kinds and sizes even while inhabited, all of which are immoveably fixed to it, and dragged about at its pleasure: a covering as singular as if a savage, instead of clothing himself with the squirrel's skin, should sew together into a coat the animals themselves. However various may be the form of the case externally, within it is usually cylindrical and lined with silk, and even those that are most careless about the nature of the materials of their houses, are solicitously attentive to one circumstance respecting them, namely, their specific gravity. Not having the power of swimming, but only of walking at the bottom of the water by aid of the six legs attached to the fore part of the body which is usually protruded out of the case, and the insect itself being heavier than water, it is of great importance that its house should be of a specific gravity so nearly that of the element in which it resides, as while walking neither to incommode it by its weight, nor by too great buoyancy; and it is as essential that it should be so equally ballasted in every part as to be readily moveable in any position. Under these circumstances our caddis-worms evince their proficiency in hydrostatics, selecting the most suitable substances, and, if the cell be too heavy, gluing to it a bit of leaf or straw; or, if too light, a shell or piece of gravel. It is from this necessity of regulating the specific gravity, that to the cases formed with the greatest regularity we often see attached a seemingly superfluous piece of wood, leaf, or the like. Genus 5. Panorpa.-Antenna filiform; palp four; rostrum cylindrical and corneous; mandible no teeth; jaws bifid at the point; lip long, and covering the whole mouth; the male having a tail chelated. P. communis is, as its name imports, the most familiar of all the species. It is frequently seen in our meadows during the early part of the summer. It is a long-bodied fly, of a moderate size, with four transparent wings, elegantly variegated with deep brown spots; the tail of the male insect, which is generally carried in an upright position, is furnished with a forceps. Genus 6. Raphidia.—Antennæ filiform, and of the same length with the thorax, and cylindrical; palpi four, short, and filiform; mandible arched and corneous, dentated; jaw corneous and obtuse; lip corneous, round, and entire; wings deflected; female's tail setaceous. This genus is said to walk on the knees. Species R. notata, having wings, with a brown marginal spot; a body black, head with a testaceous spot; legs testaceous: appendage of female as long as the body. ORDER V.-HYMENOPTERA. The insects of this order are all furnished with four membranaceous wings, and a mouth, having maxilla. Some of the females are provided with a sting concealed within the abdomen, and furnished with a poison-bag; others have an oviduct, with which they pierce wood, &c., to deposit their eggs. The larvæ have, some no feet, others sixteen; they change to pupa incompleta, which are enclosed in cases. Some of the insects live in societies, some entirely alone. Genus 1. Cynips.--The mouth is armed with jaws, but has no proboscis; the sting is spiral, and concealed within the body. The cynipes pierce the leaves of plants with their sting, and deposit their eggs in the wound; the extravasated juices rising around, form a gall, which gradually becomes hard, and in this the larva lives, and feeds, and changes into pupa. Thus are produced the galls so valuable in commerce as a principal ingredient in ink, and in dyeing. See the articles CYNIPS, and GALLS, in the body of our work. Genus 2. Tenthredo.-Palpi four, filiform, and unequal; mandible toothed, corneous, and arched; jaws obtuse at the point; lip cylindrical and trisected. The larvæ have from fourteen to twentyeight feet, and a round head; and, if touched, roll themselves together. In this state, their food is the leaves of plants. When about to enter the pupa state, they make a net-work case, within which they remain as pupæ for the greater part of the winter. The species are very numerous, and appear to be migratory. In August, 1782, they were observed in Norfolk to come over the sea by the fishermen and farmers, and on the beach and cliffs they might be taken up by shovels-full. It has, however, been thought that they only come from Lincolnshire. An important species is the T. lutea, which is of a yellow color mostly, and has five yellow antennæ. It proceeds from a large green larva, with a double row of black specks on each side, and a dusky line down the back, bounded on each side by yellow. It feeds on various species of willow |