The conformity and likeneſs which prevails between the male and female throughout the greater part of the animal ſyſtem, cannot how⯑ever in Inſects be implicitly depended on; the difference in many is ſuch as even to miſlead ſome very accurate Entomologiſts, the illuſtrious Linnaeus not excepted. In this ſpecies it is not ſo great as [6] in many, but ſuch as entitles the female to a figure in a future plate: Our figure is of the male.

Albin, (Plate 25, Subject 37,) has given a figure of the male and female on the ſame plate, and deſcribes a male to have changed to the aurelia ſtate as in our plate repreſented July 16, and March 18 fol⯑lowing to have produced the Fly. But the time of their appearance de⯑pends on the proportion of heat or cold; as the author's ſubject was pre⯑ſerved from the ſeverity of winter, in a warm room. The uſual time to find them in the caterpillar ſtate is Auguſt, and in April the Fly.

The ſingular proviſion which nature makes for the protection of this Fly deſerves particular notice; when the time of its continuation in the caterpillar ſtate is expired, by much labour it forms a kind of bag or purſe, of a very tough ſubſtance; this it fixes againſt the trunks of trees, &c. by a number of hairs or filaments, which remain on the external ſurface. It lines the outer caſe by one of a finer texture, the top of which is cloſed by ſeveral briſtles that unite in the center, exactly repreſenting a cap, and excludes almoſt the poſſibility of its receiving an injury during this defenceleſs ſtate. In this bag it paſſes to the aurelia, and remains until the birth of the perfect inſect.—Our figure repreſents the chryſalis or aurelia in the bag; part appears torn away to exhibit its ſituation therein.

Were we to unite the ſeveral accounts of authors reſpecting its food, it would appear to be a general feeder; it will live on the roſe, the elm, and the willow; and on thorns and brambles particularly.

The delicate aſſemblage of beautiful down which cloath the upper wings of the Buff-tip Moth is its chief recommendation; the hiſtory affords but little for obſervation, it is hatched from the egg in Auguſt, and in June following the Fly is perfect.

Its beauty preſerves it not from the race of birds who purſue it from neceſſity, or from an innate deſire of cruelty and devaſtation, and [12] whilſt happy in its apparent ſecurity, ranging the plain to experience the pleaſures of liberty, or to banquet in the nectareous profuſion of the vegetable kingdom, he becomes a dupe to his happineſs, his plea⯑ſures at once ſully, and he falls an unreſiſting victim into the devour⯑ing jaws of death.

The Magpye-Moth is one of the geometrae; and feeds on Gooſe-berry and Currant-buſhes, as the name indicates. The Caterpillar is found in May; and in July, the Fly.

The Caterpillar, previous to its change to the Chryſalis ſtate, ſpins a web of a very ſlight and delicate texture, by which it is ſuſpended horizontally againſt the branches of trees, &c. as in our Plate re⯑preſented.

We have two kinds of Burnet-Sphinx, diſtinguiſhed by the appel⯑lations of Five-ſpot, and Six-ſpot, Burnets; though often conſi⯑dered only as varieties, or difference of ſex, they appear to be two diſtinct ſpecies; not only that they are commonly found in parts of the country very remote from each other, but the number and ſituation of the ſmall red ſpots which adorn the Superior Wings, con⯑ſtitute a material diſtinction. The Six-ſpot is taken near the environs of [18] London, where the other is rarely if ever found, and in ſome parts of Bedfordſhire the Five-ſpot is very common.

As all Lepidopterous Inſects undergo ſome trifling alterations from attendant circumſtances, ſo ſpecimens of the female Sp. Filipendulae has been taken with the two ſpots near the baſe of the Wing cloſely united; and hence aroſe ſome doubt as to the exiſtence of any other Five-ſpot Burnet; the two kinds muſt not, however, be compared to entertain this ſuppoſition, as the Five-ſpot is not only ſmaller, the margin of the Inferior Wings deeper, but wants that ſpot of red neareſt the Apex of the Superior Wings, and which muſt immedi⯑ately appear on the ſlighteſt inſpection.

The Caterpillars of moſt Inſects of this genus are armed with a ſpine, or horn, above the anus, in which particular the Caterpillars of our ſpecies, does not agree. It feeds on the Geniſta Anglica, needle furze; on the Ulex Europaeus, common furze; and on the Filipendula; thoſe plants flouriſh in a ſandy ſoil, where the Caterpillars are to be ſought, in May, and June: the Sphinx appears in July.

Exotic Inſects, or at leaſt thoſe of the Eaſt, and Weſt Indies, for the effulgence, and beauty, of their colouring in general, claim a ſuperiority over the natives of this climate; but the appearance of this Chryſis before the ſpeculum of an opake microſcope, may vie with many of the moſt favourite foreigners hitherto diſcovered: the richneſs [20] of changeable colours blending into each other, according to the vari⯑ations of the light reflected on the ſurface, is ſuch that we freely con⯑feſs our inability, or even the inability of art, to equal; though we truſt our figure will give ſome idea of the delightful appearance of the original.

The Fly of the natural ſize is given on the fore ground, the mag⯑nified figure above.

It commonly conſtructs its habitation in the chinks of old walls, or decayed trees, but prefers a ſituation near the entrance of woods where it may reſide in ſilent ſecurity. If attacked by any Inſect of equal ſize, it is generally victorious, for ſuch is the amazing ſtrength of its almoſt impenetrable coat, that it will encounter the ſpider without much ap⯑prehenſion of danger; and as its ſtrength protects it from many injuries which Inſects with tender bodies are expoſed to; the ſpecies multiplies, and is not uncommon in ſeveral parts of the country. It rarely appears from its retreat until the middle of the day, and is then only invited by the piercing rays of the ſun.

‘The ſmall head of this animalculum is crater-form, the margin of the orifice protuberant, ciliated on both ſides, the hairs undula⯑ting, the pedicle eight or ten times the length of the body. As often as the mouth is opened, the pedicle extends itſelf; when it is ſhut, this is twiſted up ſpirally, and their motions are often reite⯑rated in a ſhort ſpace.’

‘FIG. 1. the head, expanded.—FIG. 2. when ſhut.—FIG. 3. the undulated edge.’

Müller. Ani. Inf.—Adams's Eſſays on the Microſcope.

FIG. 4. found in infuſions of hay, and is called Trichoda Uvuia.

Phalaena Evonymella feeds on the white-thorn, black-thorn, and on fruit trees. In May the caterpillars are hatched, and as they live in ſocieties of hundreds, or even thouſands, by their united induſtry they ſpin a web ſpacious enough to contain the family, and therein they aſſume their ſeveral forms; early in June they become chryſalides, and in about fourteen days the Flies are perfect.

The caterpillars of the Pha. Padella and Evonymella are ever found in the ſame ſociety, and many circumſtances may be advanced [24] to prove them either varieties of each other, or difference of ſex only, although Linnaeus conſidered them as diſtinct ſpecies. They differ in colour, the Caterpillars of one being light yellow brown, the other black, and the upper wings of the Evonymella are leſs of a lead colour than thoſe of the Padella.

To gain information on this ſubject, we, this ſeaſon, put the eggs of ſeveral females into different glaſſes; the eggs of each female pro⯑duced both kinds of Caterpillars, they became Chryſalides, and a num⯑ber of each ſort of the Flies came forth.

Linnaeus in the Syſtema Naturae, has confounded the Yellow Tail, with the Brown Tail Moth, nor was it generally conſidered as an error till ſome time after; but the immenſe increaſe of the Caterpillars of the Brown Tail Moth in the year 1780, afforded an opportunity of determining them to be diſtinct ſpecies.

Though foreign to our purpoſe, and properly under the hiſtory of the Brown Tail Moth, we cannot paſs over ſuch remarkable circumſtances as attended the uncommon increaſe of this ſpecies in the above winter. [26] The fears of the public muſt have been great indeed, when prayers were offered to avert the famine ſuppoſed to be threatened by the ap⯑pearance of thoſe inſects in the ſtate of the Caterpillar.

In July the Caterpillar is found feeding on the white-thorn, fallow, apple-trees, and on fruit-trees in general, about the latter end of the ſame month, it ſpins a web of a tough texture againſt the branches of trees, &c. becomes an aurelia, and in Auguſt the Fly comes forth.

This Tick is one of thoſe deteſtable race of animals whoſe miuteneſs ſecures it from danger, while it draws nutriment from the blood, and frequently from the vitals of larger inſects. Every animal is tormented by thoſe cruel and blood-thirſty beings, varying in ſize, in ſhape, and in colour, but whether they be diſtinguiſhed by the name of lice, bugs, fleas, or mites, they fall under one point of view, when con⯑ſidered as a peſt to the ſocieties of other animals.

Beetles are in general infeſted and ſeverely injured by thoſe vermin. I found about a month ſince one of the Scarabaeus Stercorarius, Com⯑mon [28] Dor, or Clock, almoſt devoured alive by them, little except his ſhell remaining; yet, in this ſtate it lived ſeveral days. There were a number of ſmall brown bags affixed by pedicles to its breaſt, thighs, and even feet; the microſcope diſcovered thoſe to contain each an embryo, and the pedicle, no doubt, anſwered the part of an umbilical chord, to extract nouriſhment from the living creature. I per⯑ceived on further inſpection their baſe penetrated the ſhell, or entered the apertures.

FIG. 1. Natural ſize of the Ticket and Embryo.

FIG. 2. The upper ſide, and Fig. 3. under ſide, magnified.

Thoſe beautiful Inſects vary ſomething in ſize and colour, the ſpots on the elytra are generally white, but are often found with ſpots of yellow; they fly or run quick, are carnivorous, and live in dry ſandy places. In the ſpring its larva is found, which reſembles a long, ſoft, whitiſh worm, with ſix legs and a brown ſcaly head; it perforates [30] the ſand perpendicularly, and reſts near the ſurface to enſnare ſmaller inſects.

It very difficult, if at all poſſible, to breed thoſe inſects and ob⯑ſerve their metamorphoſes; we have tried various methods, but have not yet been ſo fortunate as to ſucceed.

The Stag-Beetle is the largeſt coleopterous inſect we poſſeſs, but its ſize is inſignificant, when compared with thoſe of the ſame kind that inhabit hot countries or woodlands, as inſtanced in the Scarabaeus Hercules, &c.

[32]It is ſufficiently diſtinguiſhed in this country by the moveable maxil⯑lae, or jaws, that project from the head; they are of a dark red co⯑lour, and though brighter in ſome ſpecimens, are rarely of the beau⯑tiful coral appearance Barbut and other authors have deſcribed.

Coleopterous inſects in general are endowed with amazing ſtrength, and their arms are equally ſerviceable for the aſſault or defence. The antlers of this Beetle are carefully to be avoided by ſuch as attempt to deprive it of liberty; with them it ſtrips off the bark of oak trees, and attaches itſelf firmly to the trunk, thence extracting the liquor that oozes with its tongue.

They are plentiful in June and July, in Kent and Eſſex, and in many other parts of Britain.

The females are known by their maxillae being much ſhorter than thoſe of the males; they depoſit their eggs under the bark of old trees, either oak or aſh, and the food of the larvae, or grubs, is the internal ſubſtance of the trunk, firſt reduced to a fine powder; they undergo transformation in this cell, and force a paſſage through the bark when perfect beetles.

This inviſible animalculum is common in marſhy places, particu⯑larly in the ſwamps near the banks of the river Thames.

When magnified, the body is pellucid, and appears as two ſeparate bodies, one encloſing the other; the interior part is filled with mole⯑cules, and the exterior is membranaceous: they are capable of exten⯑ſion or dilation, and of folding in various directions. At the extre⯑mity of the interior part is a muſcular orbicular membrane, which is opened or ſhut at pleaſure, and forms the mouth.

FIG. 1. The interior part protruded with the mouth open.

FIG. 2. The jaws ſhut.

The ſuperior wings in ſome of this ſpecies have ſmaller brown [...], and more of the cream colour; in others the ſpots are larger, and [...]quently two are united to form one. The inferior wings alſo admit of equal variety; the ſpots near the thorax are often united, and the ſmall black ſtripes on the back are fewer in the preſent ſpecimen than are common to the Moth.

[36]The caterpillars feed on lettuces, or nettles. When he is appre⯑henſive of danger, he rolls himſelf up like a hedge-hog. He be⯑comes a chryſalis in May; and the latter end of June, or early in July, it produces the Moth.

The female Vapourer Moth at firſt ſight perfectly reſembles an ap⯑terous inſect; but on inſpection, very ſmall wings are ſeen at the ex⯑tremity of the Thorax, and the antennae determine it to be a phalaena. It creeps in a ſluggiſh manner, and lays an abundance of eggs.

FIG. 1. the Female. FIG. 2. the Male.

[38]The Caterpillars feed on white thorn, and on trees in general. It has been known to live on the deadly night-ſhade, and other poiſonous plants. The Caterpillars are found in July, and the Moth in Sep⯑tember.

This Animalcum is but perceptible to the naked eye, appearing as a ſmall white ſpeck; the microſcope diſcovers the external covering to be ſo tranſparent, that all the motions of the animal within are per⯑fectly diſtinct. It hath a double rotatory inſtrument, which, however, it can conceal or ſhew at pleaſure; and it hath power to protrude the head and tail as at FIG. 1. or to contract them within the external coat or covering, as at FIG. 2.—When the animal intends to diſplay its rotatory inſtrument, it forces its tail through the hole at the extremity of the outer coat, and affixes it to whatever ſubſtance is near; but when it ſwims, it moves its tail backwards and forwards to aſſiſt it.

They are found in river, or ſtagnant, water.

There are three ſpecies only of this genus common to our waters, though the waters of hot countries abound with various kinds, ſome conſiderably exceeding in ſize even our Sphinx Atropos.

The Inſect ſinks its eggs into the cavity of a ruſh, or other aquatic plant, whence the larvae are hatched. The perfect inſect is found in [42] June, and thence to September or later; they are voracious, and feed on other aquatic animals, graſping their prey between their fore feet, and tearing them to pieces with their ſharp roſtrum.—They fly in the evening, and thus remove in herds from one pool to another when danger approaches.

It is ſuppoſed by ſome authors, that the fore feet of the nepa are the antennae, and if this be admitted, the Inſect hath only four feet; but if conſidered deſtitute of its antennae, it hath ſix.

The Chryſis Bidentata is ſcarcely ſo large, and by no means ſo common as the Chryſis Ignita, (not exceeding one-third of an inch in length) but is equal, if not ſuperior in beauty and richneſs of colour. The head, but more particularly the laſt ſegment of the body, appears in one direction of light, blue, in another green, in another purple, &c. and the thorax, and two firſt ſegments of the abdomen are far more enriched with a golden appearance; the ground colour is deep crimſon, but the metallic appearance on the lighter parts, and the number of ſmall gold ſpots which beſprinkle it, greatly diminiſh the ſtrength of colour, and renders it, even before it is magnified, a ſuperb little inſect.

It is found in May or June in ſome parts of Kent and Eſſex.

The caterpillars of this Moth feed on fruit-trees, or on thorns, in the month of May; the Chryſalis is commonly found, rolled up in a decayed leaf, inwardly protected by the web, in June; and in July the Moth.

The preſent figure is of the male.

Is found in the month of April near marſhes, and has been fre⯑quently miſtaken for the common Gnat.

This ſpecies, like moſt of the Coleopterous Inſects, delights in filth and putreſcence, and are rarely found except in the dung, or dead bodies of larger animals, whoſe entrails they devour; they prey on the larvae of ſmaller inſects beneath the ſurface of the earth, or they will deſtroy each other. Their Grubs are ſecreted in perforations made in the earth by the female, and therein they change to their laſt or perfect ſtate in June or July: thoſe Grubs are to be found by following the track of a plough.

They fly well with the tranſparent wings, which are concealed be⯑neath the Elytra or upper Shells. The male is rather ſmaller than the female, and the orange belts are of a deeper hue: though both male and female vary in the ſtrength of colour when alive, and yet more when preſerved in cabinets, as they ſometimes become almoſt brown. All inſects are ſubject to this change, whatever may be the care of the collector.

All the ſpecies of Libellula, but particularly the larger kinds, are conſidered by many rather as objects of terror, than ſubjects worthy in⯑ſpection; and the vulgar denomination of Horſe-ſtinger, contributes to this abhorrence: although it hath no power over animals of ſuch mag⯑nitude, it is perfectly a Vulture among lepidopterous, or other defenceleſs Inſects, deſtroying more for its ſport than for its voracious appetite.

The Fly is on the wing in May, and June, in almoſt every marſhy ſituation; the female lays her eggs near the roots of Oſiers on the banks of ditches, or ſinks them into the ſtalks of Ruſhes in the water; they hatch, and an ugly apterous inſect, of a brown colour, comes [54] forth; it hath a long body like the Fly, ſix Legs, and a forked Head, a ſharp ſpine at the extremity of the abdomen, and a row of ſpines on each ſide, one at every joint; it plunges into the water, and imme⯑diately devours ſuch of the inhabitants, or their eggs, as comes within its reach, and it continues this life of depredation until its next change. They are to be taken with a ſmall hand-net.

All tranſparent objects, in a certain direction before a microſcope, reflect the colours of the priſm. The Tipula Plumoſa exhibits, in this ſituation, an effulgence of colouring, which its natural ſize con⯑veys but ſmall veſtiges of; and the colours on the wing of this Libellula appears far more vivid when magnified.

The body of the male is bluiſh grey; the preſent ſpecimen is the female.

The Caterpillar of the Sphinx Api-formis is an internal feeder, and found only by making an inciſion into the innermoſt ſubſtance of the Poplar, the only tree the female commonly depoſits her Eggs on; it i [...] to us unknown, as is alſo the time of continuing within the trunk of the tree; but in June, early in the morning, or in the evening, the Chryſalis is ſeen iſſuing through the bark, from a perforation in the trunk, which the Caterpillar had formed previous to its change, gene⯑rally to the depth of ſix or eight inches, or more. Nature has furniſhed every ſegment of the Chryſalis with a double row of ſharp teeth, or ſpines, therewith it firmly attaches itſelf to the ſides of the cavity, and, by repeated exertions to break from its priſon, gradually [...] forth; thus, when it hath extricated itſelf from the tree, and the Chryſalis is ſupported as in our Plate repreſented, the upper parts burſt aſunder with violence, and the inſect ruſhes forth to enjoy "the tem⯑perature of the ſummer ſeaſon." It is rarely found except in Eſſex.

[56]There is another Sphinx, which differs in ſo few particulars, that it hath been miſtaken for the preſent ſubject; notwithſtanding, it may be eaſily diſtinguiſhed by a creſcent of yellow in the fore part of the thorax, and thence entitled the Lunar Hornet Sphinx; a Drawing of which Inſect, with the larva, has been preſented to the Linnaean Society. This larva is nearly the ſize of the Buff-tip Caterpillar, and of an obſcure brown colour; probably the larva of the Sp. Api-formis may much reſemble it.

It is arranged in many cabinets under the title of Sphinx Veſpi⯑formis; but the Sp. Veſpiformis, in the Linnaean Collection, now in the poſſeſſion of Dr. Smith, ſcarcely exceeds half the ſize of this ſub⯑ject, and is probably unique. The Lunar Hornet-Sphinx had no place in that cabinet.

They fly well, and are ſometimes found on aquatic plants. They are exceedingly numerous in Kent, in the peaſe and bean-fields, in May, or on the currant-buſhes, and not unfrequently are taken on the fern.

This pretty Cloeopterous Inſect is found in June on the Aſparagus, when in ſeed. Linnaeus calls it Aſparagi, from the larvae feeding on the leaves of that plant. It is a common inſect, but forms a beautiful opaque object for the microſcope. The natural ſize is given at Fig. I. and the magnified appearance above.

Are very numerous in the adjacent parts of London, and are found in the ſtate of Caterpillar, Chryſalis and Moth, at the ſame time, though commonly the Caterpillar changes to Chryſalis in June, and to a Fly in July.

It feeds on the Willow, the Ozier, the Poplar, &c.