S. Moloſſus and S. Bucephalus are very common in China. The firſt ſeems a local ſpecies, the latter is ſaid to be found in other parts of the Eaſt Indies. Olivier has given three varieties of Scarabaeus Moloſſus. The ſpecimen figured in the annexed plate is the var. c. of that author.

The larvae of the larger kinds of coleopterous inſects, abounding in unctuous moiſture, are not leſs eſteemed as food among ſome modern nations, than they were by the epicures of antiquity. In Jamaica, and other iſlands in the Weſt Indies, the Macokko^a larva is an article of luxurious food; and in China moſt inſects in that ſtate are appropriated to the ſame purpoſe. Thus alſo the Romans introduced the larvae of the Lucani^b and Cerambyes^c in their voluptuous repaſts; previouſly feeding them on farinaceous ſubſtances to give conſiſtence to the animal juices.

The learned author of the laſt account we have of China, ſays, "Under the roots of the canes is found a large white grub, which being fried in oil is eaten as a dainty by the Chineſe." Perhaps this is the larva of Scarabaeus Moloſſus, which, like many other of the Scarabaei,^d may live ſedentary in the ground, and ſubſiſt on the roots of plants: the general deſcription and abundance of this inſect in China favours ſuch opinion. The ſame author obſerves, in another part of his work, that "the aurelias of the ſilk worm which is cultivated in China, after the ſilk is wound off, furniſh an article for the table." This alſo is a very ancient cuſtom among the Aſiatics, and even Europeans, before the ſixteenth century, if we may credit Aldrovandus:^e it is certain the worms, if not the aurelias, were adminiſtered in medicine in early ages,^f

Scarabaeus Sacer is a native of China; it is alſo found in other parts of the Eaſt Indies, in Egypt, Bar⯑bary, the Cape of Good Hope, and other countries of Africa, and throughout the ſouth of Europe.

A few remains of ancient monuments, and ſome fragments of hiſtoric information, preſerved from an early period of the world, afford certain and intereſting details of this inconſiderable creature. Thoſe remains evince indeed but the firſt dawning of natural and moral philoſophy on the human mind, but, connected with the hiſtory of the inſect before us, are too important to be paſſed over in ſilence.

The Scarabaeus was held in profound veneration by the people of Egypt.^g They regarded it as a viſible deity; but a more refined ſyſtem of religious worſhip prevailed in their temples among the prieſts and ſages.^h They deemed it only the ſymbol of their god, and, aſcribing both ſexes to the Scarab, it became a ſtriking emblem of a ſelf-created and ſupreme firſt cauſe.ⁱ

This inſect was more eſpecially the ſymbol of their god Neith,^k whoſe attribute was power ſupreme in governing the works of creation, and whoſe glory was increaſed, rather than diminiſhed, by the preſence of a ſuperior being, Phtha, the creator. The theological definition of the two powers being independent, yet centering in one ſpirit, is implied by the figurative union of two ſexes in the Scarab. In the latter ſenſe it ſignified therefore but one omnipotent power. The Scarab, typifying Neith, was carved or painted on a []ring, and worn by the ſoldiers, as a token of homage to that power who diſpoſed of the fate of battles;lAuthors quote a doubtful paſſage in Herapollo Hieroglyph. lib. 1. to ſupport this opinion. That ſuch rings were worn by the ancient Egyptians is beyond conjecture, many remains of them, and ſome very perfect, have been found in the ſubterranean caverns and ſepulchres in the Plain of Mummies near Saccara and Giza. Thoſe which we have examined, are remarkable for the convexity, or full relievo of the figure ſculptured on them, in ſome it is of the natural ſize of the inſect, but generally ſmaller; the ſtone, cornelian, without a rim, and turning on a ſwivel ring of gold. and ſculptured on aſtronomical tables, or on columns,^m it expreſſed the divine wiſdom which regulates the uni⯑verſe and enlightens man.

This, and the next ſpecies, are deſcribed by Fabricius, in the two new genera, Cetonia and Melolontha. They are Scarabaei of the Linnaean ſyſtem. Cetonia Chinenſis is a fine and very rare inſect.

This ſpecimen nearly correſponds with one of the Melolontha viridis figured by Olivier, which came from the Cape of Good Hope: our inſect is undoubtedly from China.

The male of this ſpecies is furniſhed with a long recurved horn on the head; the female has only a ſmall riſing on that part. It is found in Europe as well as China.

The annexed figures exhibit the two ſexes of Scarabaeus Seniculus. In ſome ſpecimens the ſpots are very indiſtinct and reddiſh, in others the wing-caſes have faint red ſtriae. The female has the rudiments of horns on the thorax.

The figure of this rare ſpecies is taken from a ſpecimen in the collection of Mr. Drury, of London, on aſſurance that it was received from China. Another, in the cabinet of Sir J. Banks, Bart. deſcribed by Fabricius, is noted from America.

The horns on the head of this inſect have a very uncommon appearance, and which authors have compared to a pair of ears. The ſpecific name Midas has been aptly given from this circumſtance.

This ſpecies has been confounded with S. Moloſſus. Both inſects are given on the ſame plate, that the difference may be preciſely obſerved.

This inſect ſeems nearly allied to Curculio mucoreus, an Indian ſpecies, deſcribed by Linnaeus, but not figured by any author: the lateral stripe of black; and the denticulations on the poſterior thighs of our inſect clearly removes it, however, from the Linnaean ſpecies. Among the Curculiones deſcribed ſince by Fabricius, we have not diſcovered any with which our ſpecies can be confounded; and deeming it a non⯑deſcript, we name it ſpecifically Chineſis; a name, perhaps, too local, but expreſſive of the native place of our ſpecimen; and not applied by Fabricius, in his laſt work, to any inſect of the ſame genus, though that author has exhauſted almoſt every applicable name, in the deſcriptions of more than four hundred of its ſpecies.

The only ſpecimen of this curious inſect we have ſeen, is in the poſſeſſion of Mr. Drury of London, from whoſe extenſive collection we have been liberally permitted to copy, and deſcribe, ſuch Inſects as we con⯑ſidered worthy of noticing in this work.

All the ſpecimens of this Curculio that have come under our inſpection, are natives of China. Fabricius ſays it is from the Cape of Good Hope^b.

Uncommonly ſcarce. Fabricius refers for this inſect to the collection of Cramer. We have only ſeen the ſpecimen from which our figure is taken.

This can be no other than Curculio verrucoſus, though our ſpecimen came from China, and that noticed by Fabricius from the Cape of Good Hope. The three elevated ſtriae of warts on each of the wing caſes, and the intermediate double row of impreſſed points, are deciſive in our opinion of this ſpecies.—We have another that is mottled with clay colour, which is probably found in Africa.

A ſmall, but ſuperb ſpecies, being totally covered with minute ſcales of an oblong form, and reſplen⯑dent green colour, interſperſed with changeable ſparks of gold and crimſon, in various reflections of light. This ſcaly covering is not unlike that of Curculio argentatus found in England; but of a brilliance ſcarcely inferior to the gem-like ſpangles on the Curculio imperialis of Brazil.—Curculio ſquamoſus is repreſented in its natural ſize, in the annexed plate; and, in juſtice to an inſect of ſuch uncommon beauty, an ad⯑ditional plate is given, to exhibit its appearance in the opaque microſcope.—It is extremely common in China.

Like Curculia ſquamoſus this inſect is entirely black, when diveſted of its ſcaly covering. It has been ſuppoſed a variety of C. ſquamoſus, but Fabricius conſiders them as two ſpecies, and we are of the ſame opinion.

Neither this nor the two preceding ſpecies have been figured in any work. We have given a figure of the under ſide of this inſect, to illuſtrate the ſpecific character given by Fabricius.

Among ſome Chineſe drawings of the late Mr. Bradſhaw, we obſerved one on which the metamorphoſis of this Cerambyx ſeemed to be delineated. The larva was partly concealed in the hollow of a piece of decayed wood; it was of a whitiſh colour, with the head and tail black, as deſcribed by Fabricius.

This ſpecies, we find, is not uncommon in China. It is the largeſt of its genus that we are acquainted with from that country.

Cerambyx reticulator is a very rare ſpecies; we have never ſeen more than two ſpecimens of it. It is altogether a beautiful inſect; but the ſingular ſtructure of the antennae deſerves particular notice: it is entirely brown except the firſt articulation, which is black; the ſecond has a large verticillated tuft of black hair at the ſummit; at the baſe of this articulation it has another tuft, but ſmaller; and a ſimilar tuft, but ſtill ſmaller, is ſituated on the third and fourth articulations.

The Bupreſtides form an extenſive, and moſt brilliant tribe of coleopterous inſects. Braſil and New Holland produce ſome gigantic ſpecies, but none more beautiful than thoſe of India. We need adduce no other proof of this, than Bupreſtis chryſis, ſternicorus, attenuata, ocellata, and vittata. Theſe wrought into various devices, and trinkets, decorate the dreſſes^x of the natives in many parts of India. The Bupreſtis vittata in particular, is much admired among them. It is, we believe, entirely peculiar to China, where it is found in vaſt abundance, and diſtributed from thence at a low price among the other Indians. The Chineſe, who always profit by the curioſity of Europeans, collect vaſt quantities of this Bupreſtis, and other gay inſects, in the interior of the country, and traffic with them.

A conſiderable error ſeems to have ariſen concerning this ſpecies, and the true Bupreſtis ignita of Lin⯑naeus. All authors, except Fabricius and Olivier, have conſidered the Bupreſtis vittata, and ignita, the ſame. Fabricius, in his Species Inſectorum, refers to Muſ. Dom. Banks only, for the Bupreſtis vittata; and to the 14th figure, plate 6, in Sulzer's work, for a figure of Bupreſtis ignita. In the Entomologia Syſtematica we however find the ſame reference to the figure of Sulzer, for B. vittata^y; and, to increaſe the perplexity, preciſely the ſame reference under that of B. ignita^z alſo.

[]The Bupreſtis ignita of Linnaeus, we imagined, was unknown in the cabinets of the curious in this country, till we diſcovered an inſect nearly correſponding in character with it, in the collection of Mr. Drury, and which we preſume is the B. ignita, or at leaſt a variety of it. It has not the brilliance of colours that ſo eminently diſtinguiſhes B. vittata, but in form and ſize it agrees with it. The only figure of that ſpecies is given by Olivier, from a ſpecimen formerly in the cabinet of Gigot d'Orcy, of Paris. We have exa⯑mined the ſpecimen in the cabinet of Sir J. Banks, referred to by Fabricius as B. vittata, and find the figure in Sulzer is of that ſpecies, as well as the ſpecimen we have repreſented.

Fabricius has given as a part of the ſpecific diſtinction of theſe inſects, that B. ignita has three ſpines at the end of each wing caſe, or elytron, and B. vittata no more than two. This may form a ſufficient cha⯑racteriſtic in thoſe ſpecies; but we muſt remark, that it is not ſo in Bupreſtis ocellata. We have two ſpeci⯑mens that have two ſpines at the end of each elytron, and another with three, as Fabricius has deſcribed it. We alſo find ſeveral inſects nearly allied to B. vittata, the ſtripe of gold on each ſide excepted; one of theſe has ſix teeth, another four teeth, and a third only two.

The Bupreſtides are ſuppoſed, for the moſt part, to undergo their transformations in the water, or marſhy ground.

Canna Indica.—Indian flowering Reed.

This plant is common in China, and is found alſo in moſt other parts of Aſia, Africa, and America. In our climate it requires to be placed in the ſtove, where it produces an abundant ſucceſſion of flowers throughout the ſummer. It bears a berry which is perfecty hard and round, of a black colour, and highly poliſhed. It is called Indian Shot.

The Bupreſtis ocellata is a native of China, and is very rare: ſpecimens of it have been found in parcels of the common ſort. Olivier ſays it is from Chandernagore in the Eaſt Indies. Mr. Drury has an extra⯑ordinary variety of this inſect from China, in which the two ſpots unite at the future ſo as to form only one large ſpot on the back when the wing caſes are cloſed.

Theſe ſpots on the wing caſes are ſtrikingly characteriſtic of this ſpecies; at leaſt we have not ob⯑ſerved them in any other of the Bupreſtis genus. They are uſually ſituated in the centre of each elytron; are ſomewhat pellucid, and in fine ſpecimens are cream colour, ſurrounded with a crimſon circle. Theſe ſpots are ſometimes brown; probably they become ſo after the inſect dies.

[]Our figures repreſent this inſect with expanded wings; one of thoſe is deſigned to exhibit the beautiful appearance of the under ſurface, particularly the effulgent abdomen and purple colour of the interior part of the ſhells: this is ſeen hovering over the flower of the Canna Indica: the other repreſents the upper ſurface.

This inſect may be referred to the Linnaean genus Tenebrio. It is deſcribed by Fabricius in the Species Inſectorum, in the new genus Alurnus; in the Entomologia Syſtematica of the ſame author, it is removed to another new genus, Sagra, and its former ſpecific name, femoratus, neceſſarily altered to femorata. As the characters of theſe Fabrician genera are taken from the palpi, maxilla, and labium, we prefer the more obvious characters of the Linnaean genus.

The figures quoted by Fabricius differ, in ſome reſpects, from the Chineſe, ſpecimens. Sulzer repre⯑ſents it of a green colour, without a tinge of red purple, or copper colour, ſo predominant in every ſpe⯑cimen we have ſeen. Our inſects are of two kinds: one is of a glowing purple, reſplendent as metal, and changeable to green or yellow; the other is purple alſo, but not quite ſo vivid, being tinged with green.

This inſect is very common in China, and ſome other parts of the Eaſt Indies. The ſmall ſpecimen is []rare, but is, probably, only a variety of the other ſort. According to Olivier, the Meloe cichorei is uſed by the Chineſe in their medical preparations inſtead of the Cantharis veſicatorius of the Europeans, and is ſuppoſed to be more efficacious in certain caſes. The ſame author quotes a paſſage in Dioſcoride Med. Lib. 2. to prove that it is alſo the Cantharides of the ancientsⁱ

Two figures of the Mantis, very much reſembling our ſpecies, is given in the work of Stoll on Cicadae &c. one kind he calls La Mante ètroitement cornue, the other La Mante Chinoiſe ètroites cornue. The firſt is from the coaſt of Coromandel and Tranquebar, the other, as its name implies, is a Chineſe inſect. We cannot diſcover any material difference between theſe figures and our ſpecimen, and are inclined to conſider them altogether as one ſpecies.

Few of the Cicadae and Locuſtae deſcribed by Fabricius, in his Species Inſectorum, have any reference to figures, becauſe a very ſmall number of them had been figured till Stoll publiſhed his work on thoſe genera. Stoll has occaſion to mention with regret, that Fabricius has ſcarcely noticed any of his plates. It is a conſiderable diſadvantage to the works of that author, as well as to the naturaliſt that comults them, that no ſcientific names, or definitions, are given to the figures of many rare inſects included amongſt them.

The Mantis Oculata of Fabricius is an African inſect, and was deſcribed from the collection of the Right Hon. Sir J. Banks, Bart. we have compared our Chineſe ſpecimen with it, and find it is preciſely the ſame ſpecies.

This Mantis is deſcribed by Fabricius only. Stoll has given the figure of an inſect not unlike it in his publication; and we have ſeen a ſpecimen ſimilar to it, which was found by Profeſſor Pallas near the Caſpian ſea. It is allied to Mantis Gongyloides, a native of Africa and Aſia, but bears a cloſer affinity to Mantis Pauperata^a from Java, Molucca, and perhaps other iſlands in the Indian ſea.

Fabricius enumerates fifty-one ſpecies of this genus in his laſt ſyſtem; a conſiderable portion of theſe are from Aſia: had he included the lately diſcovered kinds in America and New Holland, his genus would have been far more comprehenſive. Few naturaliſts have had the opportunity of obſerving the manners of theſe creatures in diſtant countries; nor can we always rely on the information thoſe few have given. Of the European ſpecies we can ſpeak with more preciſion, becauſe ſome indefatigable naturaliſts have at⯑tended minutely to them; Roeſel in particular has treated at conſiderable length on the manners of the Mantis Religioſa of Linnaeus.

Deſcriptions can only convey an imperfect idea of the extraordinary appearance of many creatures in⯑cluded in the Mantis and Locuſta genera. Among them are found ſpecies that bear a ſimilitude to the uſual forms of other inſects; but, from theſe we almoſt imperceptibly deſcend to others, bearing as ſtrong a ſimi⯑litude to the vegetable part of creation; ſeeming as if Nature deſigned them to unite the appearance of a vegetable with the vital functions of an animal, to preſerve them from the ravages of voracious creatures, or to connect that chain of progreſſive and univerſal being, which

Many of theſe creatures aſſume ſo exactly the appearance of the leaves of different trees, that they fur⯑nish []the entomologiſt with unerring ſpecific diſtinctions; thus we have L. citrifolia, laurifolia, myrtifolia, oleifolia, graminifolia, and others, equally expreſſive of their reſemblance in form, and colours, to the leaves of thoſe reſpective plants. Travellers in countries that produce theſe creatures, have been ſtruck with the phaenomenon, as it muſt appear, of animated vegetable ſubſtances; for the manners of the Mantis, in addition to its ſtructure, are very likely to impoſe on the ſenſes of the uninformed. They often remain on the trees for hours without motion, then ſuddenly ſpring into the air, and, when they ſettle, again appear lifeleſs. Theſe are only ſtratagems to deceive the more cautious inſects which it feeds upon; but ſome travellers who have obſerved it, have declared they ſaw the leaves of thoſe trees become living crea⯑tures, and take flight.

M. Merian informs us of a ſimilar opinion among the Indians, who believed theſe inſects grow like leaves on the trees, and when they were mature, looſened themſelves and crawled, or flew; away. From the credulous, and unſcientific, marvellous reports of ſuch extraordinary creatures may be expected; but, to theſe we muſt add the authority of a naturaliſt, whoſe works are a valuable addition to our preſent knowledge of the hiſtory of nature: theſe are the works of Piſo^b.

"Thoſe little animals," ſays that author, "change into a green and tender plant, which is of two hands breadth. The feet are fixed into the ground firſt; from theſe, when neceſſary humidity is attracted, roots grow out, and ſtrike into the ground; thus they change by degrees, and in a ſhort time become a perfect plant. Sometimes only the lower part takes the nature and form of a plant, while the upper part remains as before, living and moveable: after ſome time the animal is gradually converted into a plant. In this Nature ſeems to operate in a circle, by a continual retrograde motion."

Has the father of inventive romance outdone this account of Piſo in his well-known extravagant poetical effuſions^c? It may be imagined he has not; but before we diſmiſs his account with a haſty []cenſure, let us attend to the opinion of a few authors, nearly contemporary with himſelf: we find theſe collected in the criticiſms of Roeſel on that paſſage.

From theſe it appears that the works of Piſo were much admired when firſt publiſhed, but we rely leſs implicitly on the information it contains, than his readers in the laſt century. Roeſel treats his account with more than merited ſeverity; not becauſe he could contradict the relation of Piſo, but, becauſe he had never obſerved the ſame circumſtance attend the Wandering Leaf, or Mantis Oratoria, in Europe^d. This reaſoning is neither ſo concluſive, or liberal, as we ſhould expect from Roeſel; and more eſpecially as he afterwards deſcribes even the firſt ſymptom of the transformation as related by Piſo. When he ſpeaks of the death of the European ſpecies his words are, "As their diſſolution approaches, their green eyes become brown, and they unavoidably loſe their ſight: they remain a long while on the ſame ſpot, till at laſt they fall quite exhauſted and powerleſs, as if aſleep." What is this but ſubſtantiating part of the evi⯑dence of Piſo, which he has laboured before to diſcredit? As to the change after they remained long on the ground, ſuch as ſending forth fibres, roots, and ſtems, from the body of the inſect, it is only aſtoniſhing ſuch a well-informed naturaliſt ſhould have deemed it matter of ſurpriſe. Could he be ignorant of the many inſtances that occur, of animal ſubſtances producing plants^e? or was lie not informed that the pupa which commonly ſends forth a bee, a waſp, or cicada; has ſometimes become the nidus of a plant, thrown up ſtems from the fore part of the head, and changed in every reſpect into a vegetable, though ſtill re⯑taining the ſhell and exterior appearance of the parent inſect at the root^f? We own at firſt ſight with Roeſel that the account of Piſo ſeems " an inattentive and confounded obſervation," but that an inſect may ſtrike root into the earth, and, from the co-operation of heat, and moiſture, congenial to vegetation, produce a plant of the cryptogamia kind, cannot be diſputed. We have ſeen ſpecies of clavaria both of the undivided and branched kinds, four times larger than the inſect from which they ſprang; and can we then deny that the inſect mentioned by Piſo might not produce a plant of a proportionate magnitude? In ſhort, are we ſo well acquainted with the productions of Braſil as to contradict any of his aſſertions, concerning this transformation? Piſo does not ſay of what kind this vegetable was; it muſt ſurely be of the fungi []kind: reaſoning then from analogy, it might be an unknown ſpecies of clavaria with numerous and ſpreading branches; and, finally, the colour of his plant, on which authors lay much ſtreſs, might be green, though a colour not ſo predominant in that tribe of vegetables as ſome others.

The largeſt and moſt intereſting of the Indian ſpecies of Mantis is found in the iſle of Amboyna. Stoll contradicts the account of Renard ^g, who ſays theſe creatures are ſometimes thirteen inches in length; but we have a ſpecimen almoſt of that ſize. It is related by Renard, and others, that the larger kinds of Mantes go in vaſt troops, croſs hills, rivers, and other obſtacles that oppoſe their march, when they are in queſt of food. If they ſubſiſted entirely on vegetables, a troop of theſe voracious creatures would deſolate the land in their excurſions; but they prefer inſects, and clear the earth of myriads that infeſt it: if theſe become ſcarce from their ravages, they fight and devour one another. When they attack the plants, they do great miſchief. It is ſaid of ſome Locuſts and Mantes that the plants they bite wither, and appear as if ſcorched with fire: we have not heard of this peſtilential property in any of the larger ſpecies of Mantes.

Of the ſmaller kinds, the Mantis Oratoria is the moſt widely diffuſed, being found in Africa and Aſia as well as in all the warmer parts of Europe. Theſe creatures are eſteemed ſacred by the vulgar in many countries, from their devout or ſupplicating poſture. The Africans worſhip them; and their trivial names in many European languages imply a ſuperſtitious reſpect for them^h.

England produces no ſpecies of this tribe. The entomologiſts in this country muſt conſequently rely on the accounts of thoſe, who have obſerved them in other parts of the world. We ſhall ſelect a few remarks from Roeſel's extenſive deſcription of Mantis Oratoria and Gongyloides, becauſe, if we may pre⯑ſume from the analogy they bear in form to Mantis Flabellicornis, the hiſtory of one will clearly elucidate that of the other.

Roeſel ſays, ſome of the Mantes are local in Germany; they are found chiefly in the vintages at Moedting in Moravia, where they are called Weinhandel ⁱ. The males die in October, the females ſoon after^k. The young brood are preſerved in the egg ſtate, in a kind of oblong bag, of a thick ſpongy ſubſtance; this bag is imbricated on the outſide; it is faſtened lengthwiſe to the branch of ſome plant^l. As the eggs ripen they are protruded through the thick ſubſtance of the bag, and the larva, which are about half an inch in length, burſt from them. Roeſel, wiſhing to obſerve the gradual progreſs of theſe creatures, to the winged ſtate, placed the bag containing the eggs in a large glaſs, which he cloſed, to prevent their eſcape. From the time they were firſt hatched they exhibited marks of a ſavage diſpoſition. He put different ſorts of plants into the glaſs, but they refuſed them, to prey on one another: this determined him to ſupply them with other inſects to eat: he put ants into the glaſs to them, but they then betrayed as much cow⯑ardice, []as they had barbarity before; for the inſtant the Mantes ſaw the ants they tried to eſcape in every direction. By this Roeſel found the ants were the greateſt perſecutors of the Mantes. He next gave them ſome of the common muſca (houſe flies), which they ſeized with eagerneſs in their fore claws, and tore in pieces: but, though theſe creatures ſeemed very fond of the flies, they continued to deſtroy one another through ſavage wantonneſs. Deſpairing at laſt, from their daily decreaſe, of rearing any to the winged ſtate, he ſeparated them into ſmall parcels in different glaſſes; but, here, as before, the ſtrongeſt of each community deſtroyed the reſt.

Another time, he received ſeveral pair of Mantes in the winged ſtate; profiting by his former obſer⯑vation, he put each pair [a male and female] into a ſeparate glaſs, but they ſtill ſhewed ſigns of an eternal enmity towards one another, which neither ſex nor age could ſoften; for the inſtant they were in ſight of each other, they threw up their heads, brandiſhed their fore legs, and waited the attack: they did not remain long in this poſture, for the boldeſt throwing open its wings, with the velocity of lightning, ruſhed at the other, and often tore it in pieces with the crockets and ſpines of the fore claws. Roeſel compares the attack of theſe creatures to that of two huſſars; for they dexterouſly guard and cut with the edge of the fore claws, as thoſe ſoldiers do with their ſabres, and ſometimes at a ſtroke, one cleaves the other through, or ſevers its head from the thorax. After this the conqueror devours his vanquiſhed antagoniſt.

We learn from Roeſel alſo, the manner in which this creature takes its prey, in which reſpect we find it agrees with what is related of the extra European ſpecies. The patience of this Mantis is remarkable, and the poſture to which ſuperſtition has attributed devotion, is no other, than the means it uſes to catch it. When it has fixed its eyes on an inſect, it very rarely loſes ſight of it, though it may coſt ſome hours to take. If it ſees the inſect a little beyond its reach, over its head, it ſlowly erects its long thorax, by means of the moveable membranes that connect it to the body at the baſe; then, reſting on the four poſterior legs, it gradually raiſes the anterior pair alſo; if this brings it near enough to the inſect, it throws open the laſt joint, or crocket part, and ſnaps it between the ſpines, that are ſet in rows on the ſecond joint. If it is unſucceſsful, it does not retract its arms, but holds them ſtretched out, and waits again till the inſect is within its reach, when it ſprings up and ſeizes it. This is the uncommon poſture before alluded to. Should the inſect go far from the ſpot, it flies, or crawls after it, ſlowly on the ground like a cat, and when the inſect ſtops, erects itſelf as before. They have a ſmall black pupil or ſight which moves in all directions within the parts we uſually term the eyes, ſo that it can ſee its prey in any direction without having occaſion to diſturb it, by turning its head.

The moſt prevalent colour of this tribe of inſects is fine green, but many of theſe fade or become brown after the inſect dies: ſome are finely decorated with a variety of vivid hues; the moſt beautiful of theſe, that we have ſeen, are from the Moluccas.

This ſpecies is found in Africa, Aſia, and the ſouth of Europe. Its varieties are numerous; and in ſize and colour depends on the climate they breed in. Sulzer repreſents it with red wings: in the Chineſe ſpecimens theſe are tinged with green.

Gryllus vittatus has not been figured by any author. A ſingle ſpecimen of it has been recently brought from China, and is in the poſſeſſion of Mr. Francillon.

This differs in no reſpect from the European ſpecies of the ſame name, except in ſize and colour. The Mole Cricket of this country, for example, being twice as large, and more of a mouſe colour. Mr. Abbot has ſent us a variety ſimilar to the Chineſe ſort, but of a darker colour, from North America.

Inhabits China and every other part of India.

Fabricius erroneouſly deſcribes this as a native of America. It is not figured elſewhere.

Deſcribed by Fabricius; but not figured. It is abundant in China.

The Gryllus morbilloſus appears in the early addition of the Syſtema Naturae, and the works of Roeſel, as an Indian ſpecies: Mr. Drury aſſures us he has received it ſeveral times from China. Another ſort is []alſo found at the Cape of Good Hope, which is rather larger and deeper in colour than the Chineſe variety.

When this inſect is at reſt, the wings are folded, and much of its beauty is concealed: but when theſe are expanded, its appearance is altogether magnificent. It has nothing of the ſhining and metallic ſplen⯑dour of the Coleopterae, for its colours are tranſlucent, and aſſume their richeſt hues when they paſs before the light. The elytra are purple, variegated with yellow: the wings of a glowing crimſon, ſpotted with black. The abdomen is ſurrounded with alternate zones of black and yellow, and the legs are throughout of an elegant ſcarlet, inferior only in brightneſs to the coral red of the head and thorax. Upon the whole, this ſpecies is embelliſhed with ſuch a profuſion of various and beautiful colours, that it may be conſidered as a moſt ſplendid example of the Hemipterous order of inſects. It is repreſented on the Iris Chinenſis in a flying poſition.

This is not ſuppoſed to be a numerous ſpecies in China; on the contrary, it is probably uncommon. Several others of the locuſt are abundant in that country, and in ſeaſons favourable to their increaſe, do incredible miſchief^k. Both the Gryllus tartaricus, and Gryllus migratorius, inhabit Tartary on the northern confines of China, from whence, at certain periods, they deſcend like an impetuous torrent over the neighbouring countries in queſt of food, ſtrip the earth of verdure, and ſcarcely leave the veſtige of vegetation behind them. The Gryllus migratorius, whoſe myriads are ſaid to darken the face of heaven in their flights, ſometimes direct their courſe weſtward; croſs rivers, ſea, and an immenſe extent of country, till they reach Europe; and though many are loſt in theſe bold migrations, the ſurvivors are in ſufficient numbers to commit vaſt depredations. This ſpecies has been known to viſit England^l, but not in any abundance. In Little Tartary, and the European provinces of Turkey: in Italy, and in Ger⯑many^m, they do great miſchief in theſe migrations. The Gryllus flavicornis and naſutus, are two other abundant ſpecies in China, and no doubt there are many other common kinds in that country we are at preſent unacquainted with. The locuſt is only detrimental when in immenſe numbers, for in China, as in other eaſtern countries, they are conſidered as an article of food, and regularly expoſed for ſale in the public marketsⁿ.

The phenomena reſulting from the properties and effects of light, having engaged the attention of the earlieſt philoſophers, we muſt conclude, that phoſphorical appearances, and thoſe eſpecially of animated bodies, could not fail to attract their particular notice. Indeed it is evident, from the writings of the ac⯑curate obſervers of nature in remote ages, that they were acquainted with certain inſects that have the property of ſhining in the night. Theſe were known only by general terms, expreſſive of that property; yet it is probable that ſome of the Linnaean lampyrides, which are abundant in the ſouth of Europe, as well as in Aſia, and ſome parts of Africa, were the firſt of the illuminated inſects known to them^a. Some of the males which are furniſhed with wings, and are illuminated like the ſemales, were ſtriking objects of natural hiſtory, and could ſcarcely have eſcaped their notice. The Greeks included all ſhining inſects under the name lampyris; and the Latins called them cicindela, noctiluca, luciola. lucernata, &c. Whether any of the Fulgorae, were known to the ancients is uncertain: probably they were not, the moſt remarkable ſpecies being peculiar to the warmeſt parts of America. Aſia, once the feat of learning, does indeed pro⯑duce a few ſpecies; but we have no account of theſe in ancient natural hiſtory.

[]The Fulgorae ſeem to have been entirely unknown in Europe till the latter end of the laſt century; when two writers publiſhed deſcriptions and figures of Fulgora Lanternaria. Madame Merian, of Holland, in her ſplendid work on the Metamorphoſis of the Inſects of Surinam, and Dr. Grew, of London, in his Rarities of Greſham College.

Reaumur^b is the next author who deſcribed the Fulgora Lanternaria, and after him Roeſel, in his "Amuſing Hiſtory (or recreation) of Inſects^c." This brings us to the period in which Fulgora Candelaria, our Chineſe ſpecies, was firſt known in Europe: a circumſtance of much importance to naturaliſts at that time, becauſe the firſt mentioned ſpecies was a ſolitary example of its ſingular genus. The tranſactions of the Stockholm academy includes the earlieſt figure and deſcription of this extraordinary inſect; from theſe Linnaeus deſcribed it in his Syſtema Naturae; but his arrangement has undergone many alterations ſince that time. At firſt he included it among the Coleopterous inſects; then he called them Lanternariae; and again, they were claſſed with the Cicadae;. Theſe have been ſince corrected, and a new genus formed of inſects with elongated trunks on their foreheads excluſively, under the name Fulgora, a name that has been adopted by later authors, and finally by Fabricius.

Roeſel has given three figures and a deſcription of the Fulgora Candelaria; from his account we learn that it was known in England before he was acquainted with it. On its peculiar qualities, he obſerves he muſt be entirely ſilent, becauſe he had been unable to derive any information concerning it; his deſcription is notwithſtanding extremely prolix, and occupies four quarto pages; as he notices every trifling particular of the ſpots, colours, &c. of the inſect. We have ſelected the moſt intereſting paſſage, becauſe it clearly marks the progreſſive advancement of the knowledge of natural hiſtory in Europe, ſo late as the middle of the preſent century.

"According to my promiſe," ſays Roeſel^d, "I now produce the ſecond ſort of Lantern-carrier, which I never ſaw before; and of which I have never read in any work on inſects. The ſcarcer however it may be, the more I am indebted to Mr. Beurer, apothecary of this place^e, &c. for the permiſſion he has granted me to draw and enrich my collection with it. Mr. Collinſon has ſent it to him from London, under the name Lanternaria Chinenſis, for which reaſon I have called it the Aſiatic or Chineſe Lantern-carrier." Roeſel being a reſpectable entomological writer of his time, we muſt infer that Fulgora Candelaria was extremely ſcarce in Europe when his plate and deſcriptions were publiſhed. The commercial concerns of Europeans with the Chineſe having greatly increaſed ſince that period, has facilitated many inquiries con⯑cerning the natural productions of China; and a mongſt a variety of other inſects that are now uſually brought from that country, ſpecimens of Fulgora Candelaria are not uncommon. In China few inſects are found in greater abundance.

[]The authors who have figured or deſcribed the Chineſe Fulgora, ſince Roeſel, are De Geer^f, Seba^g, Sulzer^h, and our countryman Edwardsⁱ. De Geer gives a very conciſe deſcription, and no figure; and Seba merely obſerves, in his deſcription of Fulgora Candelaria, "La Chine produit une autre eſpéce du même genre mais beaucoup plus petite et toute differente." Edwards has given a figure of it in one of the plates in his work of Birds. His deſcription is certainly unintereſting^k.

Having noticed the ſeveral authors who have treated on this inſect, we come to conſider the peculiar properties of its fingular genus; and among theſe we find the moſt aſtoniſhing that inſects can poſſeſs, that of emanating light: not merely a momentary ſhining appearance, as is produced by many viſcous ſubſtances, but a clear and conſtant reſemblance to the element, fire; and capable of diffuſing light to ſur-rounding objects, though totally deſtitute of every principle that can do miſchief. To the unphiloſophical mind it appears at firſt impoſſible, and it cannot fail to aſtoniſh the beſt informed. Indeed, ſome readers might be inclined to doubt the veracity of travellers in foreign countries, who have ſeen a vegetable^l or an animal produce light, if our own country could not ſupply us with abundant analogous proofs of ſuch phaenomenae. The preſence of this animated phoſphorus, if we may ſo expreſs it, is obſerved on ſeveral inſects that are natives of England: it is needleſs to enumerate them, becauſe the moſt ſtriking example muſt be recollected by every rural inhabitant, or admirer of poetical ſimplicity.

The account which Madame Merian gave of the effect of the light produced by the Fulgora Lanterna⯑ria ^m was greatly diſcredited, though Dr. Grew had related ſome ſurpriſing particulars of a ſpecimen of it []from Peruⁿ. Her account has, however, been generally believed, ſince the miſſionaries^o in countries which produce thoſe inſects have confirmed her account. It is admitted, that the Chineſe Fulgora has an illuminated appearance in the night. "The foreheads of many Fulgorae (eſpecially thoſe found in China) emit a lively ſhining light in the night time, which, according to ſome authors, is ſufficient to read by."— Yeats ^p.

The light of the Fulgorae is generally imagined to iſſue from the trunk, or elongated projection of the forehead; but Roeſel offers a conjecture on the light of the Fulgora Lanternaria, which, on further inveſ⯑tigation, may enable naturaliſts to determine whether the light is entirely produced by an innate property of the trunk, or receives additional ſplendour from ſome external cauſe. He notices a white farinaceous ſubſtance on ſeveral parts of the wings and body, as well as the trunk, which, he obſerves, looks like the decayed wood which ſhines at night. We mention this conjecture of Roeſel, though the ſame occurred to us before we peruſed his obſervations. We have invariably found a ſimilar white powder on other inſects of this genus, but uſually upon the trunk only. The remarks of Roeſel were neceſſarily very limited, two ſpecies of the Fulgorae only being then known. We poſſeſs twelve diſtinct ſpecies, and have made diſſections and obſervations on ſeveral others; from all which we are inclined to imagine, that the white powder has a phoſphoric appearance in the living inſect, and increaſes the light, when the end of the trunk is illu⯑minated.

One of the Fulgorae of conſiderable magnitude, from the interior of India, enabled us to make many obſervations, The trunk is of the ſame form as that of the Fulgora Candelaria. The colour is a dark but beautiful purple: the apex ſcarlet, of a perfectly pellucid appearance, and ſtill retains a reddiſh glare. The ſpots of while, ſprinkled on the purple colour of the trunk, exhibit alſo a ſlight appear⯑ance of phoſphoric matter. On the trunk of the Fulgora Candelaria theſe white ſpots are very conſpi⯑cuous.

Though the generic name Fulgora ſeems to imply ſome effulgent property in the inſects that compoſe the genus, it is uncertain whether all poſſeſs that property. They are indeed furniſhed with a trunk, but it is ſmaller in proportion, in ſeveral ſpecies, than in F. Lanternaria, Candelaria, Flammea, Phoſpho⯑rea, []and ſome others. It has not been determined whether any of the European Fulgorae ſhine in the night time. The genus is very limited, including the diſcoveries of modern naturaliſts. Fabricius de⯑ſcribes only twenty-five ſpecies; of theſe, ſeven are European, and eighteen extra-European. Two ſpecies are found in England.

Chryſanthemum Indicum.—Indian Chryſanthemum.

This is a very lately introduced ſpecies in England. It is mentioned by Sir G. Staunton among the plants collected in the provinces of Shan-tung and Kiang-nan. Thunberg deſcribes it as a native of Japan in the Flora Japonica. A variety of it is figured in the Hortus Malabaricus; and in the Herbarium Amboinenſe is another. We obſerve a great diſſimilarity between the figures of this plant in different works. That figured in the Herb. Amb. has very ſmall flowers, ſcarcely broader than our large daiſy^q: the leaves in cluſ⯑ters, ſome very large, and others ſmall. In the Hort. Malab. the flowers are twice the ſize of the former, and the leaves are placed much aſunder. The flowers of our ſpecimen are conſiderably larger than either of theſe; yet not of the magnitude repreſented in the plate of Mr. Curtiss Botanical Magazine.

This Chryſanthemum is not peculiar to China, though it has been long cultivated in that country. It grows ſpontaneouſly in ſome parts of Japan; and from the name it bears in the Arabic, Perſic, and other languages, is probably known in moſt parts of Aſia.

Fabricius refers to the cabinet of Mr. Drury of London for a ſpecimen of this rare inſect. The authors who have given figures of it are De Geer, a French entomologiſt, and Stoll, in a work lately publiſhed on the continent, including Cimices and Cicadae. The Cicada ſanguinolenta of Linnaeus being common in Europe, the ſimilarity of names might create confuſion, were we not to notice it. Our ſpecies is a Cicada of Stoll, as well as of De Geer, which latter author we have followed in the ſpecific name. Fabricius having ſeparated the Linnaean Cicadae; into ſeveral genera, this ſpecies will be found in his Entomologiae Syſtematica under the name Tettigonia ſanguinolenta.

Though the obſervations that Sir G. Staunton has made on the natural production of China, in his late publication, were neceſſarily very general, the ſcience of inſects appears to have engaged his particular attention; and on that account we muſt lament, that untoward events, precluded him from obſerving more minutely, the peculiarities of ſome kinds, and the economical purpoſes of others.

In the general hiſtories of unknown countries, (and we can ſcarcely conſider China in any other view) the entomologiſt muſf expect to find his favourite ſcience neglected, or treated in a manner more likely to excite curioſity than reward enquiry. The work of this learned writer is an exception to our remark; though a few inaccuracies occur in it. We peruſe the following account of an unknown ſpecies of Cicada with particular regret, becauſe, it withholds information intereſting to the naturaliſt, and, from its air of novelty, is likely to promote an erroneous opinion concerning that ſingular tribe of inſects.

"The low and ſometimes marſhy country, through which the river^a paſſes, is favourable to the pro⯑duction of inſects; and many of them were troubleſome, ſome principally by their ſting; and others by their conſtant ſtunning noiſe. The muſic emitted by a ſpecies of Cicada was not of the vocal kind; but produced by the motion of two flaps or lamellae which cover the abdomen or belly of the inſect. It is the ſignal of invitation from the male of that ſpecies to allure the female, which latter is quite unprovided with theſe organs of courtſhip^b."

Again, when deſeribing a town higher up the river, that author ſays, "The ſhops of Hai-tien, in addi⯑tion to neceſſaries, abounded in toys and trifles, calculated to amuſe the rich and idle of both ſexes, even to cages containing inſects, ſuch as the noiſy Cicada, and a large ſpecies of the Gryllus^c."

The reader may imagine from the firſt account, that the muſic of every other ſpecies of Cicada is of the vocal kind, or that it is peculiar to this Chineſe inſect to be furniſhed with lamellae that cauſe a ſound. The latter account confirms ſuch conjecture, by alluding in a ſpecific manner to the noiſy Cicada, as to an inſect deſcribed in a former part of the work. We muſt remark, that not only the males of the ſpecies mentioned by that author, are furniſhed with thoſe lamellae, but the whole of that ſection of the Linnaean Cicadae which Fabricius has called Tettiogonia^d. The males of the ſpecies included in the other ſections of that genus are certainly furniſhed with them alſo; though ſome of them are too minute to be obſerved without a glaſs. Theſe lamellae vary in ſize in different ſpecies; but the accounts we have of them from travellers in foreign countries, and naturaliſts both ancient and modern, prove they all emit a certain ſound to allure the female. As we are unable to aſcertain the Chineſe ſpecies Sir George mentions, neither figure or deſcription accompanying his account of it, we muſt therefore, ſpeak generally of the whole genus, and then confine our remarks to thoſe ſpecies we are acquainted with from China. Among theſe are C. ſpendidula, ſanguinea, and atrata. The latter, we believe, is the largeſt ſpecies of the Chineſe Ci⯑cadae known in Europe.

Some ſpecies of this tribe were known to the ancients. With them it was the emblem of happineſs and eternal youth^e; and if we examine the legends of pagan mythology, we find they were deemed a race of creatures beloved by gods^f. and men. The Athenians wore golden Cicadae; in their hair, to denote their national antiquity; or that like thoſe creatures they were the firſt born of the earth; and the poets feigned that it partook of the perfection of their deities^g. Anacreon depictures in glowing colours the uninterrupted felicity of this creature: his ode to the Cicada is appropriate to our enquiry^h.

Mr. Drury received this inſect from China. It is a ſpecies of ambiguous character, but appears to us undeſcribed. It is not noticed among the Tettigoniae; of Fabricius, in his laſt ſyſtematic arrangement of inſects.

One of the moſt beautiful ſpecies of the Indian Cicadae. The wing caſes are black, elegantly reticu⯑lated, and ſpotted with bright blue. At the extremity of the abdomen it has a tuft of long and very deli⯑cate hairs, intermixed with others that are rather convoluted and of a coarſer texture. The whole of this inſect, but particularly between the abdomen and wings, is ſometimes profuſely covered with a fine powder of a ſnowy whiteneſs, ſimilar to that obſerved on the Cicada limbata in the imperfect ſtate; hence we may conclude it is alſo one of thoſe inſects, which furniſh the white wax^d ſo highly eſteemed in China.

The inſect added under this Fabrician character, is the ſame that author deſcribed from the cabinet of Mr. Drury, and to which he excluſively refers. We believe the ſpecimen is unique, at leaſt we have not ſeen it in any other collection; and it has not been figured in any preceding publication. In the Linnaean arrangement it muſt be placed in the Cicada genus.

An undeſcribed ſpecies; allied both to the Cercopis cruentata and Cercopis verſicolor of Fabricius, but clearly diſtinct from either; the thorax of the former being black; and the elytra of the latter marked at the baſe with two white ſpots: the abdomen black. The thorax of our ſpecies is black: it has no white ſpots on the elytra; and the abdomen is of a ſanguincous red colour.

We are unable to diſcover this ſpecies among the deſcriptions of Fabricius, and conclude it muſt be a new inſect. The ſituation of the black ſpots on the thorax, and eſpecially that on the front of the head, conſtitute the deciſive criterion of this ſpecies.

This ſingular inſect, and the plant on which it is repreſented, have an equal claim to attention, both as objects of natural curioſity, and importance in domeſtic economy. The Larva is an elegant and beautiful creature, and China is indebted to its labours for the fine white wax ſo much eſteemed in the Eaſt Indies. The plant is not leſs intereſting, as it produces the vegetable tallow, in general uſe throughout the Chineſe empire.

The novelty of thoſe productions could not fail attracting the notice of thoſe learned Europeans who were firſt permitted to reſide in China, and whoſe object was to promote ſciences and arts, as well as the chriſtian knowledge. Both the Wax-inſect, and Tallow-tree, are ſpoken of in their writings, as extraor⯑dinary and peculiar advantages to the country. Du Halde, eſpecially in his ſplendid work L'HISTOIRE DE []LA CHINE, treats largely on theſe productions, in the ſections Cire blanche d'Inſectes ^f & l'arbre qui porte le ſuif. His relations are, perhaps, too prolix, but they are evidently the reſult of attentive obſervation, and ſerve to illuſtrate the Natural Hiſtory, and economical purpoſes, of the ſubjects we are noticing: they are briefly theſe. The white wax of China is called Tchang pe la; it is not the ſame as the white wax of bees, but is the produce of a ſort of inſect that feeds on a tree called Tong tçin: theſe inſects form a kind of white greaſe which attaches to the branches of the tree, hardens, and becomes wax. It is ſcraped from the branches of the trees in autumn, melted on the fire, ſtrained; then poured into cold water, where it coagulates and forms itſelf into cakes. This wax is very white and gloſſy; it is mixed with oil and made into candles, and is much ſuperior to the wax of bees for that purpoſe.

[] Chi tchin, a Chineſe writer, ſays, it was not till the dynaſty of Yuen that the wax made by theſe inſects began to be known; the cuſtom then became very general to employ it both in medicine and making candles. Its medicinal virtues are highly extolled by the Chineſe phyſicians, and particularly by Tchi hen. It is ſaid to be a drug abſolutely neceſſary to ſurgeons, that it makes the fleſh cloſe, ſtops bleeding, appeaſes pain, unites the nerves, rejoints the bones, and taken in pills, kills the worms that occaſion conſumptions. It is found in moſt of the ſouth-eaſt provinces of China; but the beſt is brought from Sc tchuen and Yunnan, and from the territories of Hen tcheou, and Yung tcheou.

Theſe inſects are white when young, and it is then they make their wax. When old, they are of a blackiſh cheſnut colour, and form little pelotons on the branches of trees. Theſe pelotons, at firſt, are about the ſize of a grain of millet; towards the beginning of the ſpring they increaſe in bulk and ſpread; they are attached to the branches like grapes, and at firſt ſight, the trees that bear them, appear loaded with fruit. About the beginning of May, they gather them, and having enveloped them in the leaves of Yo (a ſpecies of broad-leaved graſs), they are ſuſpended to the trees. At the end of June, and in July, the pelotons open, and the inſects come forth, crawl about the leaves, and form their wax.

Sir G. Staunton, in his learned work, has alſo deſcribed the Wax inſect; he found it at Turon Bay, in Cochin China, and has cauſed it to be repreſented in a vignette plate, with the following deſcription. "Among other objects of natural curioſity, accident led to the obſervation of ſome ſwarms of uncommon []inſects buſily employed upon ſmall branches of a ſhrub, then neither in fruit or flower, but in its general habit bearing ſomewhat the appearance of a privet. Theſe inſects, each not much exceeding the ſize of the domeſtic fly, were of a curious ſtructure, having pectinated appendages riſing in a curve, bending to⯑wards the head, not unlike the form of the tail feathers of the common fowl, but in the oppoſite direction. Every part of the inſect was, in colour, of a perfect white, or at leaſt completely covered with a white powder. The particular ſtem frequented by thoſe inſects, was entirely whitened by a ſubſtance or powder of that colour, ſtrewed upon it by them. The ſubſtance or powder was ſuppoſed to form the white wax of the Eaſt. This ſubſtance is aſſerted, on the ſpot, to have the property, by a particular manipulation, of giving in certain proportions, with vegetable oil, ſuch ſolidity to the compoſition as to render the whole equally capable of being moulded into candles. The fact is aſcertained, indeed, in ſome degree, by the ſimple experiment of diſſolving one part of this wax in three parts of olive oil made hot. The whole, when cold, will coagulate into a maſs, approaching to the firmneſs of bees wax."

From the accurate deſcription and figures of the latter author, it is evident, the creature that produces the white wax of China, is an imperfect inſect, or, technically ſpeaking, the pupa of an inſect, which, in its mature ſtate, is furniſhed with wings. This is clearly the fact, for the rudiments of wings are viſible in the figures alluded to^g. The metamorphoſe of inſects are ſo various, and their appearance ſo changed in paſſing from one ſtate to another, that the identity of any ſpecies in the larva or pupa can only be proved by actual obſervation; neither do the larva or pupa poſſeſs thoſe characteriſtic differences by which naturaliſts determine one ſpecies from another; and this conſideration deters us from deciding on the preciſe ſpecies, to which the pupa before us ſhould be referred.

STOHL, a Dutch author, has been more fortunate; he has aſcertained this identical creature to be the pupa of Cicada Limbata, and in his work on Cimices and Cicades, gives a figure of it under the title of De Waldraagſter (Nymphe) or La Cigale Porte Laine, fig. 144, together with the winged inſect at fig. 145; and it is on this authority Cicada Limbata is introduced in the annexed plate.

We are ſtrongly inclined to credit the accuracy of Stohl in this inſtance; there is much ſimilarity be⯑tween the pupa and the cicada, and ſome ſtriking characteriſtics are common to both. They agree in the ſtructure of the antennae, and proboſcis, or ſucking trunk; the abdomen of the winged inſect is alſo loaded with a fine white powder, and is furniſhed at the extremity with a tuft of down and hairs, ſimilar to that ſo eminently conſpicuous in the pupa ſtate. We have, however, obſerved the white powder, and tuft on the abdomen of Cicada lanata, and have reaſon to imagine it alſo forms a white wax, ſimilar to that of the preſent ſpecies.

[]The Cicada limbata is of a light green colour, with a red margin; that which Stohl has figured is of a pale brown, with a black margin. Theſe are the ſpecies and variety Fabricius deſcribes, for the ſpecimens he refers to, in the collection of Sir Joſeph Banks, agree preciſely with our inſects. Fabricius notes the habitat Africa. Stohl received the green ſpecimen from the Iſland of Ceylon; the pale ſort from Africa. The larva we have repreſented is from China; and the Cicada was brought from the Eaſt Indies, by the late Mr. Ellis.

Croton Sebiferum—Poplar-leaved Croton, or Tallow-tree.

The Tallow-tree is not the natural food of the Wax inſect, but as they mutually illuſtrate the ſame in⯑quiry, they are repreſented in the ſame plate; and it is further preſumed, that a ſhort account of this uſe⯑ful plant, will be deemed a proper ſequel to the hiſtory of the inſect.

Du Halde, when deſcribing the Tallow-tree, ſays, "Il eſt de la hauteur d'une grande cerifier. Le fruit eſt renfermée dans un écorce qu'on appelle Yen Kiou, et qui s'ouvre par le milieu quand il eſt mûr, comme celle de la châtaigne. Il conſiſte en des grains blancs de la groſſeur d'un noiſette, dont la chair a les qualitez du ſuif; auſſi en fait-on des chandelles, après l'avoir fait fondre, en y mêlant ſouvent un pen d'huile ordinaire, et trempant les chandelles dans la cire qui vient fur l'arbre dont je vais parler: il s'en forme autour du ſuif une eſpéce de croûte qui l'empêche de couler^h. Page 18. Vol. I.

Sir G. Staunton ſpeaks nearly to the ſame effect: "From the fruit of the Croton ſebiferum, of Lin⯑naeus, the Chineſe obtain a kind of vegetable fat, with which they make a great proportion of their candles. This fruit, in its external appearance, bears ſome reſemblance to the berries of the ivy. As ſoon as it is ripe, the capſule opens and divides into two, or, more frequently, three diviſions, and falling off, diſcovers as many kernels, each attached by a ſeparate foot-ſtalk, and covered with a fleſhy ſubſtance of a ſnowy whiteneſs, contraſting beautifully with the leaves of the tree, which, at this ſeaſon, are of a tint between a purple and a ſcarlet. The fat, or fleſhy ſubſtance, is ſeparated from the kernels by cruſhing and boiling them in water. The candles made of this fat are firmer than thoſe of tallow, as well as free []from all offenſive odour. They are not, however, equal to thoſe of wax or ſpermaceti." This author further adds, "The wax for candles, is generally the produce of inſects, feeding chiefly on the privet, as is mentioned in the chapter of Cochin China. It is naturally white, and ſo pure as to produce no ſmoke; but is collected in ſuch ſmall quantities, as to be ſcarce and dear. Cheap candles are alſo made of tal⯑low, and even of greaſe of too little conſiſtence to be uſed, without the contrivance of being coated with the firmer ſubſtance of the tallow-tree or of wax." Vide Chapter on Sou-choo foo.

The tallow-tree is now cultivated in the Weſt Indies, where it thrives well, and produces fruit, and by proper attention may hereafter become uſeful.

[]In the infant ſtate of muſic, men, ſeem to have preferred the natural ſounds of ſome animals, to thoſe of their uncouth inſtruments. We cannot otherwiſe account for the extravagant praiſe, beſtowed on the noiſe of this little creature. It is true, authors agree that the ſounds of ſome kinds are exceeding loud and harmonious, and in the early ages of the world theſe might have a powerful influence on the human mind. It is related that the ancient Locri, a people of Greece, were ſo charmed with the ſong of the Cicada, that they erected a ſtatue to its honourⁱ.

The ancients had attentively obſerved the manners of its life, though they indulged in many poetical fictions concerning it; and particularly, when they affirmed that it ſubſiſted on dew. They have told us that it lives among trees^k, which circumſtance diſcountenances the opinion of thoſe moderns, who imagine the graſhoppers^l were the Cicadae of the ancients.

Neither were they ignorant that the males only were furniſhed with thoſe inſtruments which externally appear to produce its ſound, or the purpoſe for which that ſound was emitted^m; though it was reſerved for more accurate naturaliſts to diſcover the complex organs by which it was cauſed and modulated. Aldrovandus, near two centuries ago, deſcribed the lamellae, which he compares to the fruit of ſome herbs, called by modern botaniſts Thlaſpi ⁿ.

Among later naturaliſts who have noticed the Cicadae of foreign countries are Merian^o, Margravius^p, &c. Merian ſays, its tune reſembles the ſound of a lyre, which is heard at a diſtance; and that the Dutch in the []plantations of Surinam (where they are very plenty) call it the Lyre-playr^q. Margravius, in his natural hiſtory of Braſil, compares it to the ſound of a vibrating wire: he ſays the tune begins with Gir, guir, and continues with Sis, ſis, ſis. One ſpecies is called Kakkerlak^r in the Indies, perhaps becauſe the ſound emitted by it may be likened to the pronunciation of that word. Mr. Abbot, an accurate obſerver and collector of natural hiſtory in North America, has diſcovered four new ſpecies of Cicada, one of them nearly equal in ſize to our Cicada Atrata. This, he ſays, was found in great abundance one ſeaſon, in ſome ſwampy grounds near Suſquehanna river, and was remarkable on account of their loud noiſe, which at a little diſtance reſembled the ringing of horſe-bells. ^s

Some naturaliſts have ſuppoſed that the ſound of the Cicada, is cauſed by the flapping of the lamellae againſt the abdomen; and others, that it is only a noiſe occaſioned by the ruſtling of the ſegments of the body in the contractile motion of that part. Beckman^t imagines it is cauſed by beating the body and legs againſt the wings: he has endeavoured to explain the meaning of ancient authors, and deduce its etymology from that circumſtance.^u

Reaumur and Roeſel have diſſected ſeveral of the Cicadae, and diſcovered that the lamellae cannot have that free motion neceſſary to cauſe ſuch a ſound; but that it is produced by ſome internal organs of the inſect, and only iſſues through the opening, concealed under the lamellae, as through the mouth of a mu⯑ſical inſtrument^x.

The ſuppoſitions of theſe authors ſeem well founded; we have examined many ſpecies that were un⯑known to them, and find the ſpine before mentioned, ſo placed in many inſects, as to prevent the motion []of the lamellae. We have a ſpecimen from America, which, in addition to the uſual organs of ſound, have two large hollow protuberances or drums; one on each ſide of the abdomen; and muſt, we imagine, produce a louder ſound than any yet diſcovered: a ſpecies very ſimilar to this is alſo brought from New Holland.

The proboſcis of thoſe inſects is a hard or horny tube, in which a very acute; ſlender ſucking-pipe is con⯑cealed. The horny tube is not unlike a gimlet in form, and is uſed by thoſe creatures to bore through the bark of trees, to extract the juices, on which it feeds. Linnaeus has named the ſpecies of one diviſion in his Syſtem, Mannifera, becauſe they had been obſerved to fly among aſh trees, bore many holes in them, and when the manna had oozed out, return and carry it off.

With this proboſcis they bore holes in the ſmall twigs of the extreme branches of trees, and depoſit their eggs in them, ſometimes to the amount of ſix or ſeven hundred. As each cell contains no more than from twelve to twenty eggs, it does great damage to the trees they frequent. Stohl ſays, "the common one^y, which is ſound at Surinam in the coffee plantations, greatly injures thoſe trees; the females depoſit⯑ing their eggs in the young ſhoots, and in holes they bore with their ſheath. They live on the juices of the trees."

[]M. Merian gives a figure and account of the metamorphoſe of a cicada found in Surinam. She has miſtaken the winged inſect to be only the pupa of the Fulgora Lanternaria, which is too abſurd to deſerve contradiction; in other reſpects her account is intereſting, and particularly that part which relates to the pupa ſtate, or chafer, as it is termed. "The pomegranate tree," ſays Merian, "ſo well known in all other countries, grows alſo in the fields of Surinam. On them I have found a ſpecies of chafer, which is naturally very lazy, and conſequently very eaſy to be caught. It carries underneath the head a long trunk, with which it eaſily penetrates the flowers, in order to extract the honey from them. On the 20th of May, when they were laying quite quiet, the ſkin of the back burſt open, and green flies, with tranſparent wings, iſſued from them. Theſe flies are found in abundance in Surinam, and have ſuch a rapid flight, that it took me many hours to catch one."

The pupa we received from China with our Cicada atrata, very much reſembles that figured by Merian. It has the long ſucking trunk or proboſcis; but the moſt formidable of its weapons ſeem to be the fore feet, which are thick, ſtrong, and armed with ſpines or teeth; with theſe it may do more injury to the plants, by tearing off the tender ſhoots, than by wounding the trunk to extract the moiſture.

We have repreſented the upper and under ſide of a male of this intereſting ſpecies, Cicada atrata, not only to illuſtrate our preceding remarks, but becauſe we believe no figure has been given of it by any author, unleſs De Zwarte Chineeſche cicade ^z of Stohl is intended for this inſect. The Fabrician deſcription has no ſynonyms.

The general appearance of both ſexes of Cicada atrata is very ſimilar, except that the female is fur⯑niſhed with a ſheath, and the male with lamellae. The ſheath of the female is partly concealed within a valve at the extremity of the abdomen, and is only protruded when the creature lays her eggs. In the figure of the under ſurface of a male inſect, exhibited in the annexed plate, the lamellae are diſtinguiſhed by two ſtars: the ſingle ſtar denotes the ſituation of the ſpine, mentioned by Roeſel and Reaumur.

Laurus Camphora.—Camphor-tree.

The tree which produces the uſeful drug camphor is very abundant in Japan and China. Sir G. Staunton ſays it is the only ſpecies of the laurel genus growing in China, where it is a large and valuable timber, and is never cut up for the ſake of the drug; but that ſubſtance is obtained by decocting the ſmall branches, twigs, and leaves, and ſubliming the camphor in luted earthen veſſels. A purer ſort is brought from the iſland of Borneo and Japan, which is ſuppoſed to be a natural exudation from the tree when the bark is wounded. Sir G. Staunton ſays the Camphor-tree is felled in thoſe countries for the ſole purpoſe of finding the drug in ſubſtance among the ſplinters.

M. Merian has given a plate and deſcription of this ſpecies in her work on the Inſects of Surinaim. We learn from that account, that in the larva and pupa ſtate it lives in the water; that it is a voracious creature, and feeds not only on the weaker kinds of aquatic inſects, but on ſome animals much larger than itſelf. The pupat^t is repreſented on the back of a large frog in the water, and is deſigned to pourtray the manner in which it faſtens on thoſe creatures, holds them between its ſtrong curved fore feet^u, and extracts the juices of their bodies, through its ſingularly conſtructed beak. M. Merian ſays the winged inſect came out of one of theſe creatures on the twelfth of May 1701.

Every writer on this inſect ſince M. Merian, appears indebted to her, for their account of theſe ſew particulars; for though all the European ſpecies of the ſame genus undergo preciſely the ſame changes in their aquatic dwellings, among decayed vegetables, &c. at the bottom of the water, and quit it only in the []winged ſtate^v, we are indebted to her for the time of the appearance of this exotic ſpecies in that ſtate, as well as for a correct figure of its pupa.

Authors vary in their accounts of its native country. Linnaeus, following Merian, makes it Surinam; Margravius, Braſil; and Fabricius, America generally. We obſerve a ſlight difference between our Chineſe ſpecimen and the figures in preceding works referred to by Fabricius; but in giving it as the Nepa Grandis of that author, we have no heſitation, having compared it with thoſe ſpecies referred to by Fabricius in the collection of the Right Hon. Sir Joſeph Banks, Bart.

Inſects in general diſcover an extraordinary degree of care, and ingenuity, in depoſiting their eggs in the moſt ſecure ſituations, or places where the infant brood, when hatched, may be provided with proper ſuſtenance. Thoſe of the aquatic kind uſually lay them in receſſes in the mud or ſand, or under looſe ſtones that lie at the bottom of the water: others, with as much care, and more ingenuity, hollow out the interior ſubſtance of the large ſtalks of water plants, and depoſit their eggs in them; or, riſing out of the water, lay them in the extreme branches of thoſe plants, to ſecure them from other aquatic depredators. The Nepa ruſtica diſplays even more ſagacity, or attachment for its eggs, than thoſe creatures; for it never leaves them. Till they are hatched, it bears them on its back, in a cluſter of an oval ſhape; theſe eggs are of an oblong form, and are faſtened by the narroweſt end to a thin film, or plate of cement, that cauſes them to adhere to the poliſhed ſurface of the wing caſes; when theſe eggs, about an hundred in number, are hatched, it caſts off the exuviae of the cluſter, and differs no longer in general appearance from the male of the ſame ſpecies.

Our figures repreſent the ſituation of the eggs on the back, and the inſect alſo after they are caſt off. It is not commonly received with the eggs upon it. Found on the coaſt of Coromandel, as well as China.

This curious inſect is among the number of thoſe lately brought from China. A figure of the upper ſurface is repreſented on a leaf of the Camellia Seſanqua, one of the vignette plates of Sir G. Staunton's Hiſtory of the late Embaſſy to that country; a coloured figure and a ſhort account of it may therefore prove acceptable to the readers of his volumes.

Profeſſor Thunberg of Upſal diſcovered this inſect in his travels in Japan, and deſcribed it among his new ſpecies under the name Cimex Ocellatus. Stoll, in a work recently publiſed on Cimices, has alſo given a figure of it: he has likewiſe repreſented another ſort, which he conſiders as the female (letter A); it has no black points in the yellow ſpots of the thorax and ſcutellum: he mentions the Iſle of Formoſa as the native country of his ſpecimens.

Fabricius has rejected the ſpecific name Ocellatus, which was given by Thunberg, and has called it Diſpar: he has added a very minute account of its characteriſtic marks, &c.

We have repreſented the inſect in a flying poſition, to diſplay the ſingular wings, that are concealed under the ſcutellum when it is at reſt. The other figure, diſtinguiſhed alſo by a ſtar, exhibits the under ſide of the inſect, which for variety and beauty of colours is not leſs intereſting than the upper ſurface.

This beautiful inſect is not peculiar to China; it is found on the coaſts of Bengal and Coromandel, and in the Iſle of Java. It ſeems a very common creature in thoſe parts of the world; for we rarely receive a parcel of the inſects of thoſe countries, and from China in particular, that does not include many of them. There are ſeveral varieties of this ſpecies; ſome incline very much to green, and vary in the form of their ſpots, &c. We have a charming miniature variety of it from Africa aequin. about one third of the ſize of the Chineſe ſpecimens, and of a very deep blue colour. The marks both on the upper and under ſide pre⯑ciſely reſemble thoſe in the annexed figures.

This elegant inſect has been figured by Stoll and Sulzer. The four following are not, we believe, in any other work.

From the collection of Mr. Francillon, who received it from China. Fabricius deſcribes it in his new genus Lygaeus as a native of Brazil.

This ſpecies is allied to Cimex bellicoſus, a native of Africa. Fabricius notes Lygaeus Phaſianus from Africa alſo: our ſpecimens were brought from China by the late Mr. Ellis, ſurgeon.

Fabricius deſcribes this inſect from the cabinet of Schlanbuſch. It is very common in China.

This very ſingular creature is a Cimex of Linnaeus. It is a rare ſpecies, and has only been deſcribed by Fabricius, who places it in the new genus Reduvius ^a

The ſimile propoſed by Linnaeus for the arrangement of Butterflies, is gleaned from ancient and fabulous hiſtory. The ſpecies are divided into ſections of Trojan and Greek princes, heroes, deities, nymphs, and plebeians: this allegorical ſyſtem, which is well conducted, ſeems liable to leſs objection, than the cha⯑racters aſſigned to each ſection: for many ſpecies placed among the Equites, and a more conſiderable num⯑ber with the Plebeii, are inconſiſtent with the eſſential criterion Linnaeus has given. This arrangement has undergone ſome material alterations in the Entomologia Syſtematica of Fabricius; alterations, perhaps juſtified, by the comprehenſive view, its author has taken of this pleaſing branch of Entomology. The Equites, with many additions, and a few exceptions, are the ſame as thoſe in the two Linnaean ſections: Papilio Priamus, is however, removed from the head of the Equites Trojani, and the precedence given to Papilio Paris.

Papilio Paris is an inſect of conſiderable beauty. The general colour on the upper ſurface obſcure brown, nearly approaching black, but finely contraſted with brilliant green atoms, that are profuſely ſprinkled over it. The poſterior wings are adorned with a large blue ſpot, which derives additional luſtre from the duſky colour ſurrounding it. Another ſpecies, very ſimilar to Papilio Paris, but without this ſpot, is alſo found in China. It is the ſuppoſed female of our ſpecies. Fabricius names it Bianor, after Cramer, pl. 103. fig. 6.

The beauty of the preceding ſpecies claims our notice: Papilio Crino, our admiration. Its form is graceful, its colours ſplendid; and in addition to thoſe attractions, it is extremely rare. We have found an unique ſpecimen of this ſpecies in the collection of Mr. Drury, and on that authority we include it as a native of China. It has not been figured by any author. Fabricius deſcribes the ſame inſect under the ſpecific name Crino, erroneouſly giving its habitat, Africa.

Renealmia exaltata.

Flowered in the ſummer of the preſent year, both in the ſtove of G. Hibberts, Eſq. and at Meſſrs. Grimwoods and Wyke's, Kenſington. It is a majeſtic plant, near ſeven feet in height, and bears a fine pendent group of flowers at the ſummit.

This is one of the largeſt Chineſe Papiliones we are acquainted with. The upper and under ſurfaces ſo nearly agree, that we have conſidered a figure of the firſt unneceſſary. It is repreſented with Papilio Coon on the

Plumbago Roſea. Roſe coloured Lead-Wort.

Uncommonly ſcarce, and not hitherto figured. Fabricius has given it as a new ſpecies, Peranthus, and refers to a ſpecimen in the collection of the Right Hon. Sir J. Banks, Bart. That inſect came from Cochin China. We have ſeen another, which came from Canton: it is repreſented on a ſmall twig of Arundo Bambos. Bamboo or Cane.

This well known plant is mentioned by Sir G. Staunton among the moſt uſeful productions of China.

We have reaſon to conclude that this ſuperb Butterfly has never been figured by any preceding author. Fabricius deſcribed it in his Entomologiae Syſtematica from one of the original drawings, in the collection of Mr. Jones, and refers excluſively to that figure, in a ſynonym to his deſcription. Mr. Jones having oblig⯑ingly aſſiſted us with his collection of drawings, and given us permiſſion to copy any of them, we cannot withhold enriching our volume with a figure of Papilio Laomedon.

The ſpecimen, from which the drawing was made, was in the collection of Mr. Latham.

This beautiful ſpecies is ſelected from the drawings of Mr. Jones; becauſe we preſume that a figure of it has never been publiſhed before.

Papilio Epius and Papilio Demoleus are ſo ſimilar in their marks and colours, that moſt authors have confounded one ſpecies with the other. Papilio Epius is chieſly diſtinguiſhed by the red ſpot in the interior margin of the lower wings, having no blue eye-ſhaped mark above it.

The ſingular delicacy and beauty of this Papilio is not the only claim it has to the particular attention of Entomologiſts: it is clearly an undeſcribed ſpecies; and perhaps the only ſpecimen of it yet brought to Europe, is that from which our figure is copied. It was taken near Pekin, by a gentleman in the ſuite of Earl Macartney, in the late embaſſy to China; and is at this time in the poſſeſſion of Mr. Francillon of London, who has kindly permitted us to make drawings and deſcriptions of this, and every other inſect in his magnificent collection that could enhance the value of this publication.

Papilio Telamon bears a diſtant reſemblance to P. Proteſilaus, but a much ſtronger to P. Ajax: pur⯑ſuing then the metaphorical method of arranging the butterflies in the Linnaean manner, we have given it the name of the father of Ajax, who was one of the diſtinguiſhed Grecian Princes at the ſiege of Troy.

Papilio Agamemnon is found in ſeveral parts of Aſia. The under ſide is beautifully adorned with a number of bright green ſpots of various ſizes. The general colour is pale pink, diverſified with ſhades of cheſnut brown. The upper ſide is much plainer; the general colour is black, except on the ſpots, which are green, and preciſely agree in ſhape with thoſe on the under ſide.

Moſt naturaliſts are undetermined whether Papilio Menelaus and the ſuppoſed variety, Papilio Rhetenor, ſhould not be conſidered diſtinct ſpecies. The colour of the upper ſide is nearly the ſame in both inſects; but the under ſides are very different. The Linnaean deſcription of the male, P. Menelaus, agrees with Papilio Rhetenor, and probably he conſidered them the two ſexes of one inſect. Fabricius would certainly have made a new ſpecies of it, if he had not been of the ſame opinion. We have both inſects before us, and ſhould moſt aſſuredly make a new ſpecies of P. Rhetenor, as Cramer and Sulzer have done, if the authority of the laſt work of Fabricius were not oppoſed to us.

Papilio Menelaus is a native of South America. Sulzer's ſpecimen of Papilio Rhetenor came from China. Foreign Entomologiſts, for this and other reaſons, have conſidered them diſtinct ſpecies. The curious in inſects, ſays Cramer, call this butterfly Le Satiré bleu oblong, to diſtinguiſh it from P. Menclaus, or Le Satiné bleu vulgaire.—Cramer has alſo given a third and much ſmaller kind of theſe blue butterflies, Pap. Adonis, which Fabricius alſo conſiders a variety of Menclaus.

Whatever effect the artiſt can produce by a combination of the moſt brilliant colours employed in painting, he muſt ſhrink from compariſon of it with this ſplendid creature. It is impoſſible to find in any part of the animal creation colours more beautiful or changeable. Pale blue is the principal colour, but new tints meet the eye in every direction, varying from a ſilvery green to the deepeſt purple; and the whole ſurface glittering with the reſplendence of highly poliſhed metal.

[] Thea Laxa.—Bohea, or broad-leaved Tea.

Sir G. Staunton ſays the bohea tea is ſupplied in China from the province of Fochen: the green tea from Kiang-nan. The leaves of theſe teas vary in ſome degree in form according to the age of the plant; thoſe of the bohea are the broadeſt; Thea ſtricta has much longer leaves, they are lanceolated, and more deeply ſerrated than thoſe of the bohea. Many authors have conſidered them varieties of the ſame ſpecies. —Flowers in England in Auguſt and September.

Found throughout Aſia: in China is very common.

Papilio Veſta is the only inſect of the Heliconii diviſion of Butterflies, deſcribed by Fabricius as peculiar to China, in his Ent. Syſt. It is a rare ſpecies, and has not been figured in any work, unleſs the Papilio Terpſichore of Cramer prove the ſame ſpecies. The Papilio Veſta of that author is a very different inſect, being the P. Erato of Fabricius.

Not ſo rare as the preceding ſpecies; but by no means common. The upper ſurface is uniformly black, except the radiated white marks, ſimilar, to thoſe ſeen on the under ſurface of the anterior wings; and the white central ſpot. It exhibits no trace of the red, and ſeareely a tinge of the yellow colour ſo conſpicu⯑ous on the under ſurface.

We have two ſorts of this ſpecies; one with the marginal row of red ſpots on the poſterior wings, diſ⯑poſed in a deep border of black; the other has the red ſpots on a whitiſh ground. They are certainly the two ſexes of Papilio Hyparete. Found near Canton in China.

Sophora Japonica.—Shining-leav'd Sophora.

An elegant and valuable timber tree. Sir G. Staunton speaks of it as very frequent in China. It is noticed in the liſts of plants collected in the journey between Pekin and Zhe-hol in Tartary, and in the provinces of Shan-tung and Kiang-nan, and alſo in the province of Pe-che-lee.

This is a rare ſpecies, and has not been figured by any author.

Roeſel has given a figure of this beautiful butterfly in the fourth volume of the Inſecten Belluſtigung, and calls it die indianische Goldborte; Linnaeus alſo notes it as an Indian ſpecies. Our ſpecimen was received from China by the late Mr. Keate: it is repreſented with the preceding ſpecies on the Melaſtoma Chinenſis, A plant recently introduced into this country.

Papilio Glaucippe is an elegant inſect: very common in China, and it is ſaid, in ſome adjacent parts of Aſia alſo. The Papilio Callirrhoe of Linnaeus is considered as the female of this ſpecies: few authors deem it more than a variety (β).

Fabricius, as well as Linnaeus, conſiders this as an American inſect: Mr. Drury received his ſpecimens from China, and that repreſented in the annexed plate was alſo brought from the ſame country by the late Mr. Ellis.

Limodorum Tankervilliae, An elegant and much admired production of China: it was introduced in 1788, and named in compli⯑ment to the Earl of Tankerville.

A ſpecimen of this extremely rare Butterfly is contained in the collection of Dr. Hunter; a fragment in the Britiſh Muſeum; and one in fine preſervation in the collection of Mr. Francillon. Except theſe, and the ſpecimens from which the figures in the annexed plate are copied, we have never ſeen it in any cabinet whatever.

It has been figured only by two authors, Clerk in his Icons inſectorum rariorum, and Cramer in his Pa⯑pillons exotique. The figures of Clerk and Cramer do not ſtrictly agree: we obſerve thoſe of the firſt much lighter coloured, and the white ſpace on the upper wings conſiderably larger than in any of the figures in Cramer's plates^r.

Fabricius ſays it is a native of the Eaſt Indies. One ſpecimen figured by Cramer was brought from the iſle of Amboyna. It ſeems therefore, not peculiar, like ſome inſects, to China.

Papilio Antiochus is very rare in European cabinets of inſects. The ſpecimen figured by Drury came from the Brazils, and Cramer's from Surinam. Fabricius deſcribes it as a native of China. The inſect figured in the collection of drawings of Mr. Jones of Chelſea, was a native of China, as well as the ſpeci⯑men in our collection.

This curious butterfly was found in the province of Pe-tche-lee, in China, by the gentleman who diſ⯑covered the elegant Papilio, Telamon, near Pekin; and has otherwiſe, by his attention to entomology, added ſome intereſting ſpecies to our catalogue of Chineſe inſects. P. Jacintha is repreſented with P. An⯑tiochus. on a leaf of the

Urtica Nivea. White Nettle ^c.

A ſpecimen of this very rare Papilio, was taken in one of the ſmall iſlands on the eaſtern coaſt of China, and is in the poſſeſſion of Mr. Francillon. Sir J. Banks, Bart. has a ſpecimen of it from another part of the Eaſt Indies.

This pretty inſect is very common about Canton, in China.

This ſeems to have been confounded with the preceding ſpecies both by Linnaeus and Fabricius. Lin⯑naeus firſt deſcribes it as the female, and afterwards as a variety of it; but it certainly is a very diſtinct ſpecies.

This uncommonly rare Chineſe butterfly has certainly never been figured in any preceding work. It will alſo be probably new to the collectors of exotic inſects, in this country at leaſt. Fabricius deſcribed it only from the accurate drawings of Mr. Jones, as appears by the reference added to the deſcription in his Entomologia Syſtematica.

Camellia Japonica.—Japan Roſe.

A native of Japan and China. It bears bloſſoms from January to May. This is a lofty and magnificent plant, riſing to the height of ſeveral feet: there is a variety of it with double flowers, perfectly white; and another in which the flowers are variegated with white and red.

It is the rarity, and not the beauty of this butterfly, which has induced us to add it to our ſelection. We apprehend it is far from common in China, being very ſeldom ſent to Europe among the inſects of that country.

The varieties of Papilio Orythia are numerous, and ſeem to differ according to climate of the countries of which they are natives. It is common in North America, Jamaica, India, &c. The variety from North America is almoſt wholly brown, and thoſe from Jamaica have leſs blue in the diſk of the lower wings, than thoſe from China.

Papilio Clelia of Cramer, which is found on the coaſt of Guinea, has been ſuppoſed a variety of Papilio Orythia. Fabricius, in the Entomologia Syſtematica, has made it a diſtinct ſpecies. It greatly reſembles P. Orythia, but has no more blue colour on the poſterior wings than is concentrated in a large ſpot near the baſe.

The angulated form of the wings of this butterfly gives it a remarkable appearance. The eyes on the wings ſomewhat reſemble thoſe of the Peacock butterfly, to which, in ſome other reſpects, it bears no diſtant ſimilitude. It is common in China; Fabricius gives its habitat Aſia.

We are indebted for this rarity to T. Marſham, Eſq. It is deſcribed by Fabricius from an original drawing^d, and has not been figured by any author.

This is alſo a ſcarce ſpecies. Our ſpecimen is from the collection of the late Ducheſs Dowager of Portland, who procured it from China. Another ſpecimen in the cabinet of Sir J. Banks, Bart. is from Siam.

Hemerocallis Japonica.

Brought from China by Mr. Slater, and flowered in July 1798 in the green-houſe of G. Hibberts, Eſq. Clapham.

The number of Chineſe ſpecies of this genus, already deſcribed, is very limited: our preſent inſect is the largeſt of them; but, as this is inferior in ſize to ſeveral kinds found in Europe, we conceive there muſt remain many larger ſpecies of the genus unknown to collectors of foreign inſects, and yet very com⯑mon in China. In the latter part of Sir G. Staunton's work, that author mentions the larva of a Sphinx Moth which furniſh an article for the table of the Chineſe. We regret that the indefinite expreſſion can⯑not not aſſiſt us to determine the ſpecies, and ſcarcely the genus, of the inſect alluded to^e.

The ſpecimen figured in the annexed plate, is in the collection of Mr. Francillon, who received it from China. A ſmall variety of the ſame ſpecies is found in North America, and figured by Cramer. Sphinx Batus and Sphinx Gnoma are nearly allied to this inſect, particularly the former; both are found in dif⯑ferent parts of the Eaſt Indies.

We ſuſpect this beautiful creature is ſcarce in China; at leaſt it is very rarely found among the inſect brought from that country. It is figured on the plate with the Roſa ſemperflorens—Ever-blowing China Roſe.

A plant lately introduced from China, but thrives well in this climate, and bears a beautiful deep red flower, throughout moſt part of the ſummer ſeaſon.

The Sphinges with tranſparent wings may be ſeparated from the others with much propriety: Fabri⯑cius includes them in his new genus Seſia; but that genus is not formed excluſively of ſuch inſects, his eſſential characters being taken from the ſtructure of the palpi, tongue, and antennae. The Sphinx fuci⯑formis found in England ſomewhat reſembles this Chineſe ſpecies.

It is altogether perplexing, and myſterious to us, that Fabricius, throughout all his works, and even in his laſt enlarged and corrected ſyſtematic arrangement, has given a Papilio Thallo in the Heliconii diviſion of that genus, when it is clear no ſuch Papilio has exiſtence. Linnaeus has, undoubtedly, ſo named an in⯑ſect figured in a plate of Edwards's birds, tab. 226, with a reference to that work; yet it is certain the inſect there figured is not a butterfly, but a lepidopterous Inſect, to which antennae of dubious ſtructure have been added, to perfect its appearance^f. No later author has figured the ſame ſpecies; and ſpecimens of it being extremely ſcarce, it is probable Fabricius has been unable to detect the error. In admitting this, however, we muſt neceſſarily notice the ſynonyms of Sphinx pectinicornis, where he alſo quotes the ſame figure in the works of Edwards. Thus we find, throughout all the editions of the Fabrician Syſtem, a Papilio Thallo and Sphinx pectinicornis formed of the ſolitary figure of one inſect. Cramer has finally increaſed the ambiguity of its genera, by making an inſect of cloſe affinity, perhaps the ſame ſpecies, a Phalaena. Vide P. Tiberina.

[]With ſpecimens of both the inſects figured by Edwards and Cramer before us, we cannot heſitate to conſider them Sphinges of the Adſcitae ^g family, and of the Zygaena of Fabricius. In removing our inſect to the ſphinx genus, we have retained the ſpecific name Thallo, as more likely to denote the ſpecies than any newly adopted name. The inſect figured by Cramer does not preciſely agree with Edwards's figure. In the firſt, the diſk of the poſterior wings are yellowiſh, with a deep border of black: in the other, the yellow occupies only a ſpace near the baſe, and forms a ſemi-lunar mark near the anterior margin of thoſe wings. We ſuſpect, with Cramer, that they are but the two ſexes of one ſpecies. Cramer ſays both his ſpecimens came from China, from whence our inſects were alſo received.

This and the following ſpecies are undoubted nondeſcripts: both ſpecimens are in the collection of Mr. Francillon, who received them from China.

An ornamental evergreen, much eſteemed by the Chineſe, and very frequently repreſented in their land⯑ſcapes. Sir G. Staunton remarks in the account of the journey from Pekin to Canton, that great quanti⯑ties of this plant grew to a prodigious height in the valley in which ſtands the city of Yen-choo-foo.

The Phalaenae are a tribe of inſects remarkable for the neatneſs and ſimplicity of their colours. Their elegancies conſiſt in the infinite variety, and delicacy of intermingled tints: the contraſt of ſpots, ſpeck⯑lings, and lineations, which conſtitute the minutiae of inſect beauty. Some ſpecies are to be excepted in this remark; the larger kinds are often gaudy, and the ſmalleſt exhibit a diſplay of the richeſt colours, fancifully diſpoſed, and moſt elegantly diverſified.

The European ſpecies are numerous, and pretty well aſcertained: thoſe of remote countries remain in great obſcurity. The ſpecies inhabiting China are almoſt unknown^o; for the lateſt ſyſtematic writer deſcribes not more than twenty ſpecies in all the cabinets in Europe. From this ſcanty number a few are ſelected to illuſtrate the genus, and if theſe appear deficient in point of intereſt or variety, it may ſtimu⯑late others to collect new ſpecies, whenever an opportunity occurs. The Phalaena tribe, not only of China, but every country, except of Europe, are a deſideratum of entomology. In Europe the number of this tribe exceeds that of any other: on the contrary, the extra European ſpecies are comparatively the moſt inconſiderable of our acquiſitions. The Papiliones, or Butterflies, are a ſhowy and lively race: they ſport in the open fields in day, and attract the traveller's curioſity; hence our cabinets abound with them. But the moth, infinitely more numerous, and not leſs pleaſing, is ſeldom ſeen; in the gloomineſs of its diſpo⯑ſitions, []it ſeeks the obſcurity of the foreſt in the day, and only ventures on the wing when the ſun is down. In Europe we viſit its nocturnal haunts without difficulty or dread; but in hotter climates theſe are often⯑times impenetrable, or the lurking places of ferocious animals; and few will expoſe themſelves to their attacks, to increaſe the catalogue of exotic Phalaenae^p.

Phalaena Atlas is the firſt ſpecies we have to notice. It is the largeſt of the moth tribe^q, and is, in⯑deed, gigantic creature. The ſpecies is common, but not peculiar to China, being found in other parts of Aſia, and in America. The influence of climate is eaſily traced in the varicties from different countries; that from Surinam is the largeſt, and of the deepeſt colours. The Chineſe kind is the next in ſize; the colours incline to orange, and the anterior wings are more falcated or hooked at the ends. We have two other Aſiatic varieties ſtill ſmaller, with the wings extremely falcated.

The larva of Phalaena Atlas is figured by M. Merian, in the Inſecta Surinamenſia, plate 52: it is about four inches in length, green, with a yellow ſtripe diſpoſed longitudinally. Upon each ſegment are four diſtinct round tubercles of a coral-like orange colour, which are ſurrounded with very delicate hairs. The pupa is large, and is incloſed in a web of an ochre colour. The ſilk of this web is of a ſtrong texture, and it has been imagined, if woven, would be ſuperior in durability to that of the common ſilk worm. Seba has alſo repreſented the larva at fig. 1. plate 57. vol. 4. Theſaurus Naturae. It is nearly ſix inches in length, and bulky in proportion; the Phalaena is alſo larger than that figured by Merian, which is a []ſmall ſpecimen of the Surinam kind. According to Merian, there are three broods of this inſect in a year; they are very common, and feed on the orange trees. Linnaeus ſays, they adhere ſo tenaciouſly to the leaves, that they can ſcarcely be taken off^r.

The common ſilk worm, or Phalaena Mori, is of this family, and merits obſervation as a native of China. The art of weaving its threads into ſilk is of the earlieſt date. The diſcovery is attributed to the Seres, a people of the Eaſt Indies, ſuppoſed the Chineſe^s. In the days of Solomon, we are told, a woman named Pamphilia, of the Iſland of Co, was ſkilled in the art of making cloth, of the ſilk brought from the country of the Seres. The moſt ancient of the Chineſe writers aſcribe the invention to one of the women of the emperor Hoang ti, named Si ling, and in honour Yuen fei ^t. When Rome degenerated into voluptuouſneſs, Perſia, its dependency, furniſhed this article of luxury; but it is ſuppoſed they were in⯑debted to the Chineſe for it, and being ſupplied only in ſmall quantities, it was conſequently dear. In Rome it was ſo ſcarce, as to be worn only by perſons of the firſt diſtinction.

The Chineſe hiſtorians affirm, that the diſcovery was conſidered at firſt of ſuch importance, that all the women in the palace of the emperor were engaged in rearing the inſect, and weaving its ſilk. In after times, the ſilk of China was a principal article of commerce, but latterly its value has been materially leſſened, by the culture and fabrication of ſilk in other countries. As the Chineſe know little of the uſe of linen, the ſilk is a ſtaple article of their own conſumption. The jeſuit miſſionaries mention ſeveral ſorts of it, in uſe among the Chineſe; ſome admired for beauty, and others for durability. It is gene⯑rally ſuppoſed theſe are not merely the effect of different manufacture, but are the produce of diſ⯑tinct inſects^u. Sir. G. Staunton ſpeaks of the culture of ſilk worms in China, but only of the common ſort. It will gratify curioſity, if not prove advantageous, ſhould future obververs aſcertain what kind of []inſect the Chineſe appropriate to making ſilk, and whether P. Atlas is of the number, as has been conjectured.

This, and the following ſpecies, are ſcarce. Mr. Drury informs us, he never procured but a ſingle ſpecimen of Phalaena lectrix, in the courſe of thirty years collecting inſects.

This is the largeſt of the Chineſe Noctuae; ſome very ſimilar ſpecies, but without the orange eye, and of a ſmaller ſize, are peculiar to China.

Not deſcribed in any preceding work.

This inſect is deſcribed by Fabricius, and in conformity with his new ſyſtem, is termed Acſhna cla⯑vata ^c. We reject his generic definition, becauſe it clearly belongs to the Linnaean Libellulae. Libellula clavata muſt be placed with the European L. grandis and forcipata.—It is ſcarce, and has never been figured before.

Another ſpecies of Libellulae, peculiar to India, and found in China, greatly reſembles this inſect: it is probably a variety of it.

Theſe delicate inſects appear to be male and female; they are almoſt a miniature reſemblance of the two ſexes of Libellula depreſſa, found in Europe; one having the abdomen yellow, and the other blue.

The only two ſpecimens of this ſpecies we are acquainted with, were in the collection of the late Ducheſs of Portland; one of thoſe is now in the poſſeſſion of Mr. Francillon.

Very common in China.

This inſect has been figured, but not deſcribed before, We apprehend Fabricius conſidered it a variety of ſome other ſpecies, not having noticed it.

This remarkable creature is peculiar to ſome parts of the Chineſe empire. It is not the largeſt of the genus, known; yet it is of ſufficient magnitude to excite terror and diſguſt. To an European, who has ſeen only the indigenous ſpiders of his own country, a ſpecies five or ſix inches in length, and nearly the ſame in breadth, muſt appear a frightful creature: Aranea Maculata ſometimes exceeds that ſize; but it has not the forbidding aſpect of moſt inſects of the ſame genus. The legs are unuſually long, and the body ſlender. In its general appearance, it reſembles ſome kinds of the Phalangiae that are known in Eng⯑land by the vulgar name Harveſt men, being generally ſeen about that time of the year.

It has been obſerved, that nature oftentimes adorns the moſt deformed and loathſome of her creatures in the richeſt diſplay of colours; and this is eſpecially noticed in many ſorts of ſnakes, toads, lizards, —c. Spiders ſeem alſo of this deſcription: to a form the moſt hideous we frequently find united a brilliance of colours, and elegance of marking, that is ſcarcely excelled by any of the butterfly tribe,—the moſt beautiful of all lepidopterous inſects. Our preſent ſubject is a ſtriking proof of the latter part of this obſervation. The three figures in our plate of Aranca Maculata exhibit a front and a profile view of the inſect, together with the front of the head at the third figure. The head is furniſhed with two very ſtrong black mandi⯑bles, each terminated in an extremely acute point. The fore part of the thorax, which is wholly of a fine ſilky appearance, and the colour of ſilver, bending over the mandibles in the form of an arch, or circular head-piece, give it the reſemblance of a black head with a crown of ſilver on the brow. This appearance is heightened in no ſmall degree by three rugged prominences, one in the centre, and another on each ſide, on the upper part; and by the minute black eyes, which, like thoſe of moſt ſpiders, ſparkle with the luſtre []of ſmall gems. Theſe eyes are eight in number, four are placed immediately in the front of the ſilver-coloured circular front piece, and on each ſide are two more at equal diſtances, but rather in oblique positions.

The body is really beautiful, the chief colour is deep brown, ſtrongly tinged with bright purple; a broad ſtripe of orange colour paſſes down the abdomen from the thorax to the apex: the whole is elegantly marked with a variety of cream-coloured lines and ſpots interſecting each other. Very little hair is found on any part of this ſpider except on the thorax, which being rubbed off, diſcovers a hard teſtaceous black ſubſtance beneath.

Fabricius is the only author who has deſcribed this inſect: it has never been figured in any work what⯑ever, as appears by the lateſt works of Fabricius, and our own obſervation. It is not always the moſt deciſive method to determine the ſpecies from a conciſe deſcription; but this is ſometimes unavoidable, and in the preſent inſtance the deſcription given by Fabricius accords in every reſpect with our ſpecimen. The only inſect with which it could poſſibly be confounded is Aranea Pilipes, which alſo has never been figured; it differs however from Aranea Maculata in the very hairy clothing of the legs, and it has alſo two ſilver ſtripes down the back: a ſtriking ſpecific diſtinction to ſeparate it from our inſect. It is alſo a native of the Eaſt Indies, but not of China, that we are informed.

In the Entomologia Syſtematica of Fabricius we find a ſpecies of Cancri deſcribed, that ſeems to agree with our ſpecimen. The ſpecific character aſſigned by that author is however leſs ſatisfactory than the general deſcription he has added. The two red ſpots are very characteriſtic.

Fabricius met with this creature in the cabinet of Spengler, and notes its habitat China. It is worthy of remark, that this is the only ſpecies of the Cancer genus, Fabricius mentions as a native of that country.

The Linnaean Cancri are numerous, and include many ſpecies not leſs ſingular in appearance than the extraordinary creature before us. Indeed, ſome ſpecies are ſo extremely different from the reſt, both in ſtructure and manners of life, that we cannot heſitate in concluding the Linnaean character of the genus defective and indefinite. This may be obſerved in ſeveral of the ſpecies Linnaeus himſelf deſcribed, and throughout a more extenſive number of thoſe diſcovered ſince the time of that author. It is evident Linnaeus could never reconcile the ſubdiviſions of the two principal families; the Brachyuri and Macrouri; or crabs with ſhort and long tails; and later naturaliſts have ventured, with propriety, to alter this part of his arrangement. The Pagarus, Hippa, Scyllaris, Aſtacus, Squilla, and Gammarus, are ſo many new genera, formed of the Linnaean tribes of Cancri in the laſt Syſtem of Fabricius. The genus, to which Fabricius retains the name Cancer, is diſtinguiſhed from the reſt, by having four ſhort filiform antennae; with the extreme articulation bifid, as we obſerve in the preceding ſpecies. This author follows Degeer in deſcribing the Cancer Mantis, and alters the generic name to Squilla: he obſerves, that this genus is entirely diſtinct from the Cancri, and we are of the ſame opinion, but adhere to the Linnaean genera, be⯑cauſe the ſpecies, Mantis, was deſcribed by Linnaeus, and it may be improper therefore to remove it, to a new genus, in any partial ſurvey of his ſyſtem. The Cancer Mantis is not peculiar to China.

Travellers agree that the temperate parts of Aſia would be a terreſtrial paradiſe, were it not for the multitude of troubleſome inſects and reptiles with which they are infeſted. In a well cultivated country, like China, many of theſe creatures can ſscarcely find ſhelter; but ſuch as harbour in the walls or furniture of human dwellings are as abundant in that, as any other country that lies within or near the tropics. Amongſt the latter, none produce more terrible effects than the Centipede, whoſe poiſon is as venomous as that of the ſcorpion, which alſo is a native of China.

Sir G. Staunton mentions a remarkable circumſtance that occurred during the late embaſſy to China. The ambaſſador and his ſuite were accommodated in a temple near the ſuburbs of Tong-choo-foo. "In ſome of the apartments the prieſts had ſuffered ſcorpions and ſcolopendras to harbour through neglect. Theſe noiſome creatures were known only by deſcription to ſome of the gentlemen in the embaſſy, who had not viſited the ſouthern parts of Europe: the ſight of ſuch, for the firſt time, excited a degree of hor⯑ror in their minds; and it ſeemed to them to be a ſufficient objection to the country, that it produced theſe animals." Sir George however adds, that no accident happened in that inſtance.—The ſpecies of Scolopendra he alludes to, is probably Morſitans, which is common in many parts of the world, but is par⯑ticularly ſound of a frightful ſize, and in vaſt abundance, in the two Indies.

[]Many authors have deſcribed this creature. In the voluminous works of Seba we find ſeveral ſpeci⯑mens of it from different countries, differing materially in ſize, and ſome trifling particulars, but all poſ⯑ſeſſing the diſtinguiſhing characters of Scolopendra Morſitans. The largeſt of theſe exceed our figure in magnitude, being near fourteen inches in length: this he calls Millepeda major ex nova Hiſpania. His figure of Millepeda Africanae is about the ſize of our Chineſe ſpecimen. He has alſo a third and fourth figure, Millepeda Orientalis and Millepeda Celonica, mas: the latter is the ſame length as our figure, but the body is very narrow. Millepeda Orientalis is alſo the ſame length, but the body is very broad. Some of theſe inſects are not four inches in length.

Authors agree that they vary exceedingly in ſize^s and colour. De Geer deſcribes them to be ſome⯑times deep reddiſh brown; at others the colour of yellow ochre. The figure in Cateſby's Natural Hiſtory of Carolina is light brown; we have ſpecimens of a livid yellow, and have ſeen others ſtrongly tinged with red.

The laſt pair of legs are conſiderably larger than the others, and are armed with ſmall black ſpines. The legs terminate in very ſharp hooks or nails of a ſhining black colour. All the other legs are alſo fur⯑niſhed with a ſmaller nail of the ſame ſhape and colour.

M. Gronovius ſays that all its feet are very venemous; but the moſt formidable of its weapons are the two ſharp, hooked inſtruments that are placed under the mouth, and with which it deſtroys its prey.

Lewenhoeck having examined theſ inſtruments with a microſcope, he found a ſmall opening at the extremity of each, and a channel from them into the body of the creature. Through this channel he ſup⯑poſed poſes the Scolopendra emits the poiſonous fluid into the wound it makes with the hooked inſtrument. That author further remarks, that he has ſeen a liquor on that part of living ſcolopendras. A figure of theſe inſtruments on the under ſide of the head, is repreſented in one of the diſſections in our plate.

The ſame author, wiſhing to aſcertain the influence of the poiſon of Scolopendra morſitans, placed a large fly within its reach. The Scolopendra at firſt took it between a pair of its middle feet, then paſſed it from one pair of feet to the next, till the fly was brought under the ſharp pointed inſtrument or crotchets at the head, which it plunged into the fly, and it died inſtantly. Notwithſtanding this experi⯑ment, De Geer, Cateſby, and other authors, aſſert, that its bite ſeldom proves fatal to larger animals; but all agree that its poiſon is as dangerous as that of the ſcorpion.

This Scolopendra has eight eyes: they are very ſmall; four are placed on each ſide of the head near the antennae. In the diſſections a figure is given to exhibit the manner in which the four eyes are placed on one ſide.