chrysalises, and lastly arrive at the form of Beetle. There are many different species in the old and new continent, from the size of a pin's head to upwards of four inches in length.

2. THE EARWIG.

THE natural history of this insect has been but little known. It is a circumstance extremely singular, that, unlike those of most others of the insect tribe, the eggs are hatched and the young Earwigs are fostered by the parent. At the beginning of the month of June, M. de Geer found under a stone a female Earwig, accompanied by many little insects, which evidently appeared to be her young. They continued close to her, and often placed themselves under her belly, as chickens do under a hen.

In the common appearance, the animal is very nimble, and perfectly harmless, notwithstanding the charge which has been brought against it of entering the human ear, and depositing its eggs there, which of course would cause intolerable pain when they were hatched, and the young began to gnaw the inside of the ear; but we are happy to find that this is a mere supposition, and that the Earwig does not intrude itself into a place, the natural construction of which would certainly prevent such intrusion; or that, if such event ever happened, the insect entered there for no other purpose than to shelter itself from danger. The Earwig possesses wings which are both large and elegant, and which, when extended, cover nearly the whole insect. The elytra, or wing-cases, are short, and do not extend along the whole body, but only over the breast. The wings are concealed beneath these, and are somewhat of an oval shape. There is great elegance in the manner in which the insect folds them beneath its elytra.

Is the largest, and most singular in shape, of any in this country. It is known by two horns, projecting from its head, and resembling those of a stag. These horns are furnished with teeth, from their root to their point. The wing cases have neither streaks nor spots. The whole insect is of a deep brown. It is sometimes found in oaks, near London; where it is much smaller than those of the same species found in woody coun tries. As their horns pinch severely, they are carefully to be avoided, notwithstanding they are the greatest beauty they possess; having sometimes the appearance of coral.

They feed on the oozings from oaks, on which the females deposit their eggs. The larvæ, or grubs, lodge under the bark, or in the hollow of old trees; which they bite, and reduce to fine powder. Here they transform themselves into the chrysalis. These insects are mostly found in Kent and Sussex. In Germany there is a popular but idle notion, that these insects are sometimes known, by means of their jaws, to carry burning coals into the houses; and that, in consequence of this mischievous propensity, dreadful fires have been occasioned.

Is found in South America, particularly in Guiana and Surinam, as well as near the river Oroonoko. It is the largest of this kind hitherto known. It is of a black colour; and the whole body is covered with a very hard shell, fully as thick and as strong as that of a small crab. Its length, from the hinder part to the eyes, is almost four inches; and from the same part to the end of the proboscis, or trunk, four inches and three quarters. The transverse diameter of the body is two inches and a quarter; and the breadth of each case for the wings, upwards of an inch. The antennæ, or feelers, are quite horny; for which reason the proboscis, or trunk, is moveable at its insertion into the head, and seems to supply the place of feelers. The horns are about an inch long, and terminate in points. The proboscis is an inch and a quarter long, and turns upwards, making a crooked line, terminating in two horns, each of which is near a quarter of an inch long; but they are not perforated at the end, like the proboscis of other insects. Above the head is a pro

minence, or small horn, which, if the rest of the trunk were away, would cause this part to resemble the horn of a rhinoceros. There is, indeed, a beetle named after that animal, whose lower horn resembles this. The feet are all forked.

THE LARGER CAPRICORN GREEN BEETLE

Is a very beautiful insect, of a glossy, bluish green colour, with a cast of shining gold. The body is blue on the upper part; and the wings under the case black. The legs are of the same bluish green colour, only somewhat paler; and the breast is pointed at each extremity. Between these points are three little tubercles near the wings, and three smaller towards the head. The cases of the wings are oblong, and somewhat in the shape of a lance; with three ribs a little raised and running longways. The feelers are nearly as long as the body, composed of many small joints, which grow smaller near the ends. It is sometimes found among old willow trees, and has a kind of musky smell.

THE GRAINED BULL-HEAD, AND SPANISH FLY, OR CANTHARIDES.

THE first named species is not only one of the largest, but the most beautiful and brilliant, this country produces. The head, breast, and wing-cases are of a coppery green. The latter have three longitudinal rows of oblong raised spots. All the under part of the insect is black. Having no wings beneath the cases, Nature has providentially supplied it with such legs as enable it to run with amazing swiftness. This insect is frequently found in damp places, under stones and heaps of decayed plants in gardens. The colour varies; for it is frequently of a beautiful purple.

The larvæ live under ground, or in decayed wood, where they remain until metamorphosed to their perfect state, when they proceed to devour the larvæ of other insects, and all weaker animals they can conquer. They are frequently known by the name of the Ground Beetle. Some are found as early as the