this insect is short, in comparison with that which it passed in its aquatic state, the frosts of the close of Autumn destroying the whole They are also the prey of several sorts

race.

of birds.

THIS insect is of considerable size, often measuring near an inch and a half in length; its colour is violet black, especially on the antennæ and limbs; the wing sheaths are very short, in the female insect especially, scarcely covering more than a third of the body, and are of an oval shape. This insect is frequent in the advanced state of spring in fields and pastures, creeping slowly, the body appearing so swoln, or distended with eggs, as to cause the insect to move with difficulty. On being handled it suddenly exudes from the joints of its legs, as well as from some parts of the body, several small drops of a clear, deep yellow oil or fluid, of a very peculiar, and penetrating smell. This oil or

fluid, has been highly celebrated for its supposed efficacy in rheumatic pains, &c. when used as an embrocation on the parts affected; for this purpose also the oil expressed from the whole insect has been used with equal

success.

MELOE VESICATORIUS. SPANISH BLISTER

:

Its

THE Spanish Fly, is an insect of very great beauty, being entirely of the richest gilded grass-green, with black antennæ. shape is lengthened, and the abdomen, which is pointed, extends somewhat beyond the wing-sheaths its usual length is about an inch. This celebrated insect, the Cantharis of the Materia Medica, forms, as is well known, the safest, and most efficacious epispastic or blister plaister, raising after the space of a few hours, the cuticle, and causing a plentiful serous discharge from the skin.

OESTRUS.-GAD FLY.

THE OX Gad-fly, is about the size of a common bee, and is of a pale yellowish brown colour, with the thorax marked by four longitudinal dusky streaks, and the abdomen, by a black bar across the middle, the tip being covered with tawny, or orange coloured hairs the wings are pale brown and unspotted.

:

The female of this insect, when ready to deposit her eggs, fastens on the back of a heifer or cow, and piercing the skin with the tube situated at the top of the abdomen, deposits an egg in the puncture; she then proceeds to another spot at some distance from the former, repeating the same operation at intervals on many parts of the animal's back. This operation is not performed without severe pain to the animal on which it is practised; and it is for this reason that cattle are observed to be seized with such violent horror when apprehensive of the ap

proaches of the female Oestrus; flying with uncontroulable rapidity, and endeavouring to escape their tormentor, by taking refuge in the nearest pond; it being observed that this insect rarely attacks cattle when standing in the water.

ONISCUS ARMADILLO. MEDICAL WOOD

LOUSE.

THIS popular insect, well known by the name of Wood-louse, is a very common insect in gardens and fields, and is observed in great quantities under the barks of decayed trees, and beneath stones in damp situations, &c. When suddenly disturbed or handled, it rolls itself up into a completely globular form, in the manner of the curious quadrupeds called Armadillos, frequently remaining in this state for a very considerable length of time, or so long as it is any ways disturbed. Swammerdam relates a ludicrous mistake of a servant maid, who, finding in

R

the garden a great many in this globular state, imagined she had discovered some handsome materials for a necklace, and betook herself to stringing them with great care: but on suddenly perceiving them unfold, was seized with a panic, and ran shrieking into the house.

Though considered at present as but of slight importance in the practice of physic, these animals once maintained a very respectable station in the Materia Medica, under the title of Millepedes.