From iKe Collection of Katlierine Friedman HirsK 1 ALBERT R. MANN LIBRARY AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY “ T r. BEAUTIES ofiM CRE^ATION-, OR, A NEW MORAL SYSTEM O F NATURAL HISTORY; DISPLAYED IN THE MOST SINGULAR, CURIOUS, AND BEAUTIFUL Hoopoe '43 75 Horfe 17 97 Humming Bird 142 123 Hy»na 62 105 Indian Mufk 73 I'S King of the vultures- 108 '54 King Filher '44 '36 Kite "4 102 Jerboa 88 40 I-elTer horned owl 2 20 148 Lion 67 47 Little bittern '49 34 Malliff 59 101 Merlin JI7 165 Opolfum 72 II 0 Ollrich 98 39 Ourang Outang S' '5' Owl ii8 '38 Panther 69 '2< Peacock Pelican 1^7 >28 Pheafant 126 113 pigmy Ape u • Pointer 1 . N D E X, Pointer Spoon -bill porcupine n Slag Quadrupeds, their general Starling natuie. td: Stork Rabbit and Mole. 85 Tame Duck Rein Deer 36 Toucan Rhinoceros 44 White or polar bear Sheep ^7 Wolf Sloth 80 Woodcock Spano w-Hawk.. I 16 Zebra 1 N S E C T S. Fage 15-) 37 140 146 160 130 63 'iS 2 t _y\^M£mcAN Emperor j\nt-eater £\nc Bee Beetle Black Hifpa ilood-coloured Skipper Caiitbaris Carter, or Long-legged Spider Cochineal fly Comb-horned Cantharia Cricket Crimfoii Frogbopper Sainfcl Day fly Diadem'd Spider Earwig Field Sparkler Fire Fly of the Eaft Ib- dies- Fire Fly of Martinico Foamy Froghopper Gall Fly Glow Worn Golden Beetle Grained Bull-head Great Damfel Grafs Chryfomela Grafshopper Green-maibled Butterfly Uitneuineir- Page ?'’£■ 181 Ladybirds 193 *32 Lantern Fly 218 243 Lead-coloured Caritharis 202 23 S Leaping Spider 246 189 Maiden Libellula 229 >95 Nettle Beetle 192 iv -4 Nutmeg Cerambyfe 196 202 Nut tree moth »»3 Papillio or butterfly 224 349 Phalena, or Moth 225 322 . Plioberan 185 203 Rainbow Lepteua «97 217 Scarlet Spider 246 22 X ShieW Beetle, 198 226 Silkworm 186 330 Skipper 204 252 Snsall-legged Spider 246 212 Spanifli Fly 209 206 Sphinx 224 Spiders 246 200 Spotted Buprelles 207 301 Stag Beetle 190 220 Tarantula 253 Tiger moth .84 >99 Violet Beetle lyi 169 Virgin 228 iq 8 Walking Leaf 214 227 Weevil 2x1 *94 White lledge-hojj. 193 216 Yellow uodtr-wrngcd 1&2 moth i 8 i 389 Ziffib 253 1 K D E X. . ix TREES. NAMA Plant Puge 286 Cotton Plant P„ge 280 B»!m oFGilcad ' 283 Currant Vines 273 Cedar nf JLribanus 284 Ginger Plant 272 Cocoa Tree 2A4 Mandrake Plant 281 Coffee Shrub 261 Nutmeg and Mace Tree 267 Cinnamnn Tree 286 Pepper Tree 271 Clove Tree 270 Pomegranate Tree 274 Cork Tree 277 Rice plant 275 F L 0 w E R S. T^^HEMONE A ra man thus Afphcdel Auricula Auftrian Rofe Belviderc Blue-Bell Colchicum Colornbinc Page 3'>4 3>4 329 331 334 323 326 386 ? 7 T Jonquil Larkfpur Lily Lily of the valley Lupine Martagon Mezereon Narciffus Nnfturtium Page 303 30.5 304 337 328 339 341 310 Convolvulus 328 Paflion Flower 00'' 3>3 Crocus 321 Perficaria 308 Crown Imperial 328 . Pink 333 Cyclamen 3'9 Polyanthus 307 Daffodil 306 Poppy 344. Daify 3'7 Prim rofe 324 Double Marygold 322 Ranunculus 3'6 Fritillaries 3 " Rofe 215 Flower of Parnaffus 324 Scarlet Lychnis 320 Foxglove 330 Snowdrop 318 Heart's Eafc 331 St. John's W ort 34 . 3 ' Hellebore 331 Snn-Flowtr 326 Hollyhock 336 Sweat Pea 3 ' 4 o Honeyfuckle 342 Sweet-William 3»9 Hvacinth 339 Til hero fe 31 - Indian Pink 327 Tulip 308 Iris 335 V iolct 332 Jerufalem Crofs 309 Wallfloweu 325 Jeffamine > 3 « EXPLA..^ EXPLANATION of SCIENTIFIC TERMS, OCCVRKINO IN THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS OF N A r U R A L H I S T 0 R r.\ Abdumen, the belly. Aurelia., the flats of the infefl, while changing from, the worm to the moth, fly, or butterfly. . Apterous, without wings. Autennie, horns or feelers. Chry falls, the fame as aurelia. Crujiaceous, covered with a Ihell, or a . fubftance fimilar to a fliell. Capitulum, a little head. i Elytra, the cafes of the.wingsv Foiceps, the forked tail of an infffn Cenus, feveral beings agreeing, in one common charac- ter. Hymenoptera infelta, infefts -having four membraneous wings., iHdi’oidual, a being confideyed feparately from others of the fame iflecies or kind. Larva, tlie worm or caterpillar. Lobe, a divifion or diftincl part. Lapidoptera iiife&a, infefls having four wings, fldembraueous, confifling of a fibrous web. Maxilla, the jaws. Nympha, fee Aurelia. Neuroptera iujeda, infefls with four traufparent wings. Palpi, fpiral longues. I'orreCled, flretched out. Reticulated, formed like net-work. Scarabaus, the beetle. Setaceous, covered with briflles. Species', a common nature, by which feveral individuals are diftingnilhed. Spine, a thorn. Thorax, the breaft. -Vermicula, the nature of the infefl before it begins its transformation. ADDRESS. address. A NSW MORAL SYSTRM OF NATURAL HISTORY, C OMPOSES the following volume, treating of quadrupeils, birds, infeiSls, and flowers. This engaging fubjefl, much as it is neglefled, is of all others, the moft neceflary to finilli a polite education, impercep- tibly, as it foftens and humanizes the mind, while, by leading us to this fnblime truth, that nothing is created in vain, we obtain, what ought to be the ultimate objeft oT all our purfuits, a knowledge of GOD, of ourfelves, and of the beings he has formed for our ufe, fupport, and proteflion. Such are the gentfral outlines of the prefent work, now fubmitted to the judgment of parents and the guardians of youth ; a work whofe foie objedt is to form. an happy union of infti;udiion and amufement. In a word, to render what has been perverted into an irkfome burthen to the youthful mind, an agreeable and a rational paftime. The proprietor has only to obferve that the fuccefs, which has already attended his endeavours to promote the love of virtue and knowledge in the above work, has far exceeded his mod fanguine expediatlons. He begs leave, in gratitude, to declare, that no trouble, no ex- pence, have been fpared to render the prefent enlarged edition, a work of lading utility to the rifmg generation, and an agreeable nfeful pocket companion, to all who ■wifli to acquire a knowledge of the above important and antereding lubjedts, by The public’s obliged and devoted fervant, GEORGE RILEY. from FROM THE •R E V I E W S, &c. W E acknowledge with real regret that the prefent fyftem of female education is too imperfect and con* fined; and we earneftly look and long for that happy pe- riod, when the mind’s of Nature’s faireft works will not be fhackled by an improper courfe of education, and when the gratification received by folici inftrnaion will eft'ec'tu- ailly induce them to btftow on their children the valuable acquifition of a well informed mind. To remove, in a great meafure, tlie force of the above argument, is ,we think, one of the leading purpofes of this valuable publication. Here ufcful knowledge is collefled, claflilied, and eKpretfed in the moft concife, fimple, and eafy manner. Its objefl is to ferve as a key to open the mind to exten- five views of the natural and moral worlds, and to lead youth to admire the wildom, and’ adore the goodnefs of GOD; tlie firft grand and valuable principle of every thing virtuous and praife worthy. We therefore heartily re- commend it to the life, not only of children, but of pa- rents thcmfelves, as a publication which, in every rcCpect, does the head and heart of the editor the highefi honor. The editor of the Biographical IMagazinc obferves, that — The fubjetls of llicle ufeful, moral, and elegant (this work was publillicd in . z vols.). volumes, are treated with great tafte, ingenuity of obfervation, and morality of principle. NATURAL NA'rURAL HISTORY. Q^U ADRUPEDS. THEIR GENERAL NATURE. U ADRUPEDS, afttr man, in natural hiftoiy, require the next attention, and for the following reafons. Being of limilar llru6ture with ourfelves, having inftinfts and properties fuperior to all other parts of ani- mated nature, affording great afliftance to man, and fometimes exercifing the greatell hoftilities, muft render them the moft inter- efliing part oD the creation, and claim the firft attention of the naturalifl. Siniilititde to man . — Like us they arc ele- vated above the birds, by their young being produced alive ; above the clafs of fillies, by breathing through the lungs ; above in- fers, by blood circulating through their veins ; and moftly above all parts of the creation, by being partly or entirely covered with hair. Since quadrupeds fo nearly approach us in B nimal NATURAL HISTORY. animal perfeftion, how little reafon ha\'c we to be vain of out corporeal qualities ! Figure . — The lieacls of quadrupeds are ge- nerally adapted to their mode of living. In fome it is fliarp, to enable them to turn up the earth, where they find their food depofi- ted ; in others, it is long, in order to afford room for the olfa£fory nerves ; in many, it is fliort and thick, to flrengthen the jaw, and qualify it for combat. Their legs and feet are entirely formed to the nature and exigen- cies of the animal. When the body is hea- vy, the legs are thick and flrong ; when it is light, they are aftive and {lender. Thofe that feed on fifii, are made for fwimming, by having webbed feet : thofe that prey upon animals, are provided with claws which they can draw and flicath at pleafure ; but the more peaceable and domeflic animals are ge- nerally furnifhcil with hoofs, which, being more necell'ary for defence than attack, ena- ble them to traverfe the immenfe tradfs which they are deflined to pafs over, cither to ferve man, fearch for food, or avoid hoflility. Dijpofition for />re)/.--Bealls of prey fel- dom devour each other. Nothing but ex- treme hunger can induce them to commit this outrage againft natui'C ; and, when they are obliged to feck luch fubfiftence, the weak- efl affords to the ftrongeft but a difagreeable repaft. In fuch cafes, the deer or goat is what they particularly feek after, which they either take by purfuit or furprife. Natural NATURAL HISTORY. Natural fagacity . — In countries uninhabi- ted by man, fome animals have been found in a kind of civil fociety, where they feemcd united in mutual friendlhip and benevolence ; but no fooner does man intrude upon their haunts, than their bond of fociety is dilTol- ved, and every animal fceks fafety in foli- tude. Cloathing of animals . — In the colder cli- mates they are covered with a fur, which preferves them from the inclemencies of the weather ; in the more temperate, they have Ihort, and in the warmer climates, they have fcarcely any hair upon their bodies. Thus we perceive that they are provided with cloathing, according to the nature of their fituation. Ferocity . — Where men are the moft bar- barous, animals are the moft ferocious. Thole produced in climates of extreme heat, polfels a nature fo favage, that they are fcarcely ever tamed. Food . — The place, as svell as the nature of their food, is adapted to the fiz,e and fpe- cies of the animal. Thofe feeding in vallies are generally larger than thofe that feek their food on mountains. In warm climates, their plenteous and nutritive food renders them re- markable for bulk. Milk is their firft ali- ment. Produce . — Beafts that arc large, ufelefs, and formidable, produce but few at a time, while thofe that are fmall, ferviceable, and inoftenlive, are more prolific. This feems to NATURAL HISTORY. l6 to be adapted with the moft admirable pro- portion ; for, were the fmaller and weaker to have lefs offspring, their race might be de- flroyed, by being fo frequently made the prey of ftronger animals. Courage . — In defence of their young, no danger or terror can drive animals from their proteeftion. Such as have force, and fubuft by rapine, are molt formidable in their ferocious courage. Generation . — Each fpecies of quadrupeds bring forth their young at the time when na- ture molt plenteoully affords them their ref- petilivc nutriment. Thole animals which hoard up provifions for the winter, produce their young in January, by which time they are enabled to colle£t fufficieut fubliltence for their offspring. Qiiadrupeds whicli are called oviparoui, fi'om being hatched from eggs, fuch as the crocodile, turtle, &c. are the molt pro- lific, being no Iboncr freed from the fliell than they attain their utmoft ftate of animal per- feftion. Every fpecies of animal has its peculiar cry, by which they diltinguifli each other, and communicate the general expreffions of their palfions, as fear, joy, delire &c. Thus has the all wile, bountiful, and divine crea- tor, in his infinite wifdom, formed a race of animals for the ufe of mankind, and granted us dominion over tliem, which fliould never be cxcrcifed but with the greateft hu- manity. NATURAL HISTORY. rhe HORS E. F all quadrupeds, the liorfe is the mod generous, ftrviceable, and beautiful. There is none to which man is more indebted. Wild horfes herd together, in alTemblies of five or fix hundred, and depute one as a cen- tinel to guard the reft while flceping. Ara- bia is the mod famous for this animal in its wild date. . But the Englifh hoi'fe excels all in file, utility, and fwiftnefs. It is longer lived than the Barb, and more hardy than the Perfian. The famous Childers was fb fleet as to run a mile in a ininutc. The Eng- lifli hunters are allowed to be the mod ule- ful horfes in the world. To give a ' deferip- tion of this well-known animal is unnecefTa- ry, as there is fcarcely a country in which he is not to be found. Spain, Italy, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Holland, Flanders, France, Crete, Morocco, Turkey, Perfia, India, Chi- na, Tartary, and Arabia, abound with various fpecies of them, which difler according to the foil and climate of the country. But the ge- neral received opinion is, that the native clime of this noble animal is Arabia, to which all the countries abo\'e mentioned arc indebted for the different breeds of horfes they uof- fefs. ^ ^ Its difpofition to war caufed it to be confe- crated to Mars, the god of battle. B 2 Of NATURAL HISTORY. l8 Of their hides are made collars, and all kinds of harnefs ; their manes and tails are ufecL in perukes, lines for angling, covering for chair-feats, cords, floor-cloths, and a va- riety of other articles. Although they are endowed with vaft ftrength, and great powers, yet they feldom exert either to the prejudice of their maf- ters ; on the contrary, they will, cheerfully encounter the greateft fatigues for their be- nefit. They fear and love the human race, and are of a very benevolent difpofition. And yet, notwithftanding all the good qualities of this noble and generous animal, when he is fb enfeebled by age, and worn down by the fevere drudgery of his lordly mafter, as to be incapable of contributing any longer to his pleafure, his ambition, or his avarice, lie is (as if ingratitude was peculiar to the human fpecies) fold for fcarcely the worth of his bridle. In this flate of lamentable cxiftence, he is configncd to the cruel treat- ment of fome inhuman wretch, who chafli- fes him for that weaknefs incident to his old age, or which he has acquired in the fervi- tiulc of his former mafter, and thus tortures the remnant of his life, which fnould, were it only for paft fervices, be cheriflied with themoft tender care and attention. Such is the ftrength of the Englifh draught horfc, that in London they have been feen to draw three tons weight. In Yorkftiire, the pack- NATURAL HISTORY. 19 pack-horfes ufually carry a burthen of 4201b. over the higheft hills. The ASS. T his animal rcfembles the horfe very nearly in form, but, being of a clif- tinft fpecies, in a ftate of nature it is entire- ly different. It is found wild in the deferts of Lydia and Numidia, where it is. caught with traps. Of their Ikins, fliagreen leather, and other valuable articles arc manufafturecL The plantain is their favourite vegetable. Their fcent is fo acute, that they are ca- pable of fmelling their driver or owner at a great diflance, and will even diflinguifh him in a croud. In proportion to his file, he is ftronger than the horfe, and fiipported with much lefs care and fultenance. In lome coun- tries they are fo large, that in Spain a jack-afs is frequently feen fifteen hands high. Of all animals covered with hair, the af's is the leaft fubjeft to vermin. His period of exiflence is from twenty to twenty-five years ; and, al- though he can endure much more fatigue and hardfhip than a horfe, he has much lefs flecp. It is related of this animal, that he will never ftir if he be blinded. The afs was originally imported into Ame- cica by the Spaniards, who now hunt them for their diverlion. In «0 natural history. n his natural ftate, he is fleet, flerce, and formidable, but wlien domefticated, he is the mofl; gentle of all animals, and aflumes a patience and lubmiflion even humbler than IS ntuation. He is very temperate in eat- ing, and contents himfelf with the refufe of the vegetable creation. As to drink, he is extremely delicate, for he will flake his thirft at none but the clearefl; brooks, and thofe to which he IS moll accuftomed. When young, he IS Iprightly, and tolerably handfome ; but age deprives him, as well as all other parts of animated nature, of thofe qualities ; he then becomes flow, Hupid, and obftinate. The flie- als goes eleven months with young, and never produces more than one at a time. The ingenious author of the SpeCiacIe de la .mzi'iire; obferves in fubftance, that though he IS not polfelTed of very fliining qualities, yet what he enjoys are very folid ; that the want of a noble air hath its compenfation in a mild and modeft countenance ; that his pace IS uniform, and, although he is not extraordi- nary fwift, he purfues his journey a long while without intermiffion ; and that he is pcrfeaiy well contented with the firfl; thiftle thatprefentsitfelfinhis v^ay ; in fliort, that this indefatigable animal, without expence or pride, replcnilhes our cities and villages with all lorts of commodities. With refpeft to their general difpofition, the lame author informs us, “ That the als rcfembles natural history. 2 1 “ refetnbles thofe people who are naturally “ heavy and pacific, whole underftanding and “ capacity are limited to hulbandry or com- “ mcrce, who proceed in the fame track with- “ out difcompofure, and complete, with a fe- “ rious and politive air, whatever they have “ once undertaken.” The medicinal virtues of aires-milk,_iji re- ftoring health and vigour to our debilitated conllitutions, might alone entitle thisharmlefs and inoffcnfive animal to a kinder return, than it generally experiences from their inhuman and ungrateful mailers. The ZEBRA. T n I S animal is the moll wild and beauti- ful in nature, and is principally found in the fouthern parts of Africa. It is laid to liir- pafs. all others in fwiftnefs, and even Hands better and firmer upon its legs than the horfe. There was one in England that woidd eat bread, meat, and tobacco. It differs from the wild afs, with which it has been fre- quently confounded, in the defeription given of it by fome naturalills. In lhape, it more refcmbles the mule, than the horfe or the afs ; it is Icfs than the former, and longer than the latter : its ears are longer than thofe of the horfe, and Ihorter than thofe of the afs ; it has a large head, a Ilraight back 22 NATURAL HISTORY. back, well-placed legs, and tufted tail. The flcin is clofe and fmooth, and the hind-quar- ters are round and well' formed. The male is white and brown ; the female white and black. The colours are fo regularly ftriped, that they appear to be painted, and refemble fo many ribbons laid over its body ; fo that, at a finall diftance, the Zebra appears to have been drefled by art, inftead of being £b admi- rably adorned by nature. The M U L E. T his animal is bred between a horfc and a flie-aft, or a jack-afs and a mare. In Spain, where they are ufed to draw peo- ple of the firfl diftindlion, they are frequently fold at fifty or fixty guineas each. The com- mon Mule is very healthy, and lives about thirty years. RUMINATING- NATURAL HISTORY. 23 RUMINATING ANIMALS A re fuch as are diftinguifliecl for chew- ing the cud, and being the moft mild and eaiily tamed. The ferocious or the carnivo- rous kinds, feek their food in gloomy folitude; but thefe range together in herds, and the very meaneft of them unite in defence of each other. The food of ruminating animals being eafily procured, they feem more indolent, and lefs artful than the carnivorous kinds, or thofe which feed on fielli. The BULL, OX, and COW. O F all ruminating animals thefe are firfl in rank, both with refpeft to fiz.e, beauty, and fervice. Many of our Englifli peafants have only a cow, from ^yhich they obtain a livelihood. Cows improve the palture which affords them their nourilhment. Their age is calculated by their horns and teeth. Of all Creatures, this animal is moll affedted by difference of foil, which being luxuriant, increafes their growth to a confiderable fiz.e, while in more fterile countries they are pro- portionally diminutive. In Gi'eat-Britain, the ox is the only horned animal that will apply H NATURAL HISTORY. ftrength to the fervice of mankind, ^he ox, in particular, will grow to a prodigious fiz-e, an extraordinary inftance of which is at this time to be feen in London , he was bred at Gedncy, in the county of Lincoln, and is allowed by judges to be much the larg- efi; and fatteft ox ever feen in England ; his beef and tallow alone being computed to weigh 350 ftonc, or 2800 pounds weight. There is no part of this animal without utility ; the blood, fat, marrow, hide, horns, hoofs, milk, cream, whey, urine, liver, gall, fpleen, and bones, have each their particular qualities. The hide, w'hen tanned, is manu- faftured into boots, flioes, and various other accommodations in life ; vellum and goldbeat- er’s fkin are allb obtained from thefe animals ; the hair, mixed w'ith lime, is ufed to cement our buildings ; combs, knife-handles, boxes, buttons, drinking velfels, tS:c. are made of their horns, which are alfo ufed as antidotes to poifon, the plague, and linall-pox : glue is made from the chips of their hoofs, and the parings of the raw hides. Their bones are an excellent liiblfitute for ivory ; and their feet afford an oil, fo generally known under the name of neats' foot oil, that it needs no defeription here. The blood is an excellent manure for fruit trees, and the chief ingredi- ent of Pruflian-blue : the gall, liver, fpleen, and urine, are ufed in Medicine. Milk, cheefe. cream, and butter, are too common to require particular mention. The fleih is u of natural history. =6 of two forts, namely, veal and beef, which, being dreffed various w'ays, is calculated to invigorate- the weak, fupport the laborious, and gratify the voluptuous. The urns, or Wild Bull, is generally found in Lithuania, a province of Poland. There are other Ipecies of the cow-kind, fuch as the Bifon, Bonafus, Zebu, Beevehog, Buffalo, and Siberian cow. 77 ;e B U F F A L O. T H E Buffalo, being more clumfy, is lefs beautiful than the cow. His flcin is alfo harder, thicker, blacker, and thinner of hair ; his flefli is hard, black, and difagreeable, both to the taftc and fmell : the milk, though a- bundant, is not fo good as that which the cow affords ; in the warm countries, however, it is ufed to make cheefe and butter. The hide, from its thicknefs and impenetrability, is dref- fed, and forms an article called buff leather^ after his name. Two of thefe animals, yoked together, will draw more than four ftrong horfes. When purfued, they will often fwim over the larg- ell rivers with great facility. They are found wild in many parts of Africa and Afia, and are likewife very common in Italy, from whence they were brought into Lombardy, A. D. 591, They grow to twice the file of C pur 26 NATURAL HISTORY. H3ur largefl; oxen, and their horns are fo large, that a pair is to be Teen in the niuleum, which meafure iix feet, fix inches, and a half in length, weigh forty two pounds, and hold ten quarts of water in their vacuities. Arif- totle, very properly, calls thefe creatures wild oxen. In the weftem parts of Florida, on this fide the MilTifippi, the buffalo is hunted af- ter the following manner : the hunters range thenifelves in four lines, forming a very large fquare; they then fet fire to the grafs, which is long and dry ; tlie animals draw clofer together, as the fire runs along the lines, of which they are much afraid, and naturally fly from it, until they get quite clofe together, they then attack them brifkiy, feldom fuffering any to efcape. At thefe hunting-matches they generally kill from a thouland to fifteen hundred of thefe animals. The buffalo, like other animals that feed on grafs, is inoffenfive when undifturbed ; but when wounded, or even fired at, their fury is ungovernable. In India, there is a fmaller kind of buffa- lo, which they make ufc of to draw their coaches. In the northern parts of America there is another animal, larger than the ox, which has fhort black hair, horns, a large beard, and a head fo covered with liair that he makes a moft foi'inidable appearance. . animals NATURAL HISTORY. 27 ANIMALS of the SHEEP and GOAT KIND. A lthough this fpecies comprehends many animals of a fimilar nature, they differ with regard to their bodies, horns, food, and covering. The utility, and inoffenfive nature of thefc animals, is a proof that they have been long reclaimed from their wild ftatc, and adapted to domeftic purpofes. They both apjiear to require proteftion from man, whom they reward with the greatefb favours ; they feem indeed, to court his fociety. Though the fheep is moft ferviceable, the goat has more attachment apd fenfibility. In the earlieft ages, the goat appears to have been the great- er favourite, and ftill continues fo amongff the poor. But the flieep has }ong been the principal object of human care and attention ; wc fhall thercfoi'c begin with The SHEEP. T his anlmal, in its tame ftate, is the moft harmlefs and defencelel's. When wild, it is faid to be of valt fwiftnefs and only found )u great flocks. As foon as they are attack- ed, they form a ring, ipto the centre of which the NATURAL history. ?8 the ewes fall, where they are defended by the rams in the moft vigorous manner. The woolly fheep is only found in Europe, and •fome of the temperate provinces of Afia. When fat, it is aukward in its motions, ea- fily fatigued, and frequently finks under the weight of its own corpulence, and rich fleeces. There is no part of this admirable animal, but what has its particular ufe. When two rams meet, they engage very fiercely. Every ewe knows its lamb, and e-. very lamb the bleating of its ewe, even a- midft thoufands. In England, they chiefly feed on downs, in paftures, young fpring- ing corn lands, or turnip fields ; but the downs have, by long experience, been found to prove by far the mofl beneficial, on . ac- count of the air and drynefs of foU, no ani- mal being fo fubjedt to the rot, as Iheep, if fed on marfliy land. The whole flock of ewes, wethers, and lambs, arc flieared once in a year. Wethers have generally more and better wool tlmn the ewes. Such is their utility in agriculture, that an hundred fiieep will manure eight acres of ground. In Iceland they have a fpecies of this ani- nial, called Many-horned flieep ; they are of a dark brown colour, and under the outward coat of hair, have a fine, ftiort, foft fur, refem- bling wool. In Spain, the flieep produce a wool, fupe- riorto that of any other country. It is of fo excellent a quality, that our hatters and clothiers Natural iiistort. ’9 clothiers are obliged to inirchale it at a very great price, in order to enable them to nia- nufaLd;iirc fome of their cflimable articles. The great utility of fliecp to Great-Bntain may be feen by the following moderate cal- • eolation of hccce-wool annually produced by their growth. According to the calculation of Young, in h\^ Sv: months tour, there are ,.(. 66 , 53 2 packs of wool nianufaflurcd in Great-Britain and Ireland, and 285,000 packs exported unma- nufaftured. The value of which, eftimated at an average of £.■]. per pack, amounts to £. 5,260,724.. The quantity manufaclurcd is fuppofed to amount to the fum of ^'.T .2, 4.34,855, Jmnnally, which is circulated a- mongll induftrious artil’ans. As the whole value of Britifli manufadlure, at the above period of calculation, was faid net to exceed ;£.44, 350,529, this article alone maybccon- hdered as equal in value to one third of all the reft of their produce and mauufaeftures. Cut what evinces ftill more the value of ftcep to Great-Britain and her depcndcuclcs, is, that the wool affords employment to 1.576, 13.1., out of 4,250, 43 people, wiiich arc fuppofed to be the number of the labcriotis part. Broad-tailed fheep are found in Tr.rtary, Arabia, Perlia, Barbary, Syria and Isgypt. Such is the weight of wool on their tails, that Pennant fays, femg have been known to weigh fifty pounds; to prefi.: vc v, hicii from C 2 w 3 ° SfATURAL HISTORY. wet, dirt, or other injury, they are ufually fupported by a fmall board running upon wheels. Of the llieep kind, belide thefe, there are the Strepfichcros, found in Crete, and other iflands of the Archipelago, the Guinea fliccp, and the Moufflon. The GO A T, HIS animal differs moft; effentially from the flieep, in being covered with hair inftead of wool. Its chief delight is to climb the highefl and fleepefl precipices. They are neither terrified at ftorms, nor incommoded by rain. According to the climate, they will have fi’om two to five kids. Their milk is fweet, nutritive, and medicinal. The goat is found in every part of the world : every clime feems congenial with its nature : for v. hich reafon it may juftly be cal- led, a citizen of the world. Its age feldom exceeds ten or twelve years. 'I'he Ibex, or Stone-Goat, is faid to have horns two yards long, which inci'eale by knots annurdly. Of the fcveral diflinft fpecies of this animal, there are, the Goat of Angora, Syrian Goat, the fmall American Goat, Blue Goat, Juda and Siberian Goat, and the Greenland Goat, The latter of which has horns an ell long. NATURAL HISTORY. The CAMELOPARD. TP HE camelopard fomewhat refembles the deer in form, without its fymmetry. It has been found eighteen feet high, and ten from the ground to the top of the llioulder. The hinder parts are fo low, that, when Handing upright, it greatly refembles a dog lining. Neither the form nor the temper of this ani- mal adapts him for hoHility or defence ; he is therefore timorous and innoffenlive, and, notwithftanding its fize, will endeavour to avoid, rather than attack an enemy. It is chiefly a native of Ethiopia. The extiaor- dinary length of his fore-legs obliges him to divide them when he feeds on vegetables ; to avoid which trouble, he fubfills moftly on the leaves of trees. It is very rare in Eu- rope ; but in earlier times it was known to the Romans, as, among the colledfion of eaft- ern animals, made on the celebrated Pra;ne- ftine pavement, by the direction of Scylla, the camelopard is found. It was likewife exhibited by Julius Ccclar, in the Ciicean games. It was fuppolcd by the Greeks to be gene- rated between a camel and a leopard, fiom whence it derives its name. It is fo uncom- mon, that not above one or two have been feen in Europe for many hundred years. Some have necks fifteen teet long. When 4 they 3 ^ NATURAL HISTORY. they walk, they move both their fore-legs to- gether. The ANTELOPE, principally cliftinguiflied from the goat and deer, by having its horns annulatcd and twilled, bunches of hair on the fore-legs, the lower part being llreaked with black, red, or brown, and the infide of the ears having three white llreaks. The Antelope genei-ally inhabits the wai-m- ell climates, thole of America excepted. It is equally aflive and elegant, timid, lively, and vigilant. Like the hare, its hind-legs are longell. It has alfo cloven feet, and per- manent horns, like the dieep, which are fmall- er in the female than the male. The chafe of thefe animals is a favourite diverlion in the call. In flcctnefs they ex- ceed the greyhound, which frequently cauf- es the fportlincn to train a falcon to over- take them in the chale. Their fwiftnels, has afforded many beautiful limilies and allurions in the eaflcrn poetry. The eye of the ante- lope is fuppofed to be the moll beautiful of any animal in the world, blending brilliancy with mceknefs. Some of- this fpecics form themfelves into herds rrf two or three thou- fand, and generally feek their food in hilly countries. vScVcral fyllematic writers have # erroneoany KATURAL HISTORY. 33 crroneoufly ranked this animal among the goat kind ; for it forms an intermediate ge- nus between that fpecies and the deer ; the texture and peimianency of the horns agree- ing with the firft, while their fleetnefs and e- legance accord with the latter. There is another fpecies of this animal, called the R.oyal A-ntelope, or Little Guinea Deer, which is the leaft and moft beautiful of all the cloven-footed race. It is fcarcely nine inches high,' and the fmall part of its legs are little thicker than a goofe-quill. It is moft delicately lliaped, refembling that of a ftagin miniature, except that the horns of the male (for the female has none) are hollow and annulated, as in the Gazelle kind. It has broad earsi, -and Cv/o- canine teeth -in the upper jaw. The colour is as beautiful as the the fymmetry of this little animal, being of a fine gloffy yellow, except the neck and belly, which parts are perfectly white. It is a na- tive of Senegal, and fome parts of Africa. It is to active that, it will bound over a wall, twelve feet high. It is ealily tamed, when it becomes very entertaining and familiar, but of fo delicate a couftitution that it can bear none blit the hotteft climates. Of antelopes there are, befides thofe before deferibed, tlie following different fpecies: Common, Blue, Egyptian, Bezoar, Hanaffed, African, Indoftan, White-footed, Swift, Red, Striped, Chinefe, Scythian, Cervine, and Se- negal Antelope. ANIMALS 34 NATURAL HISTORY. ANIMALS of the DEER KIND. THOUGH the hull and flag do not rCf lemble each other in fliape and form, yet their internal ftriuHiure is very fimilar. All the internal difference between them is, that the deer has no gall-bladder, while the fpleen is proportionally larger, and the kidneys differ- ently formed. The firfl: animal of this fpecies that feems to claim our attention, is the Elk. The.EhK, pr FEMALE MOOSE. his aniqaal is a native of both the old and new continent. In Europe it is cailetl the ejk, and in America the moofe deer. It i.s .fometinies taken in the foi'clls of Germany and Ruflia ; but they are found in great num- bers in North America. Of the various ac- counts given of this animal, the following is eftcemed the moll: authentic. . A female Elk, only twelve months old, which was in the poffelfion of the late Mar- quis of Rockingham, meafured to the top of the withei'S fifteen hands; the length, from nofe to tail, was {even feet ; it had a fliort neck, with a thick ered tfiane, and the body wa.s KATURAL HISTORY. 35 was covered with hoary black hair. It was brought from America, and therefore called a moofe deer. As it was fo young, we may conclude, that, in its wild, and natural ftate, it grovfs to an amazing height. It is aflerted by Ibme, that in America it grows to the height of twelve feet. I'his animal is re- ported to be timorous, gentle, and innoflcn- five. It fwims and runs with incredible fwiftnefs. The elk delights in cold countries, where they feed on grafs in fummer, and on the bark of trees in winter. In fnowy wea- ther, they aflemble in herds, and feek the fir- torells, where they remain, while they can find the leafl fublifience from the liark of the trees. At this time they are mollly hunted by the natives of New-England, Nov-Scotia, and Canada, in America ; by the inhabitants of Lapland, Norway, Sweden, and RuHia in Europe ; and by the inhabitants of the north- eaft parts of Tartary and Siberia, in Alia. The chafe of thefe animals frequently continues two or three days. The flefh of the elk has an agreeable tahe, and is faid to be nourilhing. The flcin is fo llrong and thick, as to refill a mullcet ball. Its horns are ufed for the lame purpofcs as harts horns. They were formerly ufed'-in Sweden to draw fledges ; but criminals ffiequentl avail- ing till mlelves 6f their fwiftnefs, to efcape the purrtiit of jullice, the ufe of them was prohi- bited undeh very fev.ere penalties. The 3 ^ natural history. The R E I N-D E E R. T JL HIS Is the moil iifeful and extraordinary animal of all the deer kind. It is a native of the northern icy regions, and feems adapted by iiatur" to ferve that part of mankind who live near the pole. It inhabits further north- ward than any other hoofed animal ; for it is found in Spitvbergen and Greenland. But, in America, it is never iecn farther fouthward than Canada. In Europe, they are alfo found in Samoidea, Lapland, and Norway. In Afia, they are feen as far as Kamlchatka and Sibe- ria. This animal mofUy fuplics the wants of the Laplanders and Greenlanders ; ferving them as horics, to draw their fledges over the icy lakes and fnowy mountains, which they do with incredible rapidity. Like the cow, they yield all the commodities of milk, cheefe, and butter.; and as flieep tliey fiirnifli them with a warm, though homely clothing. The fielh ferves them for food, their tendons for bowftrings, and when Iplit, for thread. So that fi-om this quadruped alone, they derive as many allvantagcs as we do from feveral. The height of a full-grown rein-deer is about. .four feet fix inches. , T^jcrp cannot be ftronger proof of the difpenfation of di- vine providence, than in the food which is provided for this animal, when the Ihow- clad face of his country feems to threaten ' ' ' him NATURAL HISTORY. 37 with famine. When not a blade of verdure can be found, on heath, valley, or mountain ; trees, bounteoufly affording a black mofs, prove to him a moft ample fuftenance. In the prelervation of this animal, the Lap- landers themfelves are much interefted; as, independent of their laborious fervices, the flefh of the rein-deer, is alfo their princi- pal food. What a contraft do thefe northern coun- tries afford, when compared with thofe of our more clement and fertile climates ! The Laplander is obliged to depend on the rein- deer for food, clothing, and conveyance, while we have almofl the whole range of na- ture for our accommodation. Should not this advantage alone excite in us fuch a fenfe of fuperior happinefs, as to render us ever grateful to that Providence, wliofe diftin- guiflied bounties we enjoy ? 7he STAG. T A HE colour of this animal is generally of a reddifli brown, with fome black in the face, and a black lifl down the hinder part of the neck, and between the fhoulders. The flag is very delicate in his food ; and, during the Winter and fpring, feldom drinks. They go about eight months with young, but feldom produce more than one. They breed in May D when NATURAL HISTORY. 38 wlien they carefully conceal their young in the moft fecret thickets. This precaution is wifely clidtated to them, from their being cxpofed to fo many formidable enemies, fuch as the wolf, dog, eagle, falcon, ofprey, and all animals of the cat kind. But the flag himfelf is the greateft enemy to the young of his fpecies ; infomuch, that the hind, which is the female of the flag, ac- companies the faun during the fummcr, to preferve it from his depredations. Amongft all the enemies of this creature, Man feems to be the greateft ; for in every age, and e- very country, the human fpecies have taken delight in the chafe of it. Thofe who firft hunted it from necelTity, continued it after- wards both for health and amufement. Or;-; ginally, the beafts of chafe were the foie pof- feflbrs of Great-Britain ; they knew no other conftraint than the limits of the ocean, nor acknowledged any particular mafter. But, when the Saxons eftablifhed the heptarchy, they were referved by each fovereign for his own particular diverfion. In thofe unci- vilized ages, hunting and war were the only employments of the great ; for their aftive and uncultivated minds felt no pleafure but in rapine or violence. The other fpecies of this kind are, the ful- lo, ^'irginian, porcine, roebuck, Mexican, and grey deer. Stags arc ftill found wild in the highlands of Scotland, but their fize is fmaller than thofe KATURAL HISTORY. 39 thofe of England. They are likewife to be feen on the Moors bordering on Cornwall and Devonfhire ; and on the mountains of Kerry, in Ireland, where they greatly embellifli the pidlurefque, romantic, and magnificent fcenc- ry, of the lake of Killarny. riie F E M A L E T I B E T. T i HI S creature, which is the female of the mulk, gives name to the kingdom of Ti- bet, a province in China, where it is found, between the latitude of 4.(5 and 60 degrees, Thefe animals naturally inhabit the moun- tains that are covered with pines, delight in folitude, and avoid mankind: when purfu- ed, they afeend the higheft mountains, which are inaccelfible to men or dogs. It is very timid*, and has fuch a quick fenfe of hearing, as to difeover an enemy at a very great dif- tance. The celebrated drug, called Mujk, is produced from the male only, and is found in a bag about the fize of a hen’s egg, on the belly, which has two fmall crevices through which it palfes. ’Fliis drug, when firft preffed out of the bag, appears like a brown fat matter ; but it is greatly adulte- rated by the hunters and dealers, in order to increafe its weight. Thefe animals are fo numerous, as to have aftbrded Tavemkr 7673 mulk bags, in one journey which he matle, 4o NATURAL HISTORY. made, of only three years. Thole of Muf- covy are reckoned good, though thofe found in the kingdom of Tibet are moll valuable. The Ruffians and Tartars eat the flelh of the male, notwithllanding its llrong talle. Muflc was formerly in great efleem, as a per- fume ; but having been lince found of great utility in medicine, it is feldom ufcd for any thing elfe. This animal is likewife found in the Brazils, in India, and in Guinea. rhe DROMEDARY. HIS is the moll temperate of all animals; but this difpolition arifes more from neceffi- ty, than from choice or natural moderation. He is fo admirably formed to crofs the parch- ed deferts, that he will travel eight days without being thirlly. His hard hoors are particularly adapted to travel on the fands of his native wilds. They arc the moll ufeful beafts of burthen in Arabia, none other be- ing able to bear their loads, or endure the want of drink fo long ; to enable them to do which, nature has provided them with a fifth flomach, which ferves as a refervoir, from wlicnce they draw liifficient to quench their thirft. Camels have been fometimes killed, in hopes of finding water to Hake the parch- ing thirll of the traveller. They are chiefly employed NATURAL HISTORY. 41 in affifting the caravans; and as the defarts they crofs afford little more than the coarfcfl weeds, they prefer them to the chaicefl paf- ture. He lives forty or fifty years ; is about fix feet and a half high, and has callofities on each knee, which greatly eafe him when he kneels down to depofit, or take up his load. A large camel will carry 1 2 cwt. The difference between a camel and a dromedary is, that the former has two bunch- es on his back, the latter only one. There are alfo the Arabian camel, and the Llama camel of America. Camel-hair is imported in great quantities for the ufe of painting. D 2 42 NATURAL HISTORY. JNIMALS of the HOG KIND. Jn this kind, animals feem to unite in thofe differences which feparate others. They refemble the horfe kind in their long heads, fingle ftomachs, and the number of their teeth, which are forty-four. Their cloven feet, and the pofition of the inteftines, are fimilar to thofe of the cow kind. And, in their car- nivorous appetite, numerous progeny, and chewing the cud, they refemble the claw- footed kind. The HOG. ^ 1 ^ HE hog, in his natui'e, blends the rapa- cious with the peaceful kind ; for, though he is furnifhed with arms fufficient to terrify moft, as well as to put the braveft to defi- ance, he is inoffenfive to all. ’ He is the molt impure of all quadrupeds ; has a molt infatiatc appetite, and is of a very fluggifli difpofition. He may be compared to a mifer, who, while living is ufelefs and ra- pacious, but when dead is conlidered a public benefit, by difufing thofe riches he had not fpirit to enjoy when living. The bruta- lity of the hog is fuch, that they frequent- ly devour their own offspring ; and, con- trary to all other domelticated animals, when NATURAL HISTORY. 43 -when impelled by hunger, they will e- ven devour infants. It is faid to be more perfeft in the internal formation than any other domeftic animal. The thick- nels of his hide, and the coarfenefs of his hair, render him infenfible to blows. He is naturally ftupid, drowfy, and inadlive ; and, if undifturbed, will I'pend half his time in fleep, from which ftate he never roufes himfelf but to gratify his voracious appetite, which if fufficiently fated with food, would caufe his body to become too heavy for his legs to fupport ; it would ftill, however, continue feeding, either kneeling, or lying. A very remarkable inftance of the vora- cious difpofition of this animal, is at this time to be feen in London, in a Warwick- fliire hog, which, though but a little more than three years old, meafures nine feet ten inches in length, five feet ten inches round the neck, and eight feet five inches in girth. His weiglit is ten hundred, two quarters, and twenty -four pounds. His chief food is barley-meal and potatoes, which he eats while lying on his fide ; but what is more re- markable of this furprifing animal is, that he never drinks. The hog is reftlefs at every change of weather, and greatly agitated when the wdnd is high. He is fubjei«tle of earth, ftones, and fticks, and plaiftcred, with all the Ikill and excellence of the moft expert mafoii.. ■fivery houfe has two openings, one into the water, and the other towards' the land.— ^ Their height is about eight feet. From two to thirty beavers inhabit each dwelling ; and, in each pond', there are from ten to twenty- five houfes. They have each a bed of mol’s; and are fuch perfeft epicures, that they dai- ly rfgile on the choiceft plants and fruits, which the country affords. KATVIRAI. history.. n Thfs animal affords that celebrated refi- nous fubftance, Called Cafloreum, which is mixed moft fuccefsfully in feveral hyfteric and cephalic medicines. An Oil is likewife- extracted from it, called Oil of Caftor , which, while it remains, in its liquid, unftuous ftate,. is nfed for the cure of feveral diforders. The PO RCUPIlSrE, TT HIS animal is about two feet long, and' fifteen inches in height. The body is cover- ed with quills, from ten to fourteen inches long, and very fliarp at the points, growing- as feathers in birds. The head, belly, and. legs are covered with ftrong brillles; Its whifleers are long, and the ears like thofe of a man. When irritated, its quills ftand e- reft. The eyes are remarkably Imall, being only about a quarter of an inch wide. Like the hedge-hog, thefc quills aTe ra- ther for felf-defence than the purpofe of at- tacking an enemy. The idea, formerly en- tertained, that it darted its quills, is found to be erroneous ; they only fhed them when they moult; which, in Tome meafure, fhews .their alliance to the bird creation, though not deftined for flight, having neither wings n«r feathers. The quills, being found a fufiicient defence againlt the moft formidable - ■animals, (how how powerful the weakeft ' animals 8o kAtural his-tory. animals may be rendered, when under t!ie flcili and workmanfliip of infinite wil'dom.' A vv'olf, it is faid was once found dead, with fome of the quills of the porcupine flicking in his mouth ; no doubt but they mull have ftuck there when hunger induced him to the rafli attempt of devouring this felf-defendcd animal. The porcupine is generally defcribed to 1^ an inoll'enlive animal, living entirely on fruits, roots, and vegetables ; but fomc natu- ralills, particularly Dr. Goldfmith, affert, that they prey upon ferpents, with which they live in perpetual enmity. Their method of attacking them is laid to be, that the por- cupine rolls himfelf on them, wounding them with its quills, until they expire, when they are immediately devoured by the vidlor. It is an inhabitant of India, Perlia, Palef- tine, and every part of Africa. Although not originally a native of Europe, it is found wild in Italy ; in which place they have fmallcr crells, and fliorter qpiills, than thofe of Alia and Africa. In Rome, it is fold for food in the public markets. . 7 he 'S L O 1' II. T HERE arc two kinds of this- animall one of which has two claws, on each h ot, and NATURAL HISTORY. 8r and is without a tail ; the other, three claws on each foot, with a tail ; and are both de- fcribed under the common appellation of the floth. It is about the fiz.e of a badger, and has a coarfe fur, refembling dried grafs ; the tail is exceedingly fliort ; and the mouth extends from ear to ear. 'Fhe feet of this animal are fo obliquely placed, that the foies fearcedy ever touch the ground. The con- ftVuftion of its limbs is fo lingular, tliat it can move only at the rate of about three yards in an hour. Thus, unlefs impelled by hunger, it is fcldom induced to change its place. The floth inhabits many parts on the eaft- ern fide of South-America. It is t.he mean- eft, and molt ill-formed of animals. Leaves, and fruits of trees, are its chief food. It is a ruminating animal, for wdiich piirpofe na- ture has provided it with four ftomachs. Although it afeends a tree with great dif- ficulty. yet it cannot defeend w'ithout form- ing itfelf into a ball, and dropping from the branches to the ground, where the fliock •caufes it to remain for a conliderable time in a pcrfeift ftate of inaiftivity. To travel from one tree to another, at the diftance of one hundred yards, is, for this animal, a week’s journey. ■ Every elKirt which the floth makes to ttiove, appears fo painful and iliflicult, as to oaule it to utter the moft pitiful cry ; which is likewile wifely given it for its proteftion ; for, 82 WATU^IAL HISTORY'. for ^ing defencelels^ as well as incapable of flight, it could never efcape deftruftion, was it not that their cry is fo hideous, and la- mentable in its tone, as to caufe every bcall: to avoid the found. How ought we to admire the wildom and providence of the Almighty,, who, by the breath only of this dcfencelefs animal, has railed a bulwark for its proteftion ! Welhoulddo injuftice to the great Crea- tor of the Univerfe,^ who never created any thing in vain, could we fuppofe any animal was ever fo formed, as to be incapable of comfort; although the floth carries every appearance of mifery in its nature, there can- not be a doubt but it has latisfaftions peculi- arly -fuited to its ftation. 'The A R M A D I L L O. feemsto have referved all the" wonders of her .power for rhofe remote countries, where man is molt lavage, and quadrupeds the moll various. She Teems to become more wonderful, in proportion, the further llie retires from human inl^eftion. But this, in reality, only arifes from the at- tempts of man to rid tile country of fuch ftrange prodiuftituis, in proportion as he be- comes taore civiliacd. The- NATURAL HISTORT. 83 ' The armadillo, which is covered with fhclls, at the firfl; view, appears a round milhapen fnafs, with a longhead and fhort taih Its fiie is from one to three feet in length. Thefe Ihells which refemble a bony fubftance, co- ver the head, neck, fides, rump, and tail. This natural defenfive covering, being joint- ed, the creature has the power of moving beneath its armour, which -relembles a coat of mail. As thefe {hells are only fufHcient to defend the armadillo from a feeble enemy, and not equal to the refiflance of a powerful antago- nift, nature has furnifhed it with a method of enclofing its body within the covert of this armour. Thus, like the hedgehog and porcupine, it is fecured from danger, with- out having recourfe to flight or refiftance, and becomes invulnerable while in the midfl of danger. The H A R E. Sis timid and defencelcfs animal is a- -i- nother inftance of the bountiful care of Providence towards mankind. The hare not only fupplies us with a delicacy for our table, and a covering for our hands, (the fur being manufaitured into hats) but alfo affords us one of the moft wholefome of our rural di- veffions. k NATVRAL HTSTOHY. «4 It is an inhabitant of moft parts of Europe, Afia, Egypt, Barbary, Japan, Ceylon, anij North- America ; butthofe of Barbary, Spain, and Italy, are much fmaller than ours. In Wales and France they are generally larger, though not fo fine a flavour. This folitary animal has, independent of man, a hoft of enemies, both in tlife animal and feathered tribes. The fox, polecat, ftotc, and M^eafel, hunt them with Aich unremit- ing perfeverance, that, notwithftanding their fwiftnefs, it is with great difficulty they efcape their rapacious puiTuit. The wcaW will frequently faften upon the neck of a hare, while on her form, and hold there till it is quite dead, fucking its blood while run- ning. The kite, haw'k, owl, and many other , birds of prey, are very deftnidtive to young leverets. T'his pedecuted animal, however, like the rabbit, is fo prolific, as to afford a a plentiful fupply to thofe who proterfl it againft the unlawful and deftrudtive fnaresoi the poacher. The female goes thirty days with young, and brings forth from two to four at ,a time, with their eyes open ; flie breeds fix or 'fevcB times a year, and I'uckl^s her young for tv^cn- ty days, when her maternal cares ceafe. After this time they feed on grafs, roots, leaves, corn, plants, and the bai-k of young trees, to which they ai’e often very cleflriuffive in nur- feries and plantations. They breed whc" but a few months old. Thou^li NATURAL HISTORY. 85 Though the hare is reckoned the moft ti- morous of all animals in its wild Hate, it .will, if taken when young, become fo tame and familiar, as to deep with the grey-hound, terrier, or pointer ; of which the writer of this article has been an eye-witnefs. This folitary animal, although not polTeffed of the the wily fubtilty of the fox, difcovers a moft wonderful inftinft, which has been given it for its prefervation. The various ftratagems and doubles it makes, when hunted, to avoid death, would excite the furprife of every be- holder ; nor does it difplay lefs fagacity and cunning, in preventing the poacher from trac- ing it through the fnow, by taking the moft extraordinary leaps, to elude danger, before llie takes her form. The RABBIT and the MOLE. T X HE great fimilarity between the rabbit and the hare, leaves but little to be faid by die natural hiftorian, or the moralift, in its delcriptioii. Their figure, food, and natu- J'al properties, are nearly the fame. The hare feeks its fafety by flight, while the rab- 't runs to its fubterraneous burrow, w'hich nature has taught her to make with an inge- nuity, not to be excelled by the moft expe- j’lenced miner. Tlie fruitfulnefs of the rab- nit fo far exceeds that of the hare, that ac- H cording 86 NATURAL HISTORY. cording to Pliny aiul Strabo, they were fo great a nuifance in the Balearic Iflands, in the reign of Augulhis, they were under the necelFity of imploring the afliftance of a mi- litary force from the Romans to extirpate them. A Spanifli hillorian alfo fays, that, on the difeovery of a fmall ifland, which they named Puerto Santo, or Holy Haven, where they were faved from fliipwreck, they put a pair of rabbits on Ihore, which increafed fo much in the courfe of a few years, that they drove away the inhabitants, by deftroyiiig their corn and plants, who left them to enjoy the ifland without oppofition. rhe MOLE. A S if nature had meant that no part of the earth fhould be untenanted, fo the mole is formed in fuch a manner, as to live entirely underground. The fixe of this animal is be- tween that of the rat and the monfe, but without any refcmblance of either, being quite ditferent from any other of the four- footed race. It has a nofe like a hog, but longer in proportion ; inflead of ears, it has only two holes ; and its eyes are fo remarkably fmall that it is with the greateft difficulty they are difeovered. The moderns, as well as the ancients, univerfally of opinion that the mole was were NATURAL HISTORY. 87 was totally blind; but Dr. Deiham, by the means of a microfcope, difcovered all the parts of the eye known in other animals. A very fmall degree of villon being fuffi- cient for a creature dcflined to a fubterrane- ous abode, Providence has -vV^ilely formed them in this manner : for had they been larger, they would have been continually li- able to injury, by the earth falling into them ; to prevent which inconvenience, they are likewife covered with fur. Another wonderful contrivance, to be obferved in nature’s works, is, that this animal is fur- niflicd with a certain mufcle, by w'hich it can exert or draw back the eye, as necelTity re- quires. As a I'ccompence fer this detect in the op- tic nerves, the mole enjoys two other fenfes in the higheft perfedlion ; via. hearing and fmelling ; the firft of which gives it the moft early notice of danger, while the latter, al- though in tire midft of darknefs directs it to its food. The wants of a fubterraneous a- nimal being but few, lb thole of the mole are eafily luppHed ; worms and infedls, in- habiting their regions, being their only food. Although the mole is generally black, yet it is fometimes fpotted, and has alfo been found quite white. The fur is Ihort, and dole fet, and fmoother than tlie fineft vel- vet. The length, including the tail, which is about an inch, is feven inches. It breeds in 88 NATURAL HISTORY. in the fpTiiig, and generally brings forth four or fi.ve at a time. The JERBOA. TT HIS fingukr, and, we may fay, pretty little animal, is a native of Egypt, Barbary, Paleftine, and the deferts between Balfora, and Aleppo. It is about the fize of a large rat ; has dark and full eyes, long whilkers, broad ereft ears, and a head like a rabbit. The tail is about ten inches long, at the end of which is a tuft of black hair, tipped with white. The breaft and belly are of a whit- iHi colour ; but all the other part of the bo- dy is alh-colour at the bottom, and tawny at the ends. The fore legs are not above an inch in length, with five toes on each, which are all furniflied with fliarp claws ; but the hind legs which are two inches and a quarter in length, and covered with fiiort hair, exaiSlly refemble thofe of a bird, hav- ing but three toes, the middle of which is the longeft ; they are alfo armed with lharp claws. I’liis little animal is as Angular in its mo- tion as in its form ; always walking or Hand- ing on its hind legs, and ufing the forepaws as hands, like the fquirrel. It will jump fix or feven feet from the ground, when purfu- ed, and run fo remarkable fwift that few quadrupeds NATURAL HISTOR V. 89 quadrupeds can overtake it. It is a very in- oftenfivc creature, living entirely on vege- tables. It burrows in the ground, like rab- bits. In the year 1779, two of them, which were exhibited in London had nearly bur- rowed through the wall of the room in which they were kept. There is an animal of this fpecies in Sibe- ria, which is a more expert digger than the rabbit itfelf ; their burrows are fo numerous in fome places, as to be even dangerous to travellers. It is related of this latter, that they will cut grafs, and leave it in little heaps to dry ; which not only ferves them for food, but alfo makes their habitation warm and comfort- able for themfelves and their young during the winter feafon. There is alfo the torrid jerboa, fo called by Linnajus from its inhabiting the torrid Zone, which is about the liz.e of a common moufe ; and the Indian jei'boa ; a fpccimen of which was to be feen in the cabinet of the celebrat- ed Dr. Hunter. H 2 NATURAL T NATURAL HISTORY. PART II. BIRDS. THEIR GENERAL NATURE. HILE the forefts, the waters, and even vv the deaths of the earth, have their refpeftive inhabitants, the air, which in- cludes an immenfe fpace, too elevated for the power of man to explore, is traverfed by innumerable beings, of variegated beauty, called birds ; which, in order to facilitate their flight through thole expanfive regions, with a fwiftnefs to compenfate their want of ftrength, are formed on the following gene- ral principles. Form . — The body of a bird, is made lliarp in front, and, when on flight through its native element, it fwells gradually, until the toil is fully expanded, which, with the aid of 92 NATURAL "hlSTORY. of the wings, ferves it not only as a buoy, but alfo as a rudder to direft its flight. Plumage . — They are covered with fea- thers, moft admirably adapted to the air they inhabit, being compofed of a quill, containing a confiderable quantity of air, and a fliaft, edged on each fide with a moft volatile fub- ftance, which, with the concavity of tlie wings, renders the body confiderably lighter than the air ; and thus enables them to explore an immenfc fpace, denied to every other part of the creation. Sight . — To adapt the fight to the fwiftnefs of their motions, their eyes are not fo con- vex or prominent as in creatures confined to the earth; which not only prevents their being injured by the repulfive force of the air, in their rapid flights, but likewifc ren- ders them lefs liable to be touched with the points of thonis, fprays. See. in their pro- grefs among trees, bullies, and hedges.-— The film, or niftating membrane, with which they occalionally cover their eyes, without clofing the lids, clears and protefts them from the glare of fun-beams, as well as from the mills, fogs, and clouds, with which the air occafionally abouiKls, when forced to range for food or nefting. The power alfo of extending the optic nerve, gives fuch an acutenefs to their fight, that they can perceive objedls more diftindlly, and at a greater diftance, than any other crea-. ture. Hearing- NATURAL HISTORY. 93 Hearing . — They have the power of dif- tinguifliing founds, without any external ear, which would not only impede their flight, but render them liable to many injuries in darting through bulhes, briars. See. Smelling . — Their frent is fo very acute and extenfive, by which they are apprifed of the approach of their natural, as well as artificial enemies, that thofc who decoy ducks are obliged to keep a piece of burning turf in their mouths, to prevent being difeover- ed. Internal Strudure . — The bones, which are formed fufficiently ftrong to fupport the weight of the body, and the fyftem of its fiinftions, are fo light, as to be fcarcely any additional burthen to the flelh. All their in- ternal Ib-ufture is calculated to increafe the fnrface beyond the proportion of the folidity of their bodies. In older to render them lighter than the fame portion of air. The lungs and ends of the windpipe branches im- j bihe air into a number of bladder receptacles. I The crop, which is the repolitory for fuper- j fluous food, fupplies them in long flights, and other times of indifpenlible neceflity. Their food, being generally dry, hard, and crude, they have a giziai'd, which, with the help of fand, and other ftony particles they fwallow, aids them in digeftion. Moulting . — Although birds, from the fim- plicity of their ftrufture, habitation of the air, and perpetual exercife, are lefs lubjeft to 94 KATURAL HISTORY. to clifeafe than other creatures, yet they are liable to one to which no others are expoftcl; this is the ficknefs attending the annual reno- vation of their plumage, which is called their moulting time. Generation . — In the fpring, when naturf affords abundance of food, birds are ftimu- lated to pair, to increale their fpecies. Hav- ing chofen their mate for the enfuing year, they proceed to thole official cares which diftinguiffi the approach of being made pa- rents. With all the fondnefs of fuch expec- tations, they proceed to colleft materials for their nefts, which they build with the Ikill of the moll; expert architeft. They difco- ver fo much conltancy to each other, with fuch unabating care and affeftion in breed- ing and rearing their young, that they might be taken as examples by the human fpecies. Habitation. Birds are particularly at- tached to the place of their nativity. A rook, if undifturlred, will never quit its na- tive grove ; the blackbird and redbrealt are tenacious of their birth-rights; and many others, that are known to emigrate annually Irom this country, have been found, by fre- quent experiments, to return to their ufual breeding places. Migration — Is that paffage of birds from one climate to another, according as they are impelled by fear, hunger, or change of fea- fons. Many have been the conjeftures of naturalifts NATURAL HISTORY. 95 natnralifts and travellers refpefting this ex- traordinary condnft in particular birds. — Some have fuppofed that thofe which were not ftrong enough to fuftain a flight over ex- panding oceans, colle rican bittern, and the fmall bittern. rhe SPOON-BILL, or SHOVELLER, HO can behold this ftrange and fingnlar bird, without adoring the wifdom of the great Creator of the univerfe ! The bill of this bird alone, is a convincing proof of the great care of Providence to preferve his creatures. This bill is about eight inches long, and of equal breadth and flatnefs from one end to the other ; but, contrary to that of all other birds, inftead of being widefl: at the bale, and narroweft at the point, is exaft- ly the reverfe, fwelling'into a broad rounded end, like the bowl of a fpoon, from which it d',*rivcs its name. It is, however, not hol- low', NATURAL HISTORY. I 5 1 low, like a fpoon ; but whether clofed or open, it has a very lingular appearance. This bird is as white as fnow, and, from its cleanlinefs, looks wonderfully pretty. It is common in Europe, and frequents the wa- ters. The bill is moft peculiarly formed for the neceflities of this bird; as feeding principally on frogs, which, by their cunning and acti- vity, avoid the birds with pointed bills, the fpoonbill, by being notched and toothed all round, is better adapted, not only to take thefe animals, but allb to prevent their efcape after they are caught. The fpoonbill of America, is of a delight- ful rofe-colour, or beautiful crimibn. The FLAMINGO. HIS bird is another inllance of the care of the Creator, in providing for every crea ture according to their refpeftive necellities. Thus we fee the flamingo, which lives about the lliallow fhores of the fea, and the mouths of rivers, provided with a moft uncommon length of neck and legs; the latter of which are fo long, that when walking in the water, it appears as if fwimming ; and the head, which is almoft conftantly under water, in fearch of food, makes the bird feein no larger than a goofe, the body being then NATURAL HISTORY. ^^2 only perceptible. But how great is the aftonifliment of the fpedtator, when, on coming out of the water, it prcfents itfelf, in height of legs and neck, like an oftrich! Its height is not only fuperior to that of any other bird, but its beauty is fcarcely to be equalled. The body is fnowrwhite ; the wings are of fo bright a fcarlet, as to dazzle the light ; and the long feathers are of the deepell black : the beak is blue, except the tip, which is black, and fo lingular in lliape, as to appear broken : the legs and thighs, which are not much thicker than a man’s finger, are about two feet eight inches in length ; and the neck nearly three feet more ; the toes, are webbed, like thofe of the duck, which enables it to Iwim for the prefervation of its life, which would be otherwiie fome- times in danger, by the Hidden rife of v/incl and water, while Handing to a great depth in fcarch of prey, by carrying it out to fea, where it might perilh for want of fublilt- ence. A dilli of flamingo’s tongues, Dampier fays, is a fealt for an emperor. Flamingos always go in flocks, and are found in vaft numbers in Canada. Their nefts ai'e formed of mud, refcmbling very much our chimney pots.. When the female lays her egg.s, llie fits aflride the ncll, with her legs hanging in the water. “■ Thofe who admire,” fays a Icarn&d writer, “ the wonderful means, by whith NATURAL HISTORY. 153 “ the God of nature has contrived, that “ thofe animals, which he has endued with “ a lefl’er pidnciple than reafon, fliould pro- “ vide themfelvcs with food, and fecure “ their exigence, during a life in which “ they are liable to' innumerable accidents, “ would add a great deal to the meafure of “ their furprife, did they comprehend the “ variety of thofe means.” T'/ze AVOSETTA, or SCOOPER. HE avofetta is diftinguiflied from all other birds, by the bill, which turns up in- llead of down, being about three inches and a half in length, compreffed very thin, and of a flexible fubftanee, refcmbling whale- bone. The tongue is Ihort ; the head, and greateft part of the body, is black : the tail confifts of twelve white feathers ; the legs are very long, of fine blue, and featherlefs higher than the knee ; the webs areduflcy,and very deeply indented. Nature has fo peculiarly formed the bill of this bird, to enable it to fcoup out ot the fand the worms and infefts, on which it feeds. It lays but two eggs, which are about the fiLC of thole of the pigeon, of a white co- lour, tinged wfth green, and fpotted with blacL 'rhefe ^ 5 + NATURAL HISTORY. Thcfe birds are frequently fecn, in the winter, on the Eallern flioi'cs of England; in Cloiicefterndre, iho mouth of the Severn; and fonietimes on the lakes of Shropfhirc. They have a lively chirping note, and very frequently wade in the waters. The CURLEW., T Ml. his bird is, in length,, from the top oU the bill to the end of the claws., twenty- ' nine inches; and the breadth- between the extreme points of the wings, when extend- ed, is three feet four inches : the bill, which is nearly fix inches long, is narrow,, a little crooked, and of a dark brown colour ; the legs are long, bare; and of a dufty blue with a thick membrane meeting at the firfl joint,, and marked with irregular brown Ipots. This bird is of a greyifli colour, and the flefh very rank and fifiiy, notwithftanding the Englifli proverb in its favour. They fre- quent fea coafls in large flocks, in the win- ter time, walking on the fands, in fcarch of their prey, which confifts of crabs, and other marine infedts. In thefummer they retire to the moiintanous parts of the country, where they pair and breed. The lefier curlew, called .Itfo the winibrel, greatly refemblcs this bird; the chief differ- ence NATURAL HISTORY. ^ 55 dice being in the (izc, this weighing only twelve ounces, whereas the other weighs twenty-leven ounces. The WOODCOCK. HIS bird, which is fmaller than a par- tndge, is fourteen inches in length, twenty- fix inches broad, and about twelve ounces in weight. It has a ftraight bill, which is three inches long, the upper one falling a little over the under at the tip: it is of a dulky colour towards the end, and reddihi at the bafe; the forehead is alli-colour, and a black line extends from the bill to the eyes ; the head, neck, back, and coverts of the wings, are irregularly barred with red, black, grey, and alli-colour ; but, on the head, the black is moft predominant. 1 he eggs are long, of a pale red, with ipots and clouds of a deeper colom'. The llelh is reckoned a great delicacy. In the fummer, the inhabit the Alps of Norway, Sweden, and other northern parts of Europe ; but, when the troll commences, they retire to France, Germany, Italy, and 'Great-Britain- 0 / 156 NATURAL HISTORY. Of W ^‘T E R FO FF L in sreneral. T X HE principal cliftin NA'rUIVAL. • \>. - i natural history. INSECT S. THEIR GENERAL NATURE. D efinition. — infers are fmall anL- mals, breathing through vent-holes,, arranged along their Tides, and provided with a Ikin, of a bony nature. Their body is compofed. of a head, trunk, limbs, and abdomen. Form and ftriiCiure . — Not having occa- fion to fly far,, they are not made To fliarp. before as birds ; but their wings have fuffi- cientftrength and aftivity to conquer all the refinance they meet with, in their fiiort paf- fage through the air. Having neither bones,, fiefli, nor fkin, as in other animals, they are- c.overed with a curious coat of mail, which both guards and ftrengthens the body, whiles it renders, the inTeft more adapted to the pur- P 2. ■ poles ^74 NATURAL HISTORT. poles of feeking its food, and performing, every other fiinftion of its being. Eyes and anteune . — The eyes of the fly tribes are two little crefcents,'or immovable caps, around the head of the infett ; and con- tain a gi'Mt number of mimite eyefe, icrolTing each other in the form of lattice-work. Cu- rious obfervers relate that they have counted feveral thoufands in each combination. Le- wcnhock calculated aS many as 8000. The caufe of their eyes being fo numerous, is to fup- ply the defedt of vifion arifing from their eyes being immovable.. Thus infedrs have eyes ia every diredlion. How admirable muft their light be, which enables them to difeern ob- jedls, with their innumerable quantity of eyes, with as little confulion as ctirer ani- mals do with two !' Their antennse are fmall. horns proj^dling from their head, in fuch a manner as to preferve the fight of fo many fixed eyes from being injured- Motion . — The admirable mechanifm in thefe that creep, the curious oars of thofc that fwim, the incomparably formed feet of thofe that walk, the llrength and elaftic force of thofe that leap, and. the talons of thofe that dig,, afford the moft ample matter for contemplating the endlefs wifilom of the Creator. Each is particularly adapted to the kind of motion peculiar to the refpedtive in- fedl ; which is exemplified, in the grafshop- per, water-beetles, crickets, <&:c- To ren- der their progrels through the air as eafy as; joffihle^ KATURAL HISTORY. I75; poflible, infefts are provided with wings, formed of the lighteit membranes, and the fineft articulations. To poife the body, fome have four wings ; while fuch as have only two, have pointels, or poifes, under each wing. Parts . — Infedts are compofed of joints^ mtifcles, tendons, arul nerves, ; with eyes,, brain, ftomach, entrails ; and with every other part of an animal body.. How is the mind abforbed in wonder, when it confiders. that t!»e fmalleft animalcula, which the mi- crofeope can only render vifible, is polTefled of all the above related parts ! May we not, therefore, fay with Galen, when fuch exqui- fite workmanfliip appears in the minuteft in- feft, what mull be the wilclom employed by the Almighty in forming the more noble parts of the creation ? Sagacity . — Whether by inllindl, or adlu- al lagacity, infedls are fccured'againll winter, our admiration is equally raifecL When cold and wet oblige them to retii-e, fome en- tomb themlelves, as in their Aureila, or chryfall’s date; others provide themfelves. in fummer with fuflicient pro.vi{ions for their winter ful>rillence ; and fome of the infedl tribe exifl in a llei;ping Hate, without chang- ing their nature, or being under the aecelii- ty of requiring that food which is denied them by the chan^je of feafon. This caufed Solomon inod wifely to fay, Go to the- ant^ thou fluggan^l, coulkler her ways and tc 176 NATURAL HISTORT. be wife ; which having no guide, overfeers. or ruler, provideth her meat in the fummer, and gathereth her food in the harveft.” Care of iheir young. — Infedbs, with the greateft care and afteftion, carry their young in their mouths, which is particularly ob- ferved in the ant tribe. Bait their care, in general, deferves the greateft admiration.. They depofit their eggs in fuch places as fe- cure,. produce, and fubfift their offspring.. According to the fpecies, their eggs are laid in waters, on woods,, or on vegetables, where the young find a fubfiftence agreeable to their nature.. Particular woods, herbs and plants, are chofen by the parent infedl: to fofter their future offspring.. Thus nettles,, ragwort, cabbage -leaves, oak-leaves, currant and goofeberry bullies. See. have their pe- culiar infefts.. Some, whofe eggs require more warmth, depofit them in the hair of animals, the feathers of birds, and even in the fcales of fifties.. Others make their nefts by perforating earth and; wood, where they depofit their eggs with fuch neatnefs as to gratify the moft curious obferver. And to. prevent their eggs being injured, they inclofc them in. the leaves of vegetables, curioufty, glued together. Food . — Every fpecies of infeft has a food peculiar to itfelf. Caterpillars, for inftance are not only limited to herbage, but, like- wife, to a peculiar kind. Sooner than difo- bey this ordinance of Nature, they will perifti. with NATURAL HISTORY. 177 with hunger, unlefs they meet with a plant liniilar to that to which they are attached. To this general rule, we admit there are foine few exceptions in caterpillars that will fubfift on any vegetable. This feems to be wifely regulated, in order to prevent the moft ufeful parts of vegetation being deftroy- ed by caterpillars feeding, for inftancc, on apple-trees only. Ufe . — Let no i>erfon confider the infedt part of the creation, as only worthy to be- cruflied to death by the foot, or to be made the cruel fport of thoughtlefs childhood : for, in the words of the ingenious and im- mortal Shakefpear, “ The poor beetle, “ cruflied beneath the foot, feels a pang as “ great as when a monarch falls.” Surely their weaknefs ought to be their fureft pro- tedtion againftfuch treatment. But, when it is confidered that we derive the greateft eni- belUlhments, and medicinal aids, from their virtue, felf-intercft, if not gratitude, fliould proteft- their defcncelefs lives from being dc- ftroyed by man. 'Lo them we are indebted for our filk, honey, cochineal, and feve- ral medicines that are indil'penlibly necef- fary to prelerve our lives from being the prey of maladies that might otherwile prove incurable. Added to this caterpillars are indlfpenfible food lor birds, in their infancy, which have then their cries heard and re- lieved by the Creator, producing this fubfift- ence, fo admirably adapted to their tender textitre. NATURAL HISTORY. I7S texture. But fometimes it muft be allowed, that the Almighty puniflies the ingratitude of man, by fending holls of flies, locufls, and caterpillars, in array againll him. This flionld teach us not to defpife even a worm, which has been fo frequently rendered one of our moft powerful and dreadful enemies. Let us not think ourfelves rich, great or in- dependent, while the Almighty can punirti our prefumption withfo inconfiderable an in- ftrnment. Tombs — The caterpillar, fatiatcd with verdure, retires voluntarily from life, and feeks the grave. Previous to tlieir retreat, they change their Ikins, ceafe to feed, while they build themfelves a tomb, or lepulchre. A few days conduct fome of them into a new ftate, of fuperior exiftence. Inftead of crawl- ing the earth, they wing the air. The in- termediate ftate between the worm and the fly, and which is fo ftriking a pidlure of dif- folution, . is called the cryfallis ftate. "What appears the tomb of the worm, is the embryo of the butterfly ; which, here acquiring a perfeift form, burft the barriers of the grave,, and fjieeds its flight into another world of enjoyment. What a contrail; of being is there between its laft and former ftate ! The caterpillar is terreftrial, and crawls heavily along the ground. The butterfly is agility itlelf, and leems almoft to dildain repoling on the earth, from whence it derived its being.. The firft is lhaggy and of hideous afpeft ; the- latter NATURAL HISTORY. 179 latter is arranged in the greateft fplendor and beauty of glowing colours. The former was obliged to a grofs food ; but this imbibes the eflence of flowers, regales on dews and honey ; and perpetually varies its pleafure, in the full enjoyment of nature, which it moll delightfully embelliflics. A colleftion of thefe beautiful and varie- gated infedts is a Iplendid fpedlacle, where the richell and moll diTerfified colours de- light and allonilh the eye with their fliade and difpolition. The light alone enraptures. But^ what a fublimity of refledlion they af- ford to the contemplater of nature ! The period of the caterpillar’s reptile exillence being accompliflied, it entombs itfelf, for the pnrpole of riling again a fuperior being. The chryfallis is, at once, the tomb of the caterpillar, and the cradle of the butterfly. Under a traniparent veil, this miracle of na- ture is cft'edlcd ; from whence, like the fons of man riling from the tomb -at the day of refurre£lion, the butterfly breaks tlic barrier of its grave, and wafts itfelf into the air of heaven. Here it enjoys the efladgence of light and refpires the brceie, embalmed with the fwcets of nature. Succefslul in his ri- fling every ne£larous flower, his rell is the harbinger of enjoyment. His airy wings convey him from pleafure to pleafure, while they captivate man with their beauteous and Variegated fplcndour. And in this revelling from eflence to elTcnce, he is not to be caught l8o NATURAL HISTORY.' but by a fmall net of gauze, or filk, upon i wire, placed at the end of a light wooden handle. 'What a feene of wonders does not the but- terfly difplay ! Its eyes of net work ; its wings befpriiikled with a farinacious dull, of which every grain is a tile laid over a ve- ry fine net of gauze ; and the infinite variety of form, colour, richnefs, and beauty, of its embellifliments. Tender it fo wonderful, that the ladies of China are faid to fpend their whole lives in the ftudy of this incom- rable infe£t. They inclofe, in a box filled with fmall flicks, a number of caterpillers, ready to fpin their bag ; and when they hear the fluttering of the butterflies wings, they releafe them into a glazed apartment, filled with flowers. In order to give our young readers as clear an idea of infedls, in their worm and cater- piller flate, as the limits of our plan will allow, we have felcdled fix as the moll beautiful and curious we could find, in Dr. Lifter’s Latin treatife on this part of a- nimal nature. NATURAL HISTORY. l3l r/6f AMERICAN EMPEROR. TT HE ingenious Mr. Lifter fays, that, af- ter he had fupplied this caterpillar with vari- ous kinds of herbs, which it was tired of eating, he has placed before it feme nettles ; fuppofing it might be pleafed with a difterent kind of food. He faw, with great admira- tion, that the inleft became fo joyous as to feem, by its motion, to congratulate itfelf on fueh a repaft being fet before it. But, inch was the avidity vdth which the nettle - were eaten, that not any remained of them in a very Ihort time. Having thus nourilhed it- felt for a few days, it began in Oftober to prepare for transformation. Being then put under a glafs, the inleft affifted itielf to the centre, and thus hung lufpended. Idaving attained the ftate of transformation, it fo ftrongly moved itfelf, and ftrucit the giafs with fuch force, as even to caufe the vibration of the noife to laft while forty was counted. On the 12th of December, the fanre authen ohferves, that a perfeft infeft v/as produced, which was exceedingly beaurii'ul, and re- fembled in variety of colours the Peacock. It lived forty days; in which time he 'fays that he knew not any food on w Inch it fub- filtcd. Ihe NATURAL HISTORY. 1S2 The GREEN MARBLED BUTTERVLY. HEN the coleworts and cauliflowers begin to heart, the perfeft infeft of this ca- terpillar is chiefly found depofiring her eggs upon the leaves. The heat of the fun foon vivifies the eggs, and brings forth the faid ca- terpillars, which immediately begin to con- iume the vegetables above mentioned. They bear the heat of the fun very eafily : but they cannot endure long rains, and frequent fliowers ; for in fuch weather they walte fo fall a«, in a very fliort time, to have no more remaining of their being, but the Ikin. — 'i'his worm begins to purge itfelf and pre- pare for its transformation, about the 3d of Augull ; and on the feventeenth of the fame month the butterfly is produced. 1 his per- fect infed is very inadive, and flow in its motion. It however generally exifts during the winter : and fometimes it has been found alive when the fpring has been far advanced. The YELLOW UNDER-WINGED MOTH. r-y \ I HIS kind of infed is of all the mofl; dif- ficult to be obtained. Lifter fought in vain, a conliderable time, to find in what place and manner NATURAL HISTORY. 183 manner it depofited the eggs. After many trials and enquiries, he placed one upon a leaf, which he had no fcjpner done, than it began to cover itfelf with a woolly fubflancc, feemingly as a prefervation againft wet rT cold. The leaf, being in a little time open- ed, he found a green feed ; and he found that the infeft fed on goofeberry-leaves, or curling vines ; and alfo the leaves of white, black, and red currants. It began about the end of June to prepare for its llate of tranf- forination, in which it remained until the 13th of July, when a butterfly, fpotted with black and white, fprung forth, to enjoy its new ftate of perfetl being. Y/hen touched, or fuffered to fall, it remained lb nioiionlels as to appear entirely dead. 7 he NUT-TREE MOTH, T^HISworm, or caterpillar, delights in rofe-leaves ; but they are not fo ravenous as others : for they have long intervals between their meals. They feldom change their leaf until it is entirely confumed. 'I'heir colour is very elegant. The upper part of the bo- dy is of a beautiful yellow. But they are not fo beautiful after, as before feeding ; for their flcin is fo thin as to be tinged by the colour of whatever food they eat. Before it difpofes itfelf for transformation, the body alfumei NATURAL HISTORY. J 84 afTumes a red colour. This infeft was found to conunence its aurelian date about the be- ginning of June ; and on the 5th of Decem- ber a perfecf infedt was brought forth. The TIGER MOTH. ^ HESE caterpillars feed on the leaves of red rofes, and red goofeberry-buflies. Some have their feet in the middle of their body, and others at the extremities. When they change, place from one fituation to another, they afcend by attaching themfelves to tJie liough, with their feet, by which they raife the body like a ferpent, and thus gain their (lefired hluation. 'i hey hold themfelves fo fall by their feet that they can fcarcely be taken from the part to which they adhere. They prepare for transforniation by cleaning their bodies ; which being done, they commence their chryfalid flate about the firlt of April, and on the 24th of July the perfedl infctl is produced. NATURAL HISTORY. X85 The P II O B E R A N. ms caterpillar is found near a village called Groed, in Flanders. It is generally I'een fitting on a branch of willow. It feeds on the leaves of the fame tree. It eats very leifurely. The hinder part of the body re- fembles the beard, face, and head of a goat. When you take it, it ftrikes' as if in the greateft anger. It has two hooks on the back, with which it guards and preierves it- felf from the attacks of other creatures. It is therefore called by Liller, the phoberan. When it eats, the head appears tied to the body, with a flight thread, or filament, not unlike the joining of the head and body of a fpider. On the fir ft of September, it refigns itfelf to its approaching transformation. I'v. cn- ty-two days after, appears a beautiful butter- fly, dillinguiflied for its beauty and variety ofcolours. Before the perfeft infeef, it dc- pofits its eggs, which are coloured with dif- ferent green hues. Q i ■SliRI- i86 NATURAL HISTORY. SERICARIA. 7}3e SILKWORM. ITMOUT entering into the defcripti- nn of a iiaturalift ot this worm, we fhall con- fine ourfelves to that which we think will be more ufeful, pleafing, and interefiing. It being more an objeft of univerlal fervice, than offingular beauty, induces us to prefer giving an account of its utility, than any elaborate account of its figure or colour. Where thefe worms are bred, they no fooner leave the eggs than they are fed with mulberry-letives, with which they are fup- plieU every morning, when the old leaves are carefully removed. This infedf, when firfl produced, is extremely fmall, and en- tirely black. In a few days it affumes a new' habit; which is white, tinged with the co- lour of its food. And before it goes into its chryfalid (late, it affumes two other (irelTes. At this time, it appears difgulled with the world, and voluntarily retires to its folitary grave, which is mod; admirably formed with its thread. How wonderful mud be the Ilrutdure of its body, to furnifh fuch a thread ; and how aftonilhing the in- Ilinft which teaches it to make, of this felf- p^roduced material, its own tomb ! And how' mud it diminifli the pride of man, to conlider that he is indebted, for his mod; gaudy array, to a fubdance, of which a worm NATURAL HISTORY. 187 worm forms its fepulchre ! Refleft on this, ve potentates of the earth ; and acknow- ledge, with humble gratitude, your debt to the filkworm ; and divert: yourfelves of the vain arrogance you affume when arrayed in the robes of majefly ! When the cryfalid ftate begins, the infecl proceeds to fpin its filk, in whicli it is buried, l.ike the pierced iron plates of a wire-draw- er, this worm produces the thread through a pair of holes in an inrtrument placed under its mouth. Two drops of gum ferve it as dirtaffs, fupplyingthe fubrtance of which fhe fpins the thread ; for the gum is no fooner in the air, than it lofes its Iluidity, and changes to the filk, in the due fize of which the worm is never deceived. She always pro- portions her thread to the weight of her bo- dy. 'I'he cone of filk being formed, and o- pened, is found to confiit of the worm, changed to a nymph, and buried in its cen- tre, or down or flue, which is the bad part of the filk, and the perfeft part, all ranged with great compadnefs and propriety. It may be a matter of wonder how fo fmall a moth as this little w'orm mufl necelfarlly pro- duce, flrould be able toburfl the million fold barriers of her place of regeneration. 'i he fame omnifeient being who taught it how to ereft this place ci'roll, taught it, at the fame, time, to find an eafy accefs to her aerial exifleiice. The new .uiiinal, with its horns, bead, and leet, directs its efl'orts to that i88 NATURAI, HISTORY. that end of the cone it has left purpofely light enough to admit its pafl'age to another world of enjoyment. By calculation, one of thefe worms will produce between nine hundred and a thou- fand feet of filk at one fpinning : and fo thin and light is its texture, that the whole weighs no more than 21-2 grains. And as they were particularly formed to furnini mankind with a fubltance for drefs, that might render us more agreeable to each other, and thus inhance the few pleafures of our exigence, nature has caufed one fly to lay as many as 500 eggs. How grateful, then, we ought to be to the Creator, who thus forms, yearly, fuch an infinity of thefe manufatturers of the moft agreeable and beautiful fubflance the world affords, for our array and enibelliflmient ! By this worm, grandeur is more ennobled, and even royalty itfelf is rendered more majeftic. NATURAL HISTORY. 189 THE FIRST ORDER. InfelJj lu'uh crujlaceous elytra covering the 'unngs. Genus I. SCARABiEUS The BEETLE. infers having wings covered with the elytra, or cafes of the wings, were ufu- ally called in Latin, Scarabteus ; until Lin- nteus difcriniinated them, and conhned the term to particular beetles, diftinguilhed by the horns on theii head, and thorax or bread. SCARABiEUS ALTRATUS j The GOLDEN BEETLE. .a. HE larva, or grub, of this infect, in- jures the roots of trees and plants. 1 he beetle i 5 found upon flowers, and particular- ly upon the rofe and piony. 'I’he whole is a hurniflied green, and tinged with red, fo as to refemble the fined poliflied copper. 1 he elytra are adorned with a few tranfverfal fpots, NATURAL HISTORY. 190 fpots, which add to the other embellifhments of its brilliant colouring. Such is its ama- zing fplendor, that it rivals the emerald, and is, therefore, admired as the moll beautiful infefl produced in England. We avoid defcribing the cockchafer, which, being fo well known, only requires us juft to mention, that all its varieties de- pend on its mode of life ; and its colours, on its fex, age, health, ficknefs, &c. Genus II. LUCANU3 The STAG BEETLE. HE ftag beetle is the largeft, and mod fiugularin its lhape, of any in this country. It is known by two maxillte, projedling from its head, and refembling the horns of a flag. Theie maxillae are furniftied wdth teeth, from their root to their point. '1 he elytra have neither ftreaks or fpots. The whole infeft is of a deep brown. It is fometimes found in' oaks, near London, where it is much fmaller than thofe of the fame fpccies found in woody countries. As their horns pinch feverely, they are carefully to be avoided. The greateft beauty they pofl'efs is their maxillte, or jaws, fometimes appearing like coral. The NATURAL HISTORY. I 91 The lucani feed on the oozings from oaks. Where the females depofit their eggs. The larvte, or grubs, lodge under the back, or in the hollow of old trees ; which they bite, and reduce to fine powder. Here they tranf- form themfelves into chryfalids. The ufe of their porrefted maxillae, or jaws, is to loofen the bark to which they af- fix themfelves, -while they fuck the juices oozing from the tree. GfNUS III. D E R M E S T 1 D E S. CharaSlenJl'ics. ' HE antennae, or horns, end in a head of an oval form ; the thorax, or brealt, is of a convex form ; and the head is fo bent as to lie almolt concealed under the thorax. DERMESTIS VIOLACEUS. VIOLET BEETLE. Ills infect is exceedingly beautiful, and IS much fmaller than, though nearly refem- l>ling, the Itag beetle. The elytra are of a ‘Icep violet ; the thorax, or breaft, is cover- ed 192 NATURAL HISTORY. ed with green hairs, and the legs are black. Ihe whole creature, glittering with its bril- liancy, charms its oblerver. 'Ihe larva and the perfe£t infeft being found in dead bodies, evince that the Creator has power to produce the molt beautiful effeffs from the mod; difa- greeable of mediums. How different is this from human ability ! With the choiceft of nature’s produftions combined to almofl in- finity, man is not able to imitate the Iplcn- dor of this infecl, which is produced by the Almightv, from a dead and putrid body. Genus VII. BYRRHUS SCHROPHULARIiE. The NETTLE BEETLE. HIS infeft is found moftly in flowers. — Its oval body is black, except where the un- derpart of the abdomen appears white, from the multitude of minute Icales with which this part is covered. The elytra not on- ly inclofe the wings, but the fides and under part of the body. Thele elytra arc black, with white and red fcales, relembling embroidery. This fpecies is found in gar- dens. If rubbed, the fmall fcalet fall, sn’-d caule the infed to appear entirely black. Genus NATURAL HISTORY. 1 93 Genus X. COCCINELLA. HIS genus comprehends thofe fmall bee- tles which have red and yellow grounds, fpotted with black ; and are known even by children, who call them lady-birds. Of all the different larvae of the coccinel- la, the moft curious is that which, from its tufts of hair, and fmgularity of figure, Mr. Reaumur calls the white hedge hog. It feeds on the leaves of trees; and having ex- ifted a fortnight in its vermicular ftate, it turns to a chryfallis, without di veiling itielf of its fur ; and, three weeks after, it takes flight from its tomb, as a perfeft coccinclla. When firft produced, the colours of the elytra are nearly white ; but, in a little time, they change to that lively brilliancy for which they are fo juftly admired.- Their eggs are oblong, and of an amber colour. This beautiful little infedl is frequently found on thillles. 194 NATURAL HISTORY. Genus XI. C H II Y S O M E L A. CharaClcr. T A HE chryfomela have their antennx, or feelers, fliaped like bead-necklaces. 'riiis genus contains a great variety of beautiful infefts differing in file, colour, and abode. They are found amofl every where, in woods, gardens, dec. When caught, they emit a difagrecable fmclling liquor. C H H Y S O M E L A G 11 A MINI S. 7hc GRASS CIIRYSOMELA. T' jL his beautiful inicifl, like moft of the jrcuus, has an oval and very convex form. The colour is a line glofly green, fomewhat tinged whh 'blue ; which affords a moft charming reflcft. 'rhe eyes are yellovt', and the thorax and elytra are fnotted. It is found in the meadows, in May and June, upon water-betony, dead-nettle, mint, and other labiated plants. By fbme it is called the blue-green chryfonxla. 1 * NATURAL H'lSTORY. igg The;g]ittcring coloirrs with which fcveral fpecics -of this .genps, are embelliflied, dif- playing' the fplendor of gold and copper, have conferred on them the pompons name .of chryfomeJa. Ths. JarvK pj'ey uppn the fiibdanccs of leaves, without touching the fibres. The leaping chryfomcla infeft the tender leaves of plants ; which fliould be carefully guarded frem their depredations. Genus XII. ^ HE antennae grew gradually larger from each extremity to the middle, and are fitn- ated between the eyes. The breaft anti wing-cafes, are covered. Protuberant fpihcs. HISPA ATRA. rAc BLACK HISPA. ^ 1 HIS pretty, fingular infect, is of a deep poliflied black. The upper part of his bo- dy is clothed entirely with long and ftrong briftlcs, like the fliell of -a chefnut, or ra- ther in the manner of a hedge-heg. The cafe of the horns has even a thorn at its end, to guard the infedt from injury'. I'he brcall has a row fet tranfverfely, which are forked. And the elytra, or wing cafes, are covered with a great number that are lingle. Th.e points 19^ NATURAL HISTORY. points of all are firm and piercing. This iu- ieft Was found bv Barbut, in the month of July, at the root of fome long grafs, in a field near Paddington. This flying hedge-hog, if we may be allowed the term, is difficult to be taken. It bears its antenuK ere£t before it, as guardians of its progrefs through the serial clement. i I ! Genus . XVI. CERAMBYX MOSCHATUS. The NUTMEG CERAMBYX. /T' HE body of this infeiH: is entirely green, tinged with blue and gold colour, which ren- ders it moft delightfully refplendent. It is fometimes found compofed entirely of blue and gold. The elytra are long, foft and flexible, and finely fliagreened. This beau- tiful creature is found upon the willow, which it perfumes with an odour like that of a rofe, fo as to fcent a whole meadow. — Thus, we perceive, tliat nature bellows on this infedt the mod grateful odour, to fupply the want of thofe delightful fcents of which meadows are deprived by the field flowers being fhorn by the fey the of the mower ; fot it is obferved, this charming cerambyx is produced in its perfedl Hate about the general time NATURAL HISTORY. time of making hay. What care does Pro- vidence take to accommodate man with a never-ceafing variety of delights, adapted to charm every fenfe ! Genus XVII. L E P T U R A. Character. ^3? HEIR antenn® are fetaceous or briftly ; the elytra diminifli in breadth towards the extremity ; and the thorax is round and flen-' der.- L E P T U R A A R C U A T A. 7/2e RAIN-BOW LEPTURA, ARIES in refpeft to fi'ie, and is of a deep black ground,, refembling velvet. The antennae are of R bright yellow, and nearly as long as the body. The elytra are adorn- cd with high flame- coloured crofs bars, which are formed by a down of a irroft re*- fulgent golden yellow. Viewed through the inicrofcop'e, it appears like velvet inlaid with topa'ics i and, when alTilled wUh the I'olar R 2 rays 198 NATCRAL HISTORY. rays, nothing can excel its infinity of fplen- dor. This moft wonderful infedl for beau- ty is the poor tenant of a decayed ti-ee, on which it may be frequently found, efpecially on an alder. The larvse are found with thofe of the preceding genus, which they greatly refem- ble in appearance and mode of cxiftence. CASSIDA, The SHIELD BEETLE. TH HIS genus, which Barbut ranks under the ninth clafs, is thus named, from concealr Ing its head under the margins of the thorax, as if it were defended with a helmet. Many of this fpecics are found in foreign coun- tries. Their larvae form for themfelves a kind of umbrella, which flielters them from the fun and rain., Thcfe infefts inhabit thif-- ties and knotty plants. One fpecies of them produce a chryfallis, refembling an armorial cfcutcheon* This brings forth- that fingular caffida, which is fo dilUnguiflied for its va- riegated beauties. Many are found upon the wild elec3pipanc, growing on the fide of ponds. Gknus NATURAL HISTORY. 199^ Genus XIX. L A M P Y R I S. Chara(Ter. HESE infefts.are chiefly chftinguiflicd by their emitting a light in the dark ; and are, dicrefore, called fire-flies. The females are apterous or without wings.. LAMPYRIS NOCTILUGA. The G L O VV - W O R M.. (Contrary to the general order of na- ture, the male of this infect is lefs than tlu- fcmale. But the greateft difference between the fexes is, the male being covered witl ^ brown elytra, fliagreened and marked witP two lines longitudinally: The two lafl ring of the abdomen are not fo bright as thofe < ' the female,, but they have four Itiminot, points. The gIow-»worm, which is frequently fee ■ in woods and meadows at night in June, the female.. The fliining light it emits di itefts the male to his- tender partner, which twt being able to fly, is thus moft wonde: , fully aoQ NATCTKAL HISTORY. fully provided by Providence w^ith a felf-pof- fefllng ray, in the fun’s abfence, to fliew its mate the fpot where it is anxioufly waiting its company. Thus are the banks and hedg- es adorned with their little illuminations, while the nightly traveller is charmed witk their beauteous fplendor. Their luminous power depends on a liquor placed at the lower extremity of the infeft, which by fusion renders it more fliining, or by dilating or contracting itfelf withdraws or emits it at pleafure. That the light is caufed by a fpecies of phofphorus, is evident, from the animal, when ci'ullied, leaving up- on the hand a luminous matter, which conti- nues itsluftre until it isdried. The perfect infeCt flies in autumn even- ings, and frequents plantations of juniper- trees. The F I R E - F L Y of ike Eafi- Indies.. ^ i ^ HIS fly is about an inch long, and an inch- broad. Their head is brown, and has two- fmall horns, or feelers. They have four wings. On their backs, they have a black bag, containing a luminous liibllance, which is concealed by their wings, unlefs. expanded during tlieir flight. In rainy fcalbns,, they fwann among; trees, and feect npon their bLolToiivt. Of thefe flies„ there are feveraf i'pecici NATURAL HISTORY. 201 fpecies in the Eaft-Inclies. Being deftinecl, ftemingly to roam by night, in order to avoid the exceffive heat of the fun by day in thofe fnitry climates, how providentially Na- ture has accommodated them with a fub- ftance that renders their aerial courfe percep- tible to each other ! But when they alight, and fwarm upon trees, their luminous fub- llance, being no longer uleful, is concealed and preferved by their clofed wings. LAMPYRIS NOCTILUCA of Martinico. The FIRE-FLY of Martinico. T HIS fly, according to the Pere de Ter- tre, is lefs than the common fly. They emit a fparkling golden light, which is ex- tremely agreeable. But the infedt w ithdraws, and lets it fliine at intervals, alternately, throughout the night. This effulgence^ is contained in a whitifh fubftance, of which the infeft is fo full, as to make it appear thi'ough the crevices of its fkin at its plea- fure. Thefe different fire-flies feem deftined by Nature not only to chear the bofom of dark- fome night, but to guide the wandering fa- Vage through the pathlefs wood, or defart wild. Indeed by their light, he may lay more fecret fna.rcs for his fhaggy prey on tha moun tiau NATURAL HISTORY. 2\>2 mountain, or his finny prey in the deep, than he could by the prefence of the fun.-~ Thus, being deprived of that artificial light which he can only polTcfs from civili7,ation. Nature has fortunately created thefe admirable infcdls for his convenience. Genus XX. C A N T H A R I S. Charaiier. TP heir horns or feelers are briftly ; their breaft is margined ; and their elytra, of wing-cafes, are flexible. They are com- monly called Spanifli flics; but this is erro- neous, as they are a diflind genus from the cantharidcs. GANT HARIS LIVID A. The LEAD-COLOURED CANTHARIS. ^JL^HIS infcdl varies in the colour of the c- lytra ; but this difference only arifes from the difference of fcx. ^'heir horns ai e all black, except the articulation near the bale, which are yellow. They have black eyes; and r N A-T‘UR AL HISTORY. 203 and the head, in both fexes, is a yellowiftt red. 'rhe wing cafes aj'C filky. flexible, and appear as if fbrewed with filvcr-dnfl, when viewed by a magnifying-glafs. 'rhe abdo- men, or belly of this fly, is black ; except the lafl rings, which are yellow. It is found upon a flower. CANTHAKIS PECTINICOMIS. rhe COMB-HORNED CAN'EHARIS. ''X' he antennx, or feelers of this fly, are black, combed, and as long as the, body, 'rhebreall and elytra are of a beautiful fear- let. It has black legs, and yellow eyes. It is a pretty infeft, and is found among flowers. 'rhis genus contains a number of beau- tiful infeills, the colours of which vary ad- cording to the diflerence of fex, fcafon, dice, which renders it unneceffary to deferibe them. — 'I'liey frequent flowers ; and their larva: are limilar to thole of the cerambyces, and are to be found in the trunks of decay- ed willows, and other old trees. Although thefe infedls are frequently confounded witli the cantharides, yet they differ cffentially-: for the canthares have five articulations in the tarli, or intermediate ])art between the leg and foot hut the cantharides have five articula*'' 204 KATURAL HISTORY; articulations or joints, only, on the two firfl pair of legs, and four only to the tarfi of the Jaft pair. Genus XXI. The SKIPPER. Charader. Tn HEIR horns are briftly ; and they have an elaflic fpring, or fpine, wliich projefts from the hinder extremity of the breaft. ELATER SANGUINEUS. rhe BLOOD-COLOURED SKIPPER. TPhE breaft of this infeeft ends, under- neath, in a long point, or fpine, which en- ters, as if with a fpring, into a cavity in the upper part of the under fide of the thorax. By this admirable conftrudtion, the Ikipper is enabled, when upon its back, to leap in the air, and, thus, alight on its feet. It va- ries in file; and, vdien young, the elytra are of a beautiful red ; but in a few days they lofc this fplcndid hue, which is then changed to poliftied black; and, when view- ed KATURAL HISTORY. ed through a microfcope, to nearly a chcf- nut-colour. The bread is a glittering, and appears with dark down, intei-fperled with fome black hairs. The female is black, and marked with fpots of a deeper die, occafioned by a velvet down, lying in tufts, which are only to be diflinguilhed by the glafs. The larvae are found in the trunks of decayed trees, where they are transformed into perfetf infefts, which flutter upon llow- ers, wander over fields, and conceal themfclves in thickets, or under the bark of trees. Gtnus XXII. Cl C I N D E L A. Chanrder. T HE horns are briflly ; the jaws porrcft. X ed, and armed with teeth ; the eves are pronunent ; and the breaft is rather round, ;inU margined. S % CICfN- 206 natural history. CICINDELA CAMPESTRIS. The FIELD-SPARKLER. T. HE fiekl-fparkler is one of our moft beautiful infeds. The upper part of its body is rough, and of a fine green unged with blue. The under fide, legs and horns, arc of a flict colour, gold, and a red, inclining to the copper hue. Ine eyes, being prominent, give the head a broad appearance. The breaft is pointed, and narrower than the head ; which charaaerizes the cicindelfE. Like the head, the breaft is rough ; and of a green colour, tinged with gold. The elytra are delicately and irregu- larly dotted, with fix white Ipots on each. 'I'his infea runs with great fvyiftnefs, an flies with facility. At the beginning of it is found in dry, fandy places, where its l.rvte aUo inhabit. Theie are a long, fott, v.hitifl) worm, with fix legs, and Y head. They make a perpendicular hole i the ground, at the entrance ^ J kcep^ their head, to catch other \nfeas i^l ic jail in it. A fpot of ground is fometiinc entirely perforated in this manner. The per tea infeas of this genus are n oftly veiy beautiful, as to merit a^ei “ th.e curious in imcrofcopic obfen well as in natural rofearches lo V( NATURAL HISTORY. 2Q7 fome are minute, though not inferior in fplendor to the larger ; which renders them proper objefts for the delightful amufement of the magnifylng-glafs. And here it may be proper to obferve, that living objecls are always to be preferred to thofe which are dead, by the enquirer into the produce of na- ture. The perfeft infects of this genus are, like their larvae, perfect tigers in their difpo- fition for prey, which they «ttack, and de- ftroy, with every effort iu their power. B U P R E S T E S G U T T A L A. The SPOTTED BUPRESTES. HE whole body of this iiifeft is of a green and gold colour, with a blue tinge un- derneath. But it is chiefly diflingulfhed by four white concave fpots upon the elytra. The entire upper part of this infect appears inofl; beautifully dotted, when feen through a microfeope. The larvae is fuppofed not to have been yet difeovered : but from the fimilarity of the perfeft infeft with the elater, and both being found among timber and decayed trees, the larva: and metamorphofis may be imagin- ed to correfpondi CACABUS NATURAI. HISTORY. aoxS CACABU & GRANULATUS. The GRAINED BULL HEAD. 1 HIS fpecies is hot only one ofthelargefi, but the inoft beautiful and brilliant this coun- try produces. The head, breall, and wing, cafes are of a coppery green. The elytra have three longitudinal rows of oblong raifed fpots. All the under part of the infetf is black. But having no wings beneath the elytra, nature has providentially fupplied it with fuel) legs as enable it to run with amaz- ing fwiftnefs. This infeft is frequently found in damp places, under ftones and heaps of decayed plants in gardens. The colour foinctimes varies ; for it is frequent- ly found coloured with a beautiful purple. 'I'he larvm live under ground, or in de- c.nved wood, where they remain until meta- jiiorphofed to their perfeft Hate, wlien they proceed to devour the larvic of other infers, and all weaker animals they can conquer. 'J’hcy arc frequently known by the name of the ground-beetle. Some are found fo early as the beginning of March, in path.', Ac. whei'c the fun warms the earth with his vivifying beams. Many of the large ipecies have been found between the decayed bark and wood of willow-trees. GfiNt'S NATURAL HISTORY. 209 Genus XXVII. M E L O E. Chamber. T X he horns refemble necklaces; the bread: is rather round ; and the elytra are foft and pliant. MELOE VESICATORias, or CANTIIA- RIDES. The SPANISH FLY. HERE are feveral fpecics of this infect, differing in fize, figure, and colour. But all are apparelled, by nature, with great ludre. Green, azure, and gold colours blend their hues to embellifh them. They are moflly natives of the fouthern parts of Europe. The fpecies ufed medicinally is nine or ten lines in length, of a fhining green colour mixed with azure, and very prolific. Ihefe infects are fometime^ obferved to fly in fwarms. A difagreeable fmell, like that of mice, indicates their approach. By this fcent they are found by the gatherers, who Collett tliem for the apothecaries. When b 2 dried. 210 NATUTIAL HISTORY. dried, fifty of them fcarcely weigh a drachm. Shrubs, and particularly the leaves of afli- tree, are their food. So corrofive are the odorous particles emited by this infect, that great caution is required in taking them. — ]'"or many have been known to have fuffered greatly, by only having gathered a quantity of them with their bare hands in the heat of the fun : fome have been oppreffed with fleep, by fitting under trees on which fwarms of cantharides have fettled. Contrary to the general cuftom of nature, the female courts the male. The larvae are produ«ed from the ground, where the eggs are always depofited. Thefe infefts, reduced to pow- der, are exceedingly efficacious as blifters, in abforbing or drawing off humours which threaten the effential parts of life. But the cantharides is, notwithftanding, a mofl: for- midable poifon, if taken internally without the greatefl caution. Some who have been afflifted by their incautious ufe of them, liave found the beft antidotes to be milk, olives, cainphire, and oil of fweet almonds. The larvtE of the meloes inhabiting this country, greatly refemblethe perfeft infers; for they are of the fame colour, are as large, and are as flow in their motion. They are generally found buried deep in the earth, where they metamorphofe themfelves into perfeft cantharides. Wehave introduced the meloe veficatori- tis, which is geucrrilly known by cantha- rides natural history. 2 I 1 rides or Spanifh Hy to (hew in what it Is dif- ferent from a preceding genus, called the cantharis, for which it is frequently miftak- en. C U R C U L I O, or W E E V E L. ' HIS infeft feeds upon corn, theinfideof which it cats, and leaves the bran. In this tribe, nature difpenfes the riches of her mod refulgent colours, fo as to dazzle the eye with fplendor. But it is the microfcope that muft admit us to this fcene of fuperla- tive beauty. The curculio regalis found in Peru Is a wonderful inftance of the beauty nature can bellow on even what is generally deemed the mod inconfiderable of her products. The larvae, refembling oblong, foft \Vorms, are greatly dreaded for the injury they do in granaries. Corn-lofts are frequently laid M'afte by their ravages. The inledt, having remained within the grain until it hasdevour- ed the meal, lies ooncealed under the empty hulk, until it pafles its aurelian date, and takes its flight as a curculio. While one fpeciesfecd on corn, others dedroy, in the fame manner, beans, peas, and lentils. To difeover the grain infeded by the larvae, it is thrown into water, when that part which fwiins is certainly perforated by the curcu* liones. 212 NATURAL history. Hones. The heads of artichokes and thlf. ties are often deftroved by thefe dedruftive infers. This animal being fo delightful in appearance, and fo deftruftive in its nature, is a leflbn which teaches that beauty mav ef- fed our ruin while it captivates our fenfes. Genus XXX. F' O R F I C U L A. Charafler, he horns are briftly ; the wing-cafes are half the length of the wings, which, being folded, are, notwithftanding, covered by the elytra ; and the tail is forked. FORFICULA AURICULARIO. The EARWIG. HIS fpecies is entirely of a deer colour. 1 he horns are prettily intermingled and vari- egated. 1 he wings are of the fame colour as their elytra, or cafes. This infeft is found in wet fand, near pools and rivulets ; and particularly on grape-vines. It is gener- ally known, and dreaded by many for its , tendency ■NATURAL HISTORY. tendency to creep into the human car. That it has this habit, the editor of this volume can affirm from experience : but, that per- fons need be alarmed left it ftiould, thus, reach the brain, and caufe death, he denies; for the lead acquaintance with the anatomy of the head, w'ill evince the impoflibility ot the infeft reaching the inner part of the cra- nium by the avenue of the ear, from there being no communicate pallage from one to the other. The forceps with which nature has provided its tail, for defence, is capable of biting, fo as to caufe, for the moment, rather a painful fenfation. Although tur- nlfhed with this defence, the earwig has been obferred not to ufe it, even when he has been furrounded with - fwarm of ants. But it will frequently pinch the finger of per- fons attempting to take them with their liands. , The larvm differs very incortfiderably from the perfect in(e6l. THE NATURAL HISTORY. 2 14 THE SECOND ORDER. Genus II. ' mantis. Chara8,er of the genus. TPhE head is unfteady, and has a nodding motion. The mouth is armed with porreft- ed^ jaws ; and the antenna:, or feelers, are bridly. They have four wings, which are membranous, and wrap round tlie whole body. The firrt: pair of feet have teeth like a faw : and the bread is narrow, and Extends to a confiderable length. MANTIS GANGYLODES. The WALKING LEAF. T X HIS infeft is remarkably fhaped. The head is joined to the body by a neck longer t i>»n the body itfelf. It has two poliflied eyes, and two fliort feelers. The bread is Jong, narrow, and margined. The elytra, which cover two thirds of the body of the infeft, are veined, and reticulated, or net- ted. The wings are veined, and tranfpar- cnt UATURAL HISTORY. ?1S ent. The hinder legs are very long, the next Ihorter ; and the foremoft pair ot thighs are terminated with fpines. The reft have membranous lobes, which ferve as wings to them in their flight. Ihe infeft might, therefore, be juftly called the Mercury of this part of the creation. 1 he top of the head is membranous, flraped like an owl, and divided at its extremity. This animal is one of the innumerable inftances which na- ture affords, to indicate the infinite wif- dom of the Creator. Whenever any part of his workmanffiip is found to deviate from the general fyftem, it is ftill formed to anfwer the defign of Us exiftence. 1 his in- feft, having fuch long legs, could never have fuftained itfelf in the air, had not pro- vidence beftowed on it a fpecies of wings, to balance its weight. Thcfe are the with which nature teems ; and which would make the atheift tremble, had he but fenfe to contemplate the admirable defign, fyftem, and application, with which they are c ra- latterized, as parti of one llupendous whole ; Whole body Nature is, and God the ion. This genus is generally of a very beauti- ful green ; but the colour foon lades, and Ijecomes that of dead leaves; wiict caufed the inhabitants of China, w rere tney are found, to call them by the name ol walk- ing leaves. NATURAL HISTORY. 2}Q The larvss very much refcmble the pey. feft infea : but it is feldom feen in this country. Genus III. Chara&er, H E head is bent inwards, armed with jaws, and furnifhed with palpe, or fpiral tongues. The wings are fo defleaed as to wrap round the fides of the body. All the feet are armed with two crotchets, or nails) and the hinder are formed for leaping. TETTIGON h\.~TJje GRASSHOPPER. Tf^mS infeft walks heavily, flies tolerably, and leaps uith wonderful agility. It has an infliunient in its tail, with which it digs holes on the ground, for the reception of its I he grafshopper lays a great number at one fitting, of which they form a groupc, by uniting them with a thin membrane. — Ihc little larva; refemblc entire the jicrfetf niitcl:, except in the lize, and ha\ iiig neither \\ings nor elytra, d'hele, as well as lire pcriecl infeeit, are freejiientiy louiul in mea- dows. Ihey both feed on herbs veiy vora- tioufly. NATURAL HISTORY. 217 cioufly. The grafliopper, having many fto- machs, has caufed feveral authors to affcrt that tliey chew the cud, like fome other larg- er animals. GRYLLUS,— CRICKET. TT HIS family of infers is called in En- gland, cr^kets, from the found or noife they make. Towards fun-fet they leave their fubtei-raneous habitations, when they make the fields refound with their chirpings. The domeftic grillae abide in ovens, and hearths on which wood is burnt: here they fre- quently are troublefome, by their perpetu- al noife, and crawling about perfons fitting near the fire. But a popular prejudice, in many parts of England, prevents their being driven away, or deftroycd : for poor peafants, and common people, ima- gine they bring good fortune to whatever houfe they attach themfelves. — So true it is, that the moft abfurd chimeras enter the minds of the ignorant, who are always prone to fuperftitious errors. This infed is chiefly diftinguiflied by ha- ving at its hinder extremity two briftlcs. The domeftic and the field cricket are the fame fpecies ; all the difference is, that the T former 2i8 NATURAL HISTORY. former more inclines to ter to a brown hue. yellow, and the lat- Genus IV. F U L G G R A. Character. HE front of the head is empty, and ex- tended. The horns, which have two arti- culations, are fcaled below the eyes. FULGORA CANDELARIA. The LANTERN FLY. HE head and breafl: of this infe£t are ge- nerally the colour of a muddy brown ; the elytra are of a lively green, fpotted with a pale yellow; the wings are of a beautiful yellow, and have their extremities bordered with a glolTy black. When the infedl flies, the waving of the elytra caufesthe tranfparent fpots to appear in the night like radient flafli- es, forming various figures, according to the fancy of the wondering beholder. This fly is a native of China. ANO- . NATURAL HISTORY. 219 another lantern fly. ^ ^ ^ HIS lantern fly is a nofturnal infeft, that has a hood, or bladder, on its head, which appears like a lantern, in the night: but by day it is clear and tranfparent, and very cu- rioufly adorned with red and green ftripes. Such a fhining light iffues from this part of the infeft, that it is poffible to read by it. The wings, and whole body are elegantly adorned with a rpixture of red, green, yel- low, and other fplendid colours. The crea- ture contrails or dilates the hood, or blad- der, as it pleafes. When taken, they with- draw their light ; but when at liberty, they fuffer it to ftiine again, with all its wonder- ful refplendency. Thefe flies are as luminous as a lighted torch, while they refleil a luftre on all neigh- bouring objefts. They are in continual mo- tion during the night ; but the motion is va- rious, and uncertain ; foAetimes they rife, and then fink. They will frequently difap- pear, and the next inflant rife in another place. They commonly hover about fix feet from the ground. It is faid, there is not a night in the year in which they are not feen. In the coldeft v/inter they arc more frequently obfervcd, than in the warmefl fuinnier. Neither rain or fnow hinders their appearance. From all thefe circumftances many 220 NATU-RAL HISTORY. many fuppofe it to be the ignis fatuus, or the jack-in-the-lantern ; which many have con- tended, is an inflammatory meteor, exhaled from marftiy lands, over which it is obferved to wander in the darkeft night. Genus V. CICADA, Character. T HE head bends downwards; the feelers are briftly ; the four wings are membrane- ous ; and the feet are adapted to leaping. CICADA SPUMERIA. The FOAMY FROG-HOPPER. ^^^MONGST the fpecies found in this coun- try, of this genus, this is one of the large!!:. It is a brown, tinged with green. The head, breaft, and elytra, are beautifully dotted : on the laft are two white fpots. Before the infedt has metamorphofed itfelf, the larva which produces it, lives and refides upon plants ; but it is riot perceived, unlefs the Ipot of its devouring ' is certainly known ; NATUHAL HlSl'oRT. for by emitting, from every pai't of its body, foamy bubbles, refembling fpittle, under which it conceals itfelf, the larva is not eafi- ly difeovered : but when this froth is remo- ved, the larva is found ; but it is foon co- vered again, by a frefli emiflion of froth. Thus the larva is enabled by nature to pre- ferve itfelf againft the injury of the weather, and from being dellroyed by other infeds. This is another inftance of the variety of means adopted by the Creator to preferve the balance of all things. As the larva of this infeft is liable to be preyed upon by differ- ent animals, it is provided with the power of emitting this foam, as the only proteftion againft its enemies. CICADA S ANGUINOLENTA. r/ie CRIMSON FROG-HOPPER. T HIS is thought the fineft fpecies which we, in this country, polfefs of this genus. The elytra alone have fix large beautiful crimfon fpots ; both the elytra are black at the extremity ; and the wings are a duflcy colour, and tinged with a little red at their bafe. This infeft, not leaping much, is cafily taken ; but not near London; as it is Very feldom found near the metropolis. It Varies according to the diffci'cnt fize of the T 2 ctimfon 222 NATURAL HISTORY. crimfon fiJOts obferved on its elytra, or wing- cafes. Genus XI. COCCUS. Charader. The trunk is placed in the breaft ; the hinder part of the abdomen is briftly. The males have two ereft wings ; while the fe- males are apterous, or without any. COCCUS PHALARIDIS. The COCHINEAL FLY. The feet and body of this infeft are near- ly of a pink colour, and fprinkled with a little white powder. The wings and four threads of its tail, are of the clearefl; white. It is found on a fpecies of grafs called phalaris. The female forms, on the ftock of this dog- grafs, a white downy neft, in which flie depo- fits her eggs. Being brought over with exotic or foreign plants, they are fometimes found •in hot-houfes. This fpecies of gall-infeft is ufed in dying fcarlet. When the dried co- chineal NATURAL HISTORY. 223 chineal is fteepecl in water, or vinegar, the parts of the body unfold themfelves ; and become fo vifible, as to difplay even the liga- ments of the legs. The Indians in Mexico, where the propa- gation of the cochineal is a confiderable con- cern, gather them, and put ten or twelve in mofs, or the flue of the cocoa: they are then hung upon the thorns of the Indian fig- tree, which grows in great quantities round their habitations. They are fo prolific at to afford three gatherings of them every year. As foon as they are collefted, they are de- ftroyed. Some they kill by the heat of ovens ; and others by throwing them into hot water : while many are deflroyed upon the hot places ufecl for roafting maiz,e. — Three pounds of frefli cochineal weighs but one pound when dried. Cochineal will prefcrve, for ages, its colouring particles. This valuable infeft is ufed for dying fcarlet and crimfon. The Indians mix it with gum lac, to dye their cloths. The cochineal fur- niflies paintei-s with many beautiful and fplen- did tints. It is computed, that 880,000 lb. of thefe infects is imported yearly into the kingdom of Great-Britain. Where it propa- gated in the American iflands,' where the climate is congenial with this infeft, great advantages might be derived ; and as the cochineals of Europe refemble greatly thofe of America, they might, probably, be pro- dudive of emolument. THE NATURAL HISTORY. 2 24 THE THIRD ORDER. INSECTA LEPIDOPTERA. T ^ EPIDOPTEROUS inlefts have four wings, covered with fcales. The mouth has afpiral tongue, which they unfold at plea- fure. Their bodies arc hairy. • This order is divided into three genera. Genus I. P A P I L I O. T A he horns are thickeft at their extremi- ties; and are in moft terminated by a kind of capitulum, or little head. When fitting, the wings are erefted, and touch each other. Genus II. SPHINX. Character. T A HE horns are thickeft in the middle: refembling in form, a prifm. The wings are KATCRAL HISTORY. 225 are bent inwards. They are flow and heavy in their flights, which they take either late in the evening, or early in the morning. Genus III. P H A L E N A. Character, T* HE horns arc briflly, decreafing in fize from the bafe to the point; which chiefly diftinguifhes it from the butterfly. The wings, when at reft, generally turn down. They fly in the night. For a more particular defcription of but- terflies and moths, fee our account, from page 179 to page i88. THE 226 NATURAL HISTORY, THE FOURTH ORDEll. INSECTA NEUROPTERA. N'jiUROPTEROUS infers have four tranfparent, membraneous, and uncafed wings, which are veined like net-work. Their tail is unarmed, or ftinglefs ; but it is frequently furnilhed with appendices, like pincers, by which the males are diftinguiflied. LI B ELLUL h.—The DAMSEL. ^.4.'' HIS genus of infedfs is well known to every body. The largeft Ipecies is produced from a water-worm, that has fix feet, which yet young, and very fmall, is transformed in- to a chrylallis, that has its dwelling in the water. People have thought they difeover- ed them to have gills like fiflies. It wears a malk-; as perfectly formed as thofe that are worn at a mafquerade ; and this malic, fa- ftened to the infedl’s neck, and which it moves at will, ferves it to hold its prey, while it devours it. The period of transforma- tion being come, the chryfallis makes to the water-fide, undertakes a voyage, in fearch of a convenient place ; fixes on a plant, or Iticks NATURAL HISTORY. 227 fticks faft to a bit of dry wood. Its fkin, grown parched, fplits at the upper part of the thorax. The winged infeft iffues forth gradually, throws off its flough, expands its wings, flutters, and then flies off with gracefulnefs and eafe. The elegance of its flender fliape, the richnefs of its colours, the delicacy and refplendent texture of its wings, afford infinite delight to the beholder. In order to accomplifli the purpofe of na- ture, the male, while hovering about, watch- es, and then feiz.es the female by the head, with the pincers with which the extremity of its tail is armed. The ravifher travels thus through the air, till the female yeilds to his fuperior ftrength. Thefe flies arc feen thus coupled in the air, exhibiting the form of a ring. The female depollts her eggs in the water, from whence fpring water- worms, which afterwards undergo the fame transformations. LIBELLULA GRANDIS. fT/ze G R E A T DAMSEL. TT II I S fpecies is the largcft of any this country affords. Its head is yellow, efpeci- ally forwards ; its eyes are brown, and be- ing very large, meet on the top of the head, and are often fet with dots, raifed and ftiin- ing 2S8 NATVRAI- HISTORY. ing, which would conftitute a very diftinc* tive charafter, if it were conftant; but fome- times thofe dots are abfent, or there are, at moft, but one or two. The thorax is dun- coloured, with two oblique bands on each fide, of a lemon-colour. The abdomen, which is very long, is like wife of a deep buff, often fpotted with white on the top and bottom of each fegment. The fmall lamina; that terminate the abdomen are very long in this fpecies. The wings have more or lefs of tlie yellow dye, with a brown fpot on the exterior edge. At the rife of each wing there is a fmall protuberance, of a dark brown colour. LIBELLULA VIRGO.— VIRGI N, HIS beautiful libellula has a large head, reticulated, prominent, brown eyes, that arc not in contaft with each other. The {pace intervening between the eyes, exhibits the three brown ftemmata, placed in a trian- gle. The neck, on which the head is refted, is fliort and narrow. The thorax is larger, of a bright green and blue colour. From the inferior part of the thorax arife the fix legs, long, and charged with a double row of finall Ipines, a circumftance common to this genus. From the upper part come forth the four wings, all of equal liic. They are much NATURAL HISTORY. 229 much reticulated, and have on their middle a large cloud, of a blueifh brown, that oc- cupies above one half of them. The bafe and extremity of the wing are, the only parts not charged with the fame colour, being on- ly of a yellowiflr hue. On the outer edge of the wing there is no fpot ; which is un- common in this genus. The abdomen, long, cylindric, and confiding of nine or ten fegr raents, is of a blue colour, fometimes bor- dering on green, and. very bright. . This beautiful infe£l is met with in meadows, on the banks of ponds. L I B E L L U L A P U E L I, A. '' J. ^ HE wings of this infefl; are whitifli, nicely veined with black, with a black fpot on the e.xterior edge towards the extremity. The colour of the head is a leaden blue, with brown eyes. The thorax, which is blue, is adorned with three brown longitudi- nal bands, one on the middle, and two nar- rower ones on the Tides. 'I he fegments of the abdomen are blue, with a black ring towards their polterior extremity. They are nine in number ; the two lall larger than the red, and entirely brown. This infed is found in meadows. '1 he remaining libellula is only a variety in colour, the body being of a fine red. H Genus 23 ° NATURAL HISTORY. Genus . 11. , j EPHEMERA. CbaraSler. . ^ J[^ HE mouth has neither teeth nor fpiral tongue. The wings are ereft, and the hind, er fliorteft. The tail is fiirniflied with hairs, or briflles. The horns are fliort and brift- ly- E P H E M E R A.— The DAY-FLY. ^ HESE flies derive their name fronT the fliort period of their exiftence. Some of their different fpecies live feveral days ; while others, that take their firfl flight at the fun, die before that luminary rifes again. Some have only the life of an hour; others exifl but half an hour. '1 he ephemerae, before they fly, have been in lome manner flflies; and, what is very remarkable, they have been obferveJ to remain as long as one, two, and three years, in their larva and chryfalid flates. Both the larva and chry falls have fmall fringes of hair on each fide ; which, when moved in th.e water, ferve them as tins. 'I’he NATURAL HISTORY. 231 The plying of thefe little oars is exceedingly carious. The larva: make their refidence by perforating, or making holes in the banks of rivers ; and, when the. water falls, or de- creafes, they make other holes lower, in or- der to have ready accefe to their favourite ele- ment. Flames attraft them, fo as to caufo them to form a thoufand circles round fuch a ligKt, with an amazing regularity. One fingle female will lay feven or eight eggs, which fink to the bottom of the water, where they are depofited. The larvae which they produce, cohdrucl habitations to (lielter them from every danger. The flies, haring propagated, immediately die in heaps. — Fifhermen confider thefe multitudes of de- ftroyed infefts, as manna for the fifli. We can, therefore, perceive, that even this in- feft, which cannot, for its very fliort exifl- ence, be of much fervice during life, is, by the wifdom of the creator, fo calculated, as to be of efleiitial fervice, even in its depart- ed hate. G ENUS KATURAL HISTORY. GliNUS V. M Y R M E L I O N. Charader. TT' II E mouth is armed with jaws, two teeth, and lour long fpiral tongues. The tail, in the male fex, is forked. '1 heir feel- ers are club-foinied, and as long as the breall : and the wings bent downwards. MYRMELION . — The ANT-EATER. A S few infecls afford greater entertain- ment, or gratify curiofity more, by their wiles and ftratageins, than this ; we lhall forbear all uninterelling defeription, to confine our- felves to w'hat we think more eflential. Be- fore the head of the larvte, is placed a dem tated forceps, with which they catch and fuck Hies, and ants efpecially. '1 his animal having a retrogade motion, which prevents its being able to puifue its prey, it has re- courfe to the following llratagem. Having dived into the fand, or foft mould, it hol- lows out furrows, that meet in a centre, and grows deeper by degree-. The fuperfluous land it carefully removes from the feene ol attion j NATURAL HISTORY. *33 aftion ; after this, it digs a hole, a funnel, at the bottom of which this animal jlations itfelf, fuffering only its extended for- ceps to be feen above it. Ruin awaits the infefl; that falls, unfortunately, into this ca- vity. The myrmelio, being apprifed of its approach, by grains of fand rolling down to the bottom, immediately overwhelms^ the fallen prey with a Ihower of duft, which it cafts with his horns . It then drags the poor captive to the bottom of the hole, where it is immediately deftroyed. ^ Such is the rapa- city of this creature, that it will prey in this manner even on its own fpecies. 1 his is one of the few inftances nature affords of anyone fort of animal preying on its fellow- creatures. To the difgrace of man, this (ledruaion of each other is very rarely fanc- tioned by example, in all the infinite courfe ofbeing with which the creation abounds. The perfea infea of the ant-eater js very feldom found •, when it is, it is chiefly in fanJy places, near rivulets. • U 2 THE natural history. 234 T II E F I F T H ORDER. I N S E C T A H Y M E N O P T E R a H YMENOP FERGUS infedts have four membranous wings : and moft of their tails have ftings j except the males, which arc harmlefs. • Genus I. CYNIPEDES. Chara 6 ler. T _R. HE mouth IS armed with jaws ; but has no trunk. The lling is fpiral, and conceal- ed rnoIUy in the body. C Y N I P S . — The GALL- F L Y. T . . FIISinfe£l is of a burnifhed fliiningbrow'n colour : the horns are black, and the feet chefnut ; and the wings are white. The gall- fly is produced in thole little finooth, round, and hard galls, which are lound lallcned 10 tile fibres under oak-lci.ves. This gall is caul'- ed NATURAL HISTORY, 235 by. the overflowing of the fap of the leaf, occafioiied by the fly having pierced it, for the purpofe of depofiting there its eggs. — Sometimes, inftead of tire cynips, a large infeft proceeds from the gall, and which is called an ichneumon. '1 his latter infedl: is not the real inmate of the gall ; he is a para- fite, whofe mother depofited her egg in the yet tender gall ; and, when hatched, pro- duces a larva, that devours the larva found there of the cynips. Of this genus, there is a fpecies which caufes the galls of which the Norway ink is made. Genus VIII. ^ API S.—The BEE. X^HESE infeds are divided into feveral fpecies, which are diflinguilhed from each other, by genius, talent, manner, and dif- •pofltion. Some live in fociety, and lhare the toils : others dwell, and work, in folitude, building the cradles of their families, as the leaf-cutter bee does, with a role leaf; the upholllerer, with the gaudy tapertry of the corn-rofe ; the mafon-bee, with plaller ; and the wood-piercer, with faw-duft. But all, in general, are employed, in their little kingdom, with providing for their pofterity, and NATURAL HISTORY. 236 and contributing to the general welfare of their community. Of bees there are three forts ; the ple- beians, the drones, and the queen. Ihe queen, or parent-bee, is the foul of the hive : to her all the reft are fo attached, that they will follow her wherever fhe goes. If Ihe happotis to die, all their labours are at an end, an univerfal mourning enfues, and all her fubjefts die, by rejefting their food. Should a new queen arife, before this cataftrophe attends the hive, joy renovates their fpi- rits, and their toils are renewed. This has been tried by removing the chryfalis of a queen-bee from one hive to another, which had loft its own emprefs. But this attach- ment is only in proportion to the utility fhe affords to the commonwealth. She is fo prolific, that flie lays 15 or 18,000 eggs, which produce 800 males, four or five queen bees, and the reft neuters, or ple- beians. Their cells differ in fize ; the largeft are for the males, the royal cells for the queens, and the fmalleft for the neuters. 0 '1 he parent-bee depofits in thofe cells fuch eggs as will produce the fpecies for which the refpeftive cells are deftined. In two or three days the eggs are hatched ; when the neuters turn nurfes to the reft, which they feed moft tenderly, with unwrought wax and honey. After twenty-one days, the young bees are able to form colonies, with fuch indefatigable adivity, that they will do ' more, ■NATURAL HISTORY. 237 more, in one week’s time, than they will during all the reft of the year. Sometimes there are bees lefs laborious, who fupport themfelves by pillaging the reft of the hives ; on which a battle enfues between the induf- trious and the defpoiling infefts. Frequent- ly contentions will arife among them, when a new colony feek their habitation in a hive already occupied. Their foes are the wafp and hornet ; which will rip open their bel- lies with their teeth, in order to fuck out the honey contained in the bladder. ^ Sparrows, fometimes, are feen to take one in their bill, and one in each of their claws. Ihe neuter bees collefl; from flowers their honey and unwrought wax : they roll theni- felves over the ftamina, and thus caufe the dufty eflence to flick to the hairs which cover different parts of their bodies. Being thus laden, they proceed with their burden to the hive; where they are met by other bees, that fwallovv the \yax they bring ; this being » afterwards refined in the laboratory of their ftomachs, is again produced by the mouth, as genuine wax, in the form of dough, which is next moulded into cakes of an admirable ftruflure. From the ne£taricus effluvia of flowers, the bee collets the honey, by means of its pro- bofeis, or trunk; which is a moft aftonifhing piece of mechanilm, confifting of more than twenty parts. Entering the hive, the infetd difgorges the honey into cells, for win- 238 NATURAL itlSTORY. ter fiibfiftence ; or elfe prefents it to the la- bouring bees. A bee can colleft, in one day, more honey than a hundred cheinifts could extra£l: in -a. hundred years. When they begin to form their hive, they divide into four parties : one is deputed to the fields, to colletf materials ; another is ordfred to work on thefe materials ; a third is left to polifh the rough work of the cells, and a fourth is allotted to provide fpr the la- bourers. There are waiters always attend- ing, to ferve the artizan with immediate re- frefhments, left he fliould be too long abfent from his work, by going to gather it hira- felf. So expert are thefe bees, that an honey- * comb, compofed of a double range of cells backed one againft another, and which is a foot long^s and fix inches broad, is completed in one day, fo as to contain 3000 bees. The cells are mofft curiouily compofed of little triangular fides', which unite in one point, and exactly conform to the like extremities of the oppofite cells, refpeitively. At eve^ ry cell, the Creator has, moft wifely, taught them to, form a ledge, which fortifies each aperture againft the injuries they might re- ceive from the frequent ingrefs and return of the bees. Mow grateful ought we to be for the crea- tion of .this admirttUI? infect ! To his toil and wildoin we are indebted for one of the moft agreeable and wholefome fubllances af- forded, NATURAL HISTORY. 239 forded by nature. Were k not for the bee, thefe flowery fweets would be loft in “ the “ defert air,” or decline with the fading flower. All the various ufes to which wax is applied, would be loft to man, had uot the bee an exiftence. ! - % Genus IV. Cbarader. ^ HE mouth has jaws, without any tongue. The horns contain more than thirty joints; ► and the abdomen is generally joined to the body by a pedicle. 'I’he king is inclofed in a cylindrical flieath, compofed of two valves. 7be ICHNEUMON. O; 'NE dlflinguifliingand flriking charaiSler of thele fpecies of flies is, the almoll conti- nual agitation of their antennae. The name of Ichneumon has been applied to them, from the fervice they do us, by deflroying cate-- pillars, plant-lice, and other infers ; as the Ichneumon and mangoufle deflroy the croco- dile. The variety to be found in the fpecies of Ichneumons is prodigious among the fmaller 24-0 NATURAL HISTORY, fmaller fpecies. The males perform their courtihips in the moft paffionate and gallant manner. The pofterior part of the females is armed with a wimble, vifible in fome fpe- cies, no ways difcoverable in others ; and that inftrument, though fo fine, is able to pen^rate through mortar and plafter. The ftruaure of it is more eafily feen in the long- wimbled fly. The food of the family to be produced by this fly, is the larva of wafps, or mafon-becs ; for it no fooner perceives one of thofe nefls, than it fixes on it with its wimble, and bores through the mortar of which it is built. The wimble itfelf, of an admirable flructure, confifls of three pieces: two collateral ones, hollowed out into a gut- ter, ferve as a flieath ; and contain a com- paft, folid, and dentated ftem ; along which runs a groove, that conveys the egg from the animal, which fupports the wimble with its hinder legs, left it fliould break ; and, by a variety of movements, which it dextroul- ly performs, it bores through the building, and depofits one or more eggs, according to'* the fizeof’the Ichneumon, though the largeft drop but one or two. Some agglutinate their eggs upon caterpillars eggs, though ve- ry hard, and depofit their own in the inlide : w'hen the larva is hatched, its head is fo fitu- ated that it pierces the caterpillar, and pe- netrates to Its very entrails : thefe larv:e pump out the nutritious juices of the cater- pillar, without attacking the vitals of the creature •, natural history. 241 creature ; which appears healthy, and even foixietiiiies transforms itfelf to a chryfali . , It is, not uncommon to lee caterpillars fixed upon trees, as if they were fitting upon their eggs ; and it is afterwards dilcovered that the larvx, which were within their bo* dies, have Ipun their threads, with which, as with cords, the caterpillars are faltened down, and fo perifli miferably. The ichneumons performed fpecial fervicc in the years 1731 and 1732, by multiplying in the fame proportion as did the caterpillars : their larvte dedroyed more of them than could be efleded by human indufli y._ Thole larvte, when on the point of turning into chryfalids, fpin a filky cod. Nothing is more furprifing and fmgular, than to lee thofe cods leap, when placed on the table, or hand. Plant-lice, the larvae of the curcu- liones, fpider’s eggs, are alio lometimes the cradle of the ichneumon-fly. Carcafes of plant-lice, void of motion, are often fouml on rofe-tree leaves. They are the habita- tion of a fmall larva ; which, after having eaten up the entrails, deilroys the (prings and inward economy ol the plant-loufe, performs its metamorphofis under (helter of the pel- licule which enfolded it, contrives itfelf a fmall circular outlet, and falhes forth into the open air. There are ichneumons in the woods, which dare attack fpideV'', run them through with their fUng, tear them to pieces, and X thiH NATURAL HISTORY. £.'2 flius avenge tlie whole nation of flies of fo lurmidable a foe-: others, cieflitute of wings (and thofe are females), depofit their eggs in fpiders nefls. The ichneumon of the bedeguar, or fvveet-briar fponge, and that of the rofe-tree, perhaps, only depofit their eggs in thofe places, becaufe they find other infedls on which they feed. The genus of the ichneumon flies, might, with propriety, be termed a race of diminu- tive canibals. Genus IX. FORMIC A, • Chm-aBir, A LITTLE upright fcale is' fituated be* tween the bieafl and the belly. 'I'he fccltrs arc broken, and have the fiift articulation longer than the red. The females and neu- u rs have a fling, concealed in the abdomen. '1 he males and females arc winged ; and the neuters arc apterous, or without wings. ,FORMICA. KATURAL HISTORY. 243 FORMIC K.—The A N T, OT to impofe upon our readers tliofe fa- bles which have been related of this remar- kable inieCl, we fliall conlrne ourfelves to the mod authentic accounts, and to our own ob- fervations in what we {hall brielly mention rerpefting the ant. ' Sanclorius fays, when the ants carry any corn to their habitations, they carry it, exaftly in form and intention, as they do bits of wood, for the condruc- tion of their dwellings merely. For whr.t purpofe iliould they provide corn for the win- ter, when they pals that feafon without mo- tion ? But, from what we have lately ob- ferved ourfelves, we rather imagine this er- ror arol'e from fome perfons havipg feen them dragging a number of their anrelias, when they have been removed, by a hoe cr fpade, again to their repofitories ; for ihefj anrelias are exaclly of the lize and colour of .1 grain of wlieat. 'i'hc great prudence ants dif- cover, is in (lieltering ihcmfelves from cold, which, wlien fevere, almoll deprives them of motion. At the beginning of March, if the weather be warm, they go ' abroad in i'carch of nou- rillnnent. If corn be thrown to ants, ti'.c/ remove it from place to place, by fome dragging, others lifting, and two or three ■niore puflnng forward, the weighty mafle'-. A grain .244 NATURAn iriSTORY. A grain of wheat muft be confiderecl in pro- portion to tlicir fize and llrength. They have tlie j-recantion to make a bank near fix inciies liigh, above the entrance ; and to make feveral roads, to go out and in, by what may be called their terrace-walk. From May or June, they work until the feafon’s change di!continues their indullry. This la- bour is entirely for the prefervation of their iirootl, which is produced during the fine W'eather. When they attack fruit, they tear it into fmall bits, and thus is each ant ena- bled to carry home his provender. Liquors which arc fwcer, they have a mode of having and carrying fome for their young. They fend their foragers to feck for food: if one of them proves fucecfsful in finding fome, he re- turns to inform the republic, and immediately I'aliics from the town, to capture the prize. To prevent any delay, obdrudion, or con- fufion, they have two tracks ; one for the jiarty loaded, and the other for that which tire going to load themfelvcs. Should any lie killed, fome of them inflantly remove the ilain, to a diflance. When provifions are fcarce, they portion them according to their prefent a^d future wants. A ncll: of ants i.s a fiixall well-regulated re- public, united by peace, unanimity, good underdanding, and mutual adidance. Great police in their little labour?, prevents among them thofe diforders which frequently em- barrafs and perplex the happinefs of even man, NATURAL HISTORY. 245 man, who aflumes to himfelf the title and confequence of Lord of the creation. Each ant has its talk afligned it ; whilli: one re- moves a particle of mould, another is re- turning home to work. 'I hey never think of eating, until all their talk is performed. Within their common, but fubterraneous hall, which is about a foot deep, they affein- ble, from their focial communities, llielter themfelves from bad weather, depofit their eggs, and preferve their aurelias ; which, re- fembling grains of corn, as was obferved be- fore, has caufed many to millake them for their granaries. X 2 THE NATURAL HISTORY. 246 THE SEVENTH ORDER. INSEC TA APTERA. A pterous Infeifls are dlRInguinied from thofe of every other order, by neither fex having wings. Sjtcc-i-s i,Isa fmall fpider of a fcarlet colour. They are found in woods, and Hkewile on trees in gardens. They are the only fpecies of fpiders that are thought to be venemous, except the tarantula; for fpi- tiers are, in general, more frightful than injurious. Sj>i:ais 2 — Has fix eyes. The colour is chiefly dark, with a broad ftreak of light colour in the middle of its back ; and the form of a diamond, of the fame colour, on the upper part of its belly. The legs are beautifully fpotted. Spccici^^. This fmall long-legged fpider is fo finely marked, that it is impoflible to tlefciibe it, either in words or colours j there being fo admirable a combination of green, red, and black, interchangeably dif- pol'ed into the molt agreeable forms. The legs are curioufly marked with the lame co- lours. hs fmall eyes are not difcernable. S/),Ct.'s — Ibis is one of the leaping fpi lets. It has eight eyes, placed in a circle"; and all tltat have their eves tlius difpo- fed NATURAL HISTORY. 247 fed, leap at their prey, like a cat feizing a nioufe. It is extremely nimble. When viewed through a microfeope, its beauty ap- pears unparallelled. Black, chefnut, red, and white, are mofl: admirably difpofed into the mofl: beautiful forms ; but to th-e naked eye. It only appears rough, hairy, and grey- fpeckled. Dr. Hook gives the following diverting account of this fpider, as deferib- ed by Mr. Evelyn in his travels through Italy. “ Of all forts of infers,” fays he, “ there “ is none has afforded me more diverfion than “ the fmall grey jumping fpider, prettily be- “ fpecked with black fpots all over the body, “ which the microfeope difeovers to be a “ kind of feathers, like thofe on butterflies “ wings, or the body of the white moth. “ It is very nimble by fits, fometimes run- “ ning, and fometimes leaping like a grafs- “ hopper ; then ftanding flill, and fetting “ itffelf on its hinder legs, will very nimbly “ turn its body, and look round ilfelf every “ way. Such,” fays Mr. Evelyn, “ 1 did “ frequently obferve at Rome, which, ?fpy- “ ing a fly at three or four yards diflance, “ upon the balcony where 1 flood, would “ not make diredly to her, but crawl under “ the rail, till, being arrived right under “ her, it would fteal up, feldom milling Its “ aim ; but, if it chanced to want any thing “ of being perfeblly oppofite, would, at “ the fad peep, iiv.m.ediately Aide down ‘‘ again j *48 natural history. “ again ; till, taking better notice, it Would *' come, the next time, exadlly upon the “ fly’s back ; but, if this happened not to “ be within a competent leap, then would “ this infe£t move fo foftly, as the very “ fliadow of the dial feemed not to be ‘‘ more imperceptible, unlefs the fly moved ; and then would the fpider move alfo in the “ fame prpportion, keeping that jull: time “ with her motion, as if the fame foul had “ animated both thofe little bodies ; and, “ whether it were forwards, backwards, or “ to either fide, without at all turning her body, like a well-managed horfe : but if “ the capricious fly took wing, and pitched “ upon another place, behind our huntrefs, “ then would the fpider whirl its body fo “ nimbly about, as nothing could, be iraa- gined more fwift ; by which means, flie “ always kept the head towards her prey, “ though, to appearance, as immoveable as “ if it had been a nail driven into the wood, “ till, by that indifcernible progrefs, being “ arrived within the fphere' of her reach, “ flie made a fatal leap, fwift as lightning, upon the fly, catching him in the pole, “ where fhe never quitted hold until her “ belly was full, and then carried the re- “ maindef home. I have beheld them in- “ flrufting their young how to hunt ; — “ which they would fometimes difeipline “ for not well obferving ; but when any of ‘‘ the old ones did mifs a leap, they v/ould “ ruu natural history. 249 “ run out of the field, and hide themfclves “ in their crannies, as alhamed, and not be “ feen abroad for four or five hours after ; “ for, fo long have I watched the nature of “ this ftrange infeft, the contemplation of “ whole wonderful fagacity has amazed “ me : nor do I find, in any chace whatfo- “ ever, more cunning and ftratagern ob- “ ferved. 1 have found fome of thefe fpi- “ ders in my garden, when the weather, “ towards the fpring, is very hot •, but they “ are nothing fo eager of hunting as they “ are in Italy.” Species 5. — This is called the carter, or long-legged fpider. It has only two eyes, which are molt curioufly placed on the top of a fmall pillar, rifing out of the top of the back. The eyes have a black purple in the centre ot the cornea, and the iris of them is grey. It is likewile remarkable for the length of its legs, and diminutive body. The legs arc alfo jointed like thofe of a crab ; and each terminates in a fmall Ihell cafe, fhaped like that of a mufcle : they are fadened to the body, in a manner that mod curioufly difplays the wonderful mechanifm of nature. Thus is the infeft enabled to move, with the greatefl; celerity, over the tops of grafs and leaves, where it fearches for its prey. The head, breaft, and belly of this creature, are fo indiferirainated by na- ture, that it is fcarcely poflible to difeern the one from the other. Many fuppofe it to NATURAL HISTORY. 850 to be meant by the Creator as the air crab ; and adapted to the light element, in the fame proportion as the fea crab is adapted for the water. Genus VIII. A R A N E 4. Chars'Mcr, T J. niS infeifl; has eight feet, as many eyes, a mouth armed with two crotchets, tvvo fpiral tongues ; and the bottom of the abdo- men has two Inftruments, like nipples, adapt- ed for fpinning. , Of thefe infefis there are many diilerent fpecies. I hat which mollly dillinguinies the fpjder, is the manner of forming its web flie fird choofes a place where there is a cavity, that Ihe may have a clear paffage, to pafs freely on each fide, and to efcape oc- cafionally. She begins, by dropping on the .wall fome of her gnin ; to w'hich flie attach- es her fil'd thread, wdiich lengtJiens as die paifes to the other fide, to which die fixes the thread in a fimilar manner : thus die pades and repalfes, from fide to fide, until die has made what may be termed the warp of her web, exactly the fize die intends it Hiould be, or which die thinks will anfwcr her NATURAL HISTORY. her purpofe of preying on the pafllng fly. It is obferved that in order to finifh her work the fooner, flie fpins feveral threads at oue time : after thus fmifhing, fhe then croflfes her work with threads, in the fame diredfion as the weaver throws the woof with his fhut- tie. To prevent her being feen, fhe weaves a fmall cell in the web, where fhe lies, un- obferved, until the tremulous thread informs her of fome prey being entangled in her toils ; fhe then darts along the line, ^nd feizes the vidim, then devoted to deflrudtion. Many fuperficial obfervers of nature have wondered from w'hence the fpider could be fupplied with the gum fire ufes in the many webs fhe i< obliged to make, or repair : they never Tefledbed, that^ the fame providence which knows the fpider is hated, and that her web is always in danger of injury, could furnifli her with a magazine of both gum and thread, for fuch exigencies ; and that when the magazine was exhauffed, it could, by the fame means, be repleniflied. However, it muff be admitted the recruits fail in time ; for w'hen the irifedt grows old, it is deprived of its weaving materi- als ; it is therefore obliged to depend on the generous conTpalfion of the young fpider, W'ho will frequently refign its- own web to the infirm infedb, and weave foL itfclf ano- ther. 'Ihe web of the garden fpider differs al- moff as much from the web of a houfe fpi- der, 252 natural history. 1 der, as a net does from a clofe-weaved piece of cloth : but it is, perhaps, more curious in its formation. They greatly refemble a wheel, that has bars croffing the fpokes at 1 equal diftances. Thefe fpaces are in propor- tion to the fize of the prey the fpider defigns lhall not pafs through them. Being too fmall for large flies, moths, butterflies. See. to pafs through with their expanded wings, fuch generally fall the victims of the fpider, whenever they unknowingly fly againll its web. Having given this general defeription of W'hat is moft extraordinary in the fpider, %ye fhall now fay a few words on the A R A N E A D I A D E M A. r/,e DIADEM’D SPIDER. ' HIS infe£t grows very large. The upper part of its belly is mod beautifully embel- iiflied with black and white dots and circles ; in the middle of them is a band, compofed of oblong fliaped fpots, of a pearl colour ; refembling, in their arrangement, the fillet of an eaflern king : the ground ol this fillet, when viewed in the fun, through a glafs, is perhaps one of the richeft and mofl: Iplendid Ipeftacles nature has to exhibit, in all her tribe of infects. The eyes are eight in number, NATURAL HISTORY. 253 tJurAber, fparkllng and placed on the crown of the head : the legs are long, yellow, en- circled with dark brown, and fu'rnilhed with briftles. The TARANTULA. T UlS infeft being of this genils, and much refemblingahoiife fpider, we fluil clofe our brief fyftem of infefts, with a few words on this extraordinary animal. The bi^j of it, in hot countries, producing the molt aftonifliing effects, naturally firll arrefts our attention. The quantity of the poifon emitted into the wound, is too inconfiderable to rend- er it immediately perceptible; but, as it ferments, it caufes, in about five or fix months, the moft frightful diforders. d'he perfon bit, at this time laughs and dances Inceflantly, is all agitation, and alTumes a moft extravagant fpecies of gaiety ; or elfe is alBifted with a moft difinal melancholy. At the return of the period when the bite Was given, the madnefs renews ; and the diftempered patty repeats his former incon- fiftencies, by fancying himfclf a king, or a fhepherd, or fome other charader, according as his fliipwrecked rcalon is driven againlt the rocks of abfurdity. He has no regular train of thought ; all his mind and feelings »re but a chaos of wildncfs and extrava- Y gance. 254 KATURAL history. }/ance. Sometimes thefe unhappy fymptoms will continue feveral years, until death re- lieves the fuffercr. Thofe who have been in Italy, where the natives are frequently afilifted with this malady, tell us, the only cure is mufic, from fuch an agreeable and fprightly indrument as the violin, which is, theiWore, one of the mod common fpecies of mufic in that country ; no village, or ■cottage, is fcarcely without it. 1 he tune is chol'en according to the natural temper and difpofition of the^ patient: this is difcovered bv playing feveral tunes, until the unhappy lulferer, by his gedures, (hows that one is found agreeable to his fancy : this is thought an infallible fign of a cure being effedtech 'Jhe patient immediately begins to dance, and rifes atid falls in concert with the modu- lations of the tunc. This is continued until he begins to perfpire, which indantly caufes an external evacuatioli of the venom. In this manner are thofe afflifted with the bite of a tarantula, cured. But, is it net an ex- traordinary indance of providence, that in- drumcntal mufc diould have attained (b great and general a perfedfion as it has in Italv, where it is necedary to preferve the lives of the natives, who would otherwife frequently die from the bite of this baneful and venemous infetd ? NATURAL HISTORY. 255 fhe Z I M B. H AVING obferved a curious account of the zimb, in the travels of Mr Bruce, wc could not refrain from extrafting it, as a nioft valuable addition to our fmall compen- dium of natural hiftory. This infeift is called the zimb, or tzal- falya. It is a little larger than a bee ; with wings of pure gauze. 1 he head is large ; the upper jaw lharp, and furniflied with a fharp-pointed hair, about a quarter of an inch long : the lower jaw has two of thefe pointed hairs •, and the three, joined into one pencil, make a refinance to the finger, nearly equal to that of a hog’s briflle. As foon as this winged alTaflln appears, and his buzzing is heard, the cattle forfake their food, and run wildly about the plain, till they, die, worn out with fatigue, affright, and pain. The inhabitants ot Melinda, down to Cape-Gardefan, to Saba, and the fouth coaft of the Red Sea, are c -■igcd to put themfelvas in motion, and remove to the next land, in the beginning of the rainy feafon: this is not a partial emigration; the inhabitants of all the countries, from the mountains of Abyflinia, northward, to tlie confluence of the Nile, and Aftaboras, are once in a year, obliged to change their abode, and feek protection in the fands of Beja. 256 NATURAL HISTORY. 'I'I'.e elephant and rhinoceros, which, by reafon of their enormous bulk, and the va(t quantity of food and water they daily need, cannot ihift to defert and dry places, are obliged, in order to refid the zimb, to roll themfelves in mud and mire, which, when dry, coats them over like armour. • Of ail thofe who have written of thefe countries, the prophet Ifaiah alone has given an account of the zimb, or fly, and defcri- bed the mode of its operation. Ifaiah, chap, vii. ver. 18 and 19. Providence, from the beginning, it would appear, had fixed its ha- bitation to one fpecies of foil ; which is a black, fat jsarth, extremely fruitful. And, contemptible as it feems, this infeft has in- variably given law to the fettlement of the country : it prohibited, abfolutely, thofe in- habitants of the black earth, called Mazaga, houfed in cavbs and mountains, from enjoy- ing the help of labour of any beafts of bur- den. It deprived them of their flefli, and nnik, for food ; and gave rife to another nation, leading a wandering life, and pre- ferving immenfe herds, by conducing them into the fands, beyond the limits of the black earth, and bringing them back when the danger from this infeft was over. In the plagues brought on Pharaoh, it was by means of this infed that God laid he would feparate his people from the Egyp- tians. The land of Goflien, the pofleffion of the Ifraelites, was a land of pallure, not tilled, NATURAL HISTORY. 257 tilled, nor fown, becaufe not overflowed by the Nile; but the land overflowed by the Nile, was the black earth of the valley of Egypt : and it was here that God confined the zimb ; for he fays, it fliall be a fign of this reparation of the people, which he had then made, that not one fly fliould be feen in the fancl, or paflure-ground, the land of Goflien. And this kind of foil has ever fince been the refuge of all the cattle emigrating from the black earth, to the lower part of Albara : fo powerful is the wcakelt inftru- ment, in the hands of the Almighty. ■ \ •>.- / CONCISE DESCRIPTION OF T H * MOST VALUABLE AND CURIOUS TREES, SHRUBS, V - '■/ '.^^if.V.'fT- - ■>“ ;■• -.r- \»^ * r •" 4 - -> ■' "* ' i s* ■ ' 1 ■5» ■ ■ f V" A CONCISE D E S C R I P T I O N, I N this part of our natural hiftory, •which we have devoted to the fubjefl; of trees, we have felefted thofe of foreign produc- tion with which we are moft intercfted, from their being the firft objects of our commerce, and the moft valuable of our exotic delica- cies. Under this head of trees, we mean to treat of fuch plants and Ihrubs as are parti- cularly deferving the attention of our young ftudents, whether defigned for the fenate, clofet, counting-houfe, or counter. COFFEE SHRUB. he coffee (hrub grows in Arabia-Felix, and is brought from Mocha : the flower re- fembles the jeflamine ; and the leaf, that of the bay-tree. It is propagated by feeds, and grows 262 NATURAL HISTORY. grows to the height of eight or ten feet. The twigs and leaves rife by pairs : the leaves are two inches broad in the middle, from whence they decreafe to a point at each extremity. As this tree will not thrive when tranfplanted, unlefs kept in mould, it has been found very difficult to rear it in diftant climates ; but this inconvenience has, by attention and perfeverance, been fo con- fiderably diminiflied, that it is now cultivat- ed, with the moft promifing fuccefs, in the Wefl: as well as the Eaft Indies. The fruit hangs on the twigs, by a foot- ftalk, containing one, two, or more, in the fame place. Thefe fhrubs are watered by artificial channels, like other vegetables ; and, after three or four years bearing, the natives plant new fhrubs, in confequence of the old beginning then to decline. They dry the berry in the fun, and afterwards diveft it of the outward huflcs, with hand-mills. In the hot feafons, they ufe thefe huflcs, roaft- ed, inftead of the coffee berries ; and efteem the liquor impregnated with them more cooling. 1 he coffee berries are generally ripe in April : they are efleemcd, as being of an excellent drying quality, comforting the brain, eafing pains in the head, fupprefling vapours, drying up crudities, preventing drowfinefs, and reviving the fpirits. TEA NATURAL HISTORV, 363 TEA SHRUB. he tea ilirub grows plentifully In feve- ral parts of the Ealt-Indies, and affords a leaf Xvhich is too well known, according to the opinion of our phyficians, in every country in Europe. It is brought from China, Ja- pan, and Siam. The leaves are gathered m the fpring ; and bear a flower of five leaves, tefenibling a rofe ; to thefe fucceed a cod, like a hazle-nut. The tea Ihrub flounflies equally in rich and poor ground. I he l^^y^s are dried and parched by fire ; in which fiate they are fent to Europe, and othei: parts of the world. The beft tea is that which is the greenefl, belt feented, and mo t free from dull. 1 he caufe of ^ tea being o much drunk in Europe, is faid to be the Chinefe bartering it for their fage, which they elteem as poffeffing the molt invaluab.e qualities. This is not improbable, from our phyficians having a Latin proverb, refpcaing fage of virtue ; which afks, why will a man die with fage in his garden ? Although tea is drunk more for plealure than for any me- dicinal purpofe, it isjufily allowed to poflels tnany falutary qualities. COCOA- natural HlSToRV. t(^4 COCOA. TREE. ^JL 'his tree, bearing the cocoa or chocolate hut, refembles our heart cherry tree ; ex- cept that, when full grown, it is muchhighi er and broaderk It has abundance of leaves^ fimilar to thofe of the orange-tree. It Ilou- Lifhes throughout the year, efpecially near the fummer and winter folftices. As the leaves perpetually replenilh thcmfelves, this tree is never difrobed of its verdure. 1 he blotfoms are fmall, regular, and like a rofcj but fcentlefs. Every bloITom is joined to the tree by a flender flalk ; and leaves, in faU ling, long green filaments; which produce a pointed yellow fruit, of the fize of out jnelons : thefe adhere to the thick branches, without any intermediate Item ; as if nature thus providentially provided it a fupport ftrong enough to bear the greatnefs of its Weight, when grown ripe, and to its largeft fize. Each fruit contains from between 15 and 25 fmall nuts, or almonds, covered with a thin yellow Ikin ; which being fepa- rated, a tender fubftance appears, divided into feveral unequal particles, that, although Iharp to the palate, are nouriflnng to the con- flitution. Thefe trees grow in all the Spanifii Wefi- Indies, Jamaica, &c. where they common- ly produce fruit every feven years at mod, after i^ATURAL HISTORV. mple /lalk grows from the root to the top, as the fun-flower ; and is diftinguifli- cd by its either being naked, leafy, upright (as the lark’s-fpur ), oblique, twining, pli- ant, reclining, lying on the ground (as the nafturtium), creeping (as the Panfy), having roots as long as itfelf ; living feveral years, or . only one year ; being woody, Ihrubby, cylindrical in form (as the ftar- flowcr) ; having two, three, or more an- gles ; and being ftrcaked, furrowed, or channeled, fmooth, rough (as the after), hairy, or prickly (as the rofe). A branching Jlalk is one that ftioots late- ral branches, as it afcends, as the wall-flow- ers ; and is diftinguilhed by the branches being either irregular, large, numerous (as the piony), fupported, prolific in leaves, fruit, or flowers (as the Jily of the valey, and the jonquil). A compound Jialk is one foon divided into branches, as the flower of ParnaflTus ; and is diftinguilhed by being either forked, having two ranges of branches, or having thefe ranges fubdivided j tubular like a ftraw ; being entire, branched, uniform, jointed (as a pink), fcaly, or with or with- out leaves. 3. FUL- NATURAL HISTORY. 295 3. F U L C R A— The SUPPORT, Js that part which fuftains or defends cer- tain parts of a plant, and is divided into the following ten kinds ; the leaf fupporting the flowers, the tendril or clafper (as the honey- fuckle and fweet-pea,) the fpine, the thorn, the footftalk of the leaf, the footflalk of the flower or fruit (as the columbine,) the ge- neral ftalk, the gland, and the fcale. ^ Each of thefe have their fubdivifions, which w-e omit, as being too minute for the attention of young ftudents. 4. F O L I A— L EAVES, A R E divided into three clafles, of fingle, compound, and determinate. Single leaves are thofe that have footflalks fupporting only one, as the cyclamen ; and are defcribed according to their circumfer- ence ; border, furface, fummit, and fub- ftance. Their circumference and border are either round, nearly round, oval, reverfed oval, oblong, fliaped like a wedge, angular, fpear- fliaped (as the belvidere,) narrow, fliaped like an awl, triangular, deltoide, or having four corners, quinqueangular or five-cor- nered, 296 NATURAI, HISTORY. ncred, fliaped like a kidpey, a heart, a moon, an arrow, or a pike, divided into two or three parts, formed like a hand, pointed like a wing, jagged, indented (as the tube- rofe,) divided or not into parts, Hngly or double fawed, notched, grifly, ciliated or hairy like an eye-lid, lacerated, or feeniingly torn or bitten, curled, or entire. Their Jurface is diftinguiflied by being either downy, foft as velvet ; hairy, as the fox-glove ; hinging ; rough ; fmooth, as the daify ; briftly, prickly, warted, polilh- ed, plaited, waved, wrinkled ; veined, as the gilliflower or carnation ; nervofe ; plain, as the auricula flower ; deprelfed, comprefT- ed, convex, concave, or channelled. 'Iheir fununit, cr iop^ is either truncated, blunt, as if bitten, hollow, obtufe, pointed (as the amaranthus,) lhaped like an awl, or taper like a pillar. 7 heir JubJlar\ce is either hollow’, flefliy, or membranous (as pinks.) Compound leayes are either fimple or de- compound. A compound leaf is formed of feveral fmall leaves growing from onefootftalk, and is confulered as one w'hole, produced from a Angle compoAtion, as the ranunculus, rofe. carnation, pink, &c. They are either fingered, compofed of two, three, or many leaves, refembling wings expanding from their common fo'otflalk, and having alternate leaves, or being doubly winged. A decom- NATURAL HISTORY. 297 A decompound /(?/ 7 /has a foptftalk divid- ing twice or more times before it is garnifli- ed with leaves. Determinate leaves are dillingfliflied by their dire£tioii» place, infertion, or fitua- lion. The dir cftioji is the manner in which the leaf expands from. the. bottom to the top, and is either arched, upright, fprcadiiig, ho- rizontal, reclining, or revolving backwards. The place is determined by the part of the plant where-it is faftened, and is either called the feed leaf from rifmg iin mediately from the feed,, or radical from rifing.firn: from the root. The infertion is the manner in which a leaf is faltened to plant, and is eithtr fahened to the difk, or has a footlfalk to its bale, grow’s frcni the branch without a foatllalk, ia'dalv tened by a membrane, or lurrounds the Ifaik: without any part of the border adhering to it, like the hare’s- ear. ‘The (ttuulion is confidered from the pofi- tion of each in relation to the others. 1 he lituation is, therefore, either jointed, fur- rouiuling the (talks like liars, oppoled to each other (as tlie jeltamine,) growing in an alternate pofition on each fide their foot- llalk, or without any order, clullered (as ti-.e flow'ers of the fweet William,) ranged like the tiles of a houfe, or the fcales of a lifli. FLO. 298 NATURAL HISTORY. 5. FLOWERS. TT* H E flowers of plants are divided into four parts : the cup, calyx ; the petal, or flower-leaf, corolla ; the ftamen, Jlamtm / and the pointal, pijlillum. The CUP OF THB FLOWER is that which inclofes, and fuftains the flower ; and is di- vided into feven forts ; the perianthhim, In- *volucrum, fpatha, gluma, amentum., ca- lyptra, and volva. The perianthium is the moil common of the flower-cup ; confifts often of many parts ; fometimes of only one part, feparat- ed half-way into fevcral divifions, as the In- dia pink ; and always furrounds the bottom of the flower. The hivolucrum embraces many flowers collefted together, and which have each of them a perianthium. 1 he fpatha is a (heath, which covers one or more flowers, that are generally without a perianthium ; it confifts of a membrane, faftei'.ed to the flock ; and differs in its figure and fubflance. Gluma is a fort of chaff, which particu- larly covers grain and grafs feeds. I’he lulus, or amentum, is a mafs of male or female flowers covered with fmall fcales, and faflened to an axis, in the form of a rope, as the irregular flowers of the violet. The KATURAL HISTORY, 299 The calyptra, or coif, is a thin, conical, membranous cover to the parts which ge- nerate fruitage. The volva, or purfe, is a thick covering inclofing feveral fpecies of mulhroom pro- dudions. The Corolla, petal or flower-leaf, is one of thofe which form the flower, and furround the generative parts of the plant itfelf. Of thefe there are the petal, and the ne£larium : they are either entirely one, as the convolvulus, or formed of many pieces. The petal is generally diftinguilhed by the beauty of its colour, and the neftarium by Containing thofe fweet juices which the bees change into honey. The corolla is fome- times without a footftalk, as the martegon. The Stamen is the male part of flow- ers, and confifts of the filament and the fummit or anthtra, as the paflion-flow- er. The filament fuftains the anthera, apex, or fummit, and is either formed like a thread, or lhaped like an awl. The anthera, apex, or fummit, is the eflential part of the ftamina, and contains the male organ of generation. It confifts of a little bag, of one or more cavities, con- taining the male farina. The PoiNTAL includes the female parts of flowers, and confifts oi i\\& ^crmfifiyle, and fiigma. The 300 •KATURAL HISTORY. "the germ indofes and defends the feeds. The Jiyie fifes from the germ, and fup- ports the ftigma. The Jiigma is the female organ of gene- ration, and is fituated upon the top of the ftyle, if any ; if not, it fits upon the germ. 6. F R U C T U S— r//e FRUIT. T . J- H F. different fpecies of fruit, fuch as plums, berries, apples, feeds, &c. are too well known to require a defeription. The CLASSES. LOWERS are either hermaphrodite, from having both the fexual diitinftions of male and females, (lamina and pointals ; male, from having Jlam'ma only j or fe- male, from having or\\y pointah. The Jlamina are either detached from each other, united together by one of their parts, or joined fometinies with pointals : they are of equal length, or have fomc fiiorter than the red ; and the number, pro- portion, and fituation of the (lamina deter- mine clcilfcs, as the dift'erences of the poijital* determine the orders of (lowers. ^ The NATURAL HISTORY. 3^5' The claffes, accovdiiig to the nunibvt of ftamina in the male parts of the ilower, are called, 1. Monandria, one ftamen. 2. Uiandria^ two flamina. 3. Triandria, three. 4. Tetrandria, four. 5. Peiandria, five. 6. HexandriUf fix. 7. Heptandria, feven. 8. Odlandria, eight. 9. Enneandria, nine. 10. Decandria, ten. 11. Dodecandria, eleven. 12. Icofandria, when more than twelve. 13. Polyandria, when more than thirteen. Ihofe flowers which have two ftamina fliorter than the reft, are called, 14. Dynajnina, as having two long, and two fliorter ftamina. 13. ‘Tetradyna/na, as having four long and two fliorter ftamina. hole flowers which have their ftamina united together or with a pointal, are thus diftingulflied. 16. Monadelphia, ftamina united into one body. 17. Diadelpbin, ftamina into two bodies. 18. Poly< delphia, ftamina into three or more bodies. 19. Syngencjlci, the ftamina forming a cy- lindrical body. ^ . C'c » 20. G\n- NATURAL HISTORY. 30a 2 3. Gynandria, the {lamina fitting upon the pointals. 1 hofe plants of different figures are thus difiinguifhed. 2 1 . Monoecta : the plants of this clafs have male and female flowers upon the fame individual. 22. Dioeda, have male and female flow- ers on different individuals. 23. Polygainia, have hermaphrodite flow- ers upon the fame individual. ORDERS. he orders, or fubdivifions, of the clafl- es, are dillinguiflied by the pointals, or fe- male parts of the plant or flower, as the clafl'es are by the ftamina, or male parts of the flower. The number of pointals or ftig- mas are counted. The chief diftinclions are the number of pointals, and nature of feeds, the nature of pods, and the number and gender of the flo- rets. According to the number of the poin- tals, the orders are termed monogynia, digy- nia, &c. according to the nature of the feeds, gymnofpermia, angiofpermia ; ac- cording to the pods, filiculofa, filiquofa ; and according to the number and gender of the florets, they are termed polygamia aequa- lis, polygamia fuperflua, &c. A CON- A CONCISE HISTORY O F FLOWERS. J O N U I L. HIS charming flower comei?, with all its graces, to deck the fpring ^ it confifts of fev- eral fpecies j but the great jonquil has a ftem, about a foot in height, which bears from a ■third part upwards, feveral golden blofToms, confifting of five or fix leaves, all curling in a mofl agreeable and beautiful mannei. It is multiplied by feed ; but, more properly, by their bulb's. 'I'hey require a good, but not a very rich foil ; and are ulually planted along the borders; thus affording a mofl agreeable embelliflnnent to the walks and parterres of any garden meant to be diflinguifhed for its lafte and elegance. . ANEMONE. 304 NATURAL HISTORY. ANEMONE. ‘T JL HIS beautiful flower, with proper cul- ture, will blow twice a year ; and thus con- tinue to grace our gardens, when they are abandoned by all the reft of the flowering tribe. Their colours are chiefly red, blue, and purple. The root ofthefe plants fhould be taken out of the ground, and preferved like thofe of the ranunculus. They grow belt in a fandy foil. When the feeds crack, or fliew their down, they fliould be gathered, to prevent their be- ing difperfed by the wind. From thefe feeds, innumerable varieties may be raifed : and if they are fown in February, and lightly co- vered with earth, they will blow the fecond year alter fowing. LILY. T i. HIS flower is a great ornament to a gar- den. '1 he noble height of its Hem, and the limple grandeur ofthe flow'er, render it a moll il-’lightful f[)eblac!e to thofe who have the kail tafte for the beauteous produ«flions of nature. The lily Is too well knowm, and admired, to require any particular defcriptioii of its lorm or colour. '1 he cultiirc requires no NATURAL HISTORY. 3 ° 5 no curious rules, from its being eafily reared in any foil : and, as if nature meant this charming flower fliould be enjoyed by the poor as well as the rich, we find it thrive with the leaft attention. Such is the beauty of the lily, that many European noblemen place them in pots, in order to decorate the avenues to their fumptuous palaces. Some garden-walks are entirely bordered with them ; and, indeed, wherever they are placed, they are always beautiful. LARKSPUR, T he larkfpur is one of thofe flowers that feem to delight in difplaying the variety of colours with which the flowers of each fteni are decorated. They grow on ftalks, of three feet high ; and, when choicely reared, afl'ord, in a bed, one of the inoft beautiful fpe6l:acles that Flora has to prefent, for our delight, wonder, and contemplation. It is generally fown in February ; and may be expefted to bloflbm, in all its richnefs of fplendid beauty and elegance, in June and July. If properly attended, they , will con- tinue their bloom until Auguft, or Septem- ber. DAFFODiU ■Cc2 NATURAL HISTORY. ;o6 DAFFODIL, or LONG-NECKED NARCISSUS. W HICH is called cou de chameau, i, e, camel’s neck, from the long Ilalk, when charged with flowers, reprefenting the neck of this animal. This flower is to be ad- mired for its being an agreeable ornament to the rural parts of a garden. They blofTom in the fpring, and grow about a foot high. The daffodil thrives bell; in a rich foil, with which the bulbs need only be covered ; it Ihould not be much expofed to the fun, from the flower deriving moll beauty from the latenefs of its appearance. The bulbs fliould be fet about four fingers diftant from each other, in order to afford fufficient room for their cxpanfion. It fhould be removed every three years. They flower in March. COLCHlCUM,<7rMEADOW SAFFRON, I S fo called from its growing in Colchis, a country in the neighbourhood of the king- dom of Pontus, famous for the fable of the golden apples, and the golden fleece. It is laid to be fo flrong a poifon as to kill dogs, from which quality it is called dog’s bane. Of the meadow faffron there is a variety of fpecies. NATURAL HISTORY. 307 fpecies. Its general defcription is, being a plant that Ihoots from its root five or fix oblong leaves, about an inch broad, fmooth, and of a brownifh green. Amid thefe leaves rifes the ftalk, bearing at the top a yellow fingle-leaved flower like a pipe, and cut into fix parts. TheColchicum will grow in any foil. It is multiplied by bulbs, which are produced every year in abundance. They (hould be planted in pots or borders, and tranfplanted in July, in which date they fhould lie until September. They flow- er in March. POLYANTHUS Xs divided into the primrofe and cowflip kind ; and thefe are fubdivided again into the fingle-flowering, double-flowering hofe in hofe, pentaloons, and feathers. The fingle- flowering are chiefly white, yellow, red, pur- ple, and violet-coloured. They are multiplied by feeds, I'own in February, upon a place prepared with earth taken out of decayed willows ; often refreflilng the new-fown fpot with water ; and keeping it fliaded fiom the fun, all April and May, ’ until the young plants appear. The Primrofe kinds bloflom clofe to the ground ; and the Cowllip fpecies, about fix inches higher. Both theie-forts may be planted near the edges of borders. 3o8 NATURAL HISTORY. and near houfes, for the enjoyment of their agreeable fraell. Nothing can be more de- lightful than a number of thefe Flowers, ac- companied with violets, growing under hedges, in avenues, and artificial wildernef- Ics. They flower in April. PERSICARIA AS a towering ftem, about five feet and a half high, refembling a Sugar-cane, which, towards the bottom, is garniflied with fever- al large green leaves, like thofe of lilac. It has a garnet blo/Tom which grows in the form of a feather, that hangs from their Items with confiderable grace and beauty. Ihey are cultivated in molt gardens diftin- guiflied for their choice aflemblage ot elegant flowers. I heir time of blofToming is dur- ing the fummer months, when the parterres ot thofe gardens in which they are cultivat- ed, derive confiderable ornament from their beautiful and Angular appearance. tulip. X HE tulip requires nothing butafinefcent, to render it the finefl; flower in the world, lhe;r infinite varieties difplay fuch beauties as NATURAL HISTORY. ^ 309 as eclipfe every other pride of the garden. Thefe ornaments of nature are as kind as they are beautiful ; for they continue regal- ing the fight with a fuccefllon of their charms, from March to the latter end of They are divided into dalles ; the early and later blowers. Iheir varieties are chiefly diftinguiflied by the names of ci- ties, or fuch like characters. A good tulip is known by its towering Item, its beautiful colours ; with u flower fltaped like an egg, without fliarp points to their petals ; but what renders them the moll valuable, is their variety. The flower-ftems, being left upon the roots, will perfefl their feeds about July. The feeds are gathered when they begin to crack. JERUSALEM CROSS. ^ 1 HIS flower Is a fpecies of the I.ychnis ; and it is called by botaniils, F/os Conjlanii- nopolitanus, from being originally brought from Conllantinoplc. This plant Ihoots into feveral Hems, about two feet high ; and di- vides itfeU into different branches. The leaves are long and pointed, of a green and brown colour. On the top of each Item grow the flowers, confifllng of five leaves, which hang down, like the tops of fennel. 3iO NATURAL HISTORV. and reprefent little crofTes, fometimes of a white, but more generally of a fcarlet co- lour. They have an agreeable odour. 'J he Jerufalem crofs will thrive in any fub- flantial foil ; but it grows befl in the lhade. The culture is the fame as of the Lychnis ; to which we refer our readers. It flowers in July ; and is reckoned a great ornanrent, among any others you may pleafe to plant it. Care fliould be taken to water it, in hot and dry feafons. NARCISSUS. this flower there are feveral fpecies ; but as the nareilTus polyanthus is one of the nioft early blolToms, we (hall briefly deferibe it. Its icent is fofweet, that many confider it not lefs defirable than the Jonquil. This, like all the other narciffufes, fliould be pro- pagated from offsets, taken from their roots. ■J'he polyanthus is greatly admired for its fplendor and variety of colour, in both of which it has no fmall refemblance to the au- ricula. In the rural parts of our gardens, thefe, as well as the daffodil narciffus, are a very agreeable ornament ; which has caufed them to be frequently mentioned by the moft eminent of pafloral writers. FRITIL- NATURAL HISTORY. 3 11 F R I T I I. L A R Y Js a plant that has a ftem about a foot high, round, fmooth, and of a deep green colour. It is garnilhed with about fix or feven leaves, placed irregularly, and which are long and narrow. At the top of the ftem grow one or two flowers, hanging down in the lhape of a bell : thefe are fpeckled with feveral colours, and are compofed of fix leaves. The co- lours, being placed in the form of a chefs- board, havecaufcd this plant to be called the Fritillary, from Freiillus, which fignifies a chefs-board. Fritillaries are multiplied by bulbs and feeds. The bulbs are planted in September. 'They fliould be placed three inches deep, and at the fame diftance from each other. They flower in April. JESSAMINE. jf^LTHOUGH all the fpecies of JeflTa. mines grow in a very irregular form, and are never fubmitted to the pruning-knife, they are a beautiful ornament to any garden. Of the Jeflamines, there are too many forts to be heredefcribed ; we fliall therefore confine ourfelves to the common jelfamine, which is fo great a decoration to our gardens. 312 NATURAI. HISTORY. It is a flirub that flioots forth feveral fmall branches ; which are adorned with leaves oblong, pointed, placed in pairs along each branch, which terminates with a fmgle leaf ; at the end of the branches grow the bloflbms, in form of umbrellas, confifting of five delicate white leaves, which poflefs a moll agreeable fmell. When the JelTa- mine is in bloom, nothing can be more pleafingthan the contraft of the green ground with the ftarry flowers with which it is fo numeroufly ftudded. CARNATION. ^ ' HESE are called, by the Greeks and Ro- mans, the white violet, from being of the fame fpecies with refpeft to the flowers. The Gillvflower is reckoned one of the molt principal ornaments of our gardens, dhe variety and great number of its flowers feem to have acquired it this diftindtion. Tfie leaves of the flem refcmble thofe of fage : from the middle of the root, the flem riles about eighteen inches, and then runs into fe- vcral branches, tufted with beautiful flowers, compoi’ed of four leaves, in the form of a crofs, which have a mofl fragrant fmell. This plant is railed from feed iown in March, in hot-beds, in imall drills drawn acroi's each other : the feed being fown, is covered. NATURAL HISTORY. 3 1.;’ covered, with the hands, as lightly as pofli- ble. When the plants appear, Jpey mult be fecured from the frolt by glaffes, mat- ting, or dry dung. Among the gillyflowers is ranked what is commonly called the carna- tion, old blowers, &c. PASSION FLOWER. ^ 1 ^ HIS flower cannot be efleemed lefs than a miracle, fince God has thought proper to deferibe on it the principal emblems of the death and paflion of pur Saviour. The leaves are pointed, like a crown of t herns : the whitenefs of the leaves reprefenta the in- nocence of Chrift ; the red firings are em- blems of his being fcourged ; and the little column, in the middle of the flower, is thought by divines to be the figure of the pillar to which our Saviour was bound : another part reprefents the fponge ; and the ftamina, growing over the pillar, remind us of the three nails with which he was nailed to the crofs, and, in a word, the pointed leaves raife a perfedf idea of the fpear with which his facred fide was pierced. 'I'his moll curious flower grows in all forts of ground, efpeclally in a foil inclinable to moilt rather than light; it is multiplied by roots fet three inches deep. As the roots fpread confiderably, care fhould be taken to D d prevent 3-14 NATURAL HTSTORV* prevent their injuring the roots of other neighbourihg flowers. AM ARAN THUS Js a plant that hasj rifing from its rootj leaves that are large, pointed, of a brown* ilh green, bordered with red. From the centre of thefe leaves grows a ftem about eighteen inches high, of a red colour, bear- ing flowers either of a violet, purple, crim* Ion, orange, red, or fcarlet colour. From the beauty and fimplicity of thefe colours, the amaranthus is always efteemed as a moft valuable appendage to a garden. The feed, which is remarkably fmall, curious, and beautiful, is preferved in little boxes until the winter. Thefe flowers appdar graceful in pots filled with kitchen-garden earth and bea mould. If watered conftantly and care* fully, they will grow, in this ftate, to a fine fize, and will make a moll beautiful appear- ance : and, as the flowers continue a confi* durable time, and flourifh when other flow- ers are fcarce, the amaranthus is confidered as no inconfiderable part of ain elegant gar- den. ROSE* NATURAL HISTORY. 315 ROSE. A lthough rofes are generaly ranked among flowering (hrubs, yet, as they are reckoned among the greateft ornaments of a garden, and are the chief beauty of any alfemblage of flowers, we fliould think our- felves remifs, in omitting a brief account of them, in this fhort defcription of flowers. As a general defcription of the many forts of rofes, — they grow on flirubs, that fhoot forth hard, woody, thorny branches ; with oblong leaves, indented, and armed with prickles. On thefe branches grow the flow- ers, confiding of leaves, in a round form > their cups are leafy, and turn to round, or oblong pulpy berries. The pale rofe is fair, large, of a carnation colour, and pollcfles an agreeable fmell and appearance. The da- mafk rofe is a fmall, white, fingle or doule rofe, with a mufky fcent. . The common white rofe is large and beautiful ; and re- markable for being, with the red rofe, worn as the diftinclion of the houfes of York and Lancafter. dhe yellow rofe has broad leaves, of a lemon colour, without fmell. The monthly rofe is like the damaik, and has red flowers, growing in bunches, d'he ftriped rofe has white and red ilreaked leaves : and the mofs rofe is fo called from the ftem and outward leaves appearing to be covered kat.ur.al history. 216 covered with mofs, in a manner that appears fingularly beautiful. RANUNC ULUS. ranunculus, next to the tulip, is defi- J. rable for its beauty. There are feveral forts of them imported into England every year from Tutky. This plant blooms in April and May upon ftalks about fix or eight inches high. 1 he double flowering forts are crowded ivirli petals, like Province rofe flower. The colours of them are deep fcarlet, veined with green and golden hues, yellow tipped with red, white fpotted with red, orange colours, plain white, yellow with black, and one fort of a peach-bloom colour. The Angle ranun- culus blows fomewhat taller than the double, and is mofl agreeably variegated with pleafant colours. They are both increafed by olFsets, found about the roots, after taken from the ground. They may likewife be propagated from feed, faved from the Angle bloflbms. 'i'he Englifli are indebted chiefly to the Trench for them, in confequence of their climate being too cold for their culture. DAISY. NATURAL HISTORY. 317 DAISY. ^ he daify, being of an agreeable afpedf, was called by the Romans, bellis, from bellus, /. e. handfome. The daify has fmall, oblong fmooth leaves, both intended, and otherwife : in the middle of thefe leaves rife little, long ftalks, tufted with a radiated flower, which is fometimes white, red, and variegated. The daify, for its fimplicity of beauty, and being the early grace of our banks and mea- dows, has been ever, andjuftly, one of the mod charming fubjeids of padoral poetry. To gather them, is the fird pleafure of lifping infancy; and to view them, is the fird delight of the humble cottager. Although this plant produces feed, yet thofe who cultivate them in their gardens, replant the fplit roots. It grows very low ; and is a mod proper and beautiful border, either in the flower or kitchen garden. TUBEROSE Is a fort of hyacinth, called hyacinthus indi- cus. Although this plant is from fuch a did- ance as Afia, yet it is now plentiful in mod parts of Europe, i'he tuberofc has, growing from its roots, feveral leaves, about fix inches P d. : ijlS NATURAL HISTORY. long, {Iralt, and pointed at the end. In the middle grow a ftem, to the height of three or four feet, and about half an inch in dia- meter. On the top of the ftem grow the flowers, like lilies, fingle-leafed, fhaped like a pipe, indented, and looking like a bell. 1 he flowers blow fucceflively, which caufes the tuberofe to_ continue long in bloflbm. So fweet is their odour, that they perfume the place wherein they are fet. This plant, if let in May, will flower in jAutumn. They fliould be placed where the fun is hotteft. i hey will be found a greater ornament to ■windows than to parterres. SNOWDROP. One of the firft off'erings w-hichFlora dif- plays on the Ihrine of nature,i8 the fnowdrop, I like the cheek of fpring,are its leaves; and, like the feafon in which it appears, itSi bloflom hangs languid on the verdant ftem. Ihe flower is compofed of flx leaves which together form a bloflbm, fimilar in fliape to a bell : the odour is as grateful as the coloin IS delicate. ^ The fhowdrop, being a bulbous plant, is raifed from its root, and is generally langed with the narcilTus. Although it is a common flower, yet fuch is its beauty, fim- plicity, and cheering appearance, that it generally accompanies the crocus in all par- terres ' NATUK.A^ HISTORY. tcrres dlftinguiflied for their variety or their elegance. SWEET-WILLIAM. ^ 8 Vi E R E are two forts of this plant, confifting of fingle and double flowers. The Angle fort only differs in the colour of the flower : the one has branches of bloffoms variegated with red and white : the other has clufters of deep crimfon-coloured flow- ers. They both bloffom in June and July, up- on flalks two feet high. The double fort produces its beautiful red flowers in the fame months, but upon fhorter Hems. The Angle- flowered fweet William may be raifed from feeds fown in March : They will bloffom the fecond year. The double fort is propagated from flips, taken from the root in March or April; if planted in a loamy foil, they will thrive the beft. The others may be alfo increafed by the fame means, or if they are laid down in the earth like carnation layers. CYCLAMEN. cyclamen is fo called inLatin, French root being almoft produces from, the root. and Jt.nglnh, from the round. It is a plant that 320 NATURAL HISTORY. root, leaves that are broad, almoft round, of a dark green colour, fpeckled on the outfide, and with purple on the infide ; In the middle grow long pedicles, and at the top of which are the fingle-leaved flowers, dividing into five parts, folding inwards. Autumnal cyclamens bear a red flower, fweetly fcented. In this feafon, blows one called the Conllantinople cyclamen, which bears the firft year twenty flowers ; he fecond fifty, and the third two hundred, and all without the leaft fmell. The cycla- men is raifed by feeds. The autumn cycla- men fhould be fown in autumn, and the fpring cyclamen in the fpring. SCARLET LYCHNIS. TP* HE beauty of this plant is fuch, as to caufe it to be ranked among the mofl. elegant parterres. Both the fingle and double lych- nis are very delightful in appearance, they bear bunches of fcarlet flowers, upon (talks above two feet high, in June and July. They are fo greatly efteemed, that gardiners rear them in pots, to decorate the mofl beautiful parts of their garden, or to be placed, in the fummer feafon, in chimnies,where they prove a mofl: pleafant ornament. The double kind is increafed by flips, taken from the root in March. The fingle flowering kind may be propagated NATURAL HISTORY. 521 propagated by the fame means, or raifed in March from feeds, which bloifom the firft year. An open fituation, and a light foil, are moft proper for their cultivation. CROCUS. TT* HIS early flower, as if anxious to Ihare with thefnowdrop in cheering the departing gloom of winter, appears in January an Februaty, but not to be a mere fpeftacle or beauty ; it produces a moft ufeful fubftance, which is fafl'ron. The Ihape of the refembles the lily. It pofleffes an agreeable fcent. Confidering its cheerful afpeft,^ when few flowers appear, and its producing fo valuable an eflence, it is rather a wonder it fliould not be more cultivated in our gardens. The true crocus is rather to be multiplied by the root than by its feed. It requires a rich foil, and ought to be planted in a ground expofed to the foflering rays of the fun. COLUMBINE. TP HIS plant is called aquilegia,from aqtiila an eagle, in confequence of the leaves of its flower being hooked like the beak and talons of that bird. The columbine fhoots indented leaves 3^2 NATURAL History. leaves of a blueifli green, and growing to long ftalks. In the middle, rifes a item of eighteen inches long, which is flender, and of a reddifli colour : frorh this ftem fprout feveral little fprigs, which fupport a flower compofed of five flat and five hollow leaves, coloured with Ted, blue, white, chefnut, and carna- tion. Columbines require a rich foil, and are cultivated by fowing the feed very thinly in September, in beds well dug, where it re- mains until the plants are ready to be re- moved to the plots of a parterre. The co- lumbine is one of thofe lafling plants which is kept alive by its roots, and will live a long time in the earth without requiring to be fown again. double MARYGOLD. T' Jl DISplanthasbecn admitted into ourgar- dens, from the richnefs of the colour, and the beautiful form of the numerous leaves. Nothing can be more fplendid than their gol- den hue. With refpeft to the difpofition of the leaves, they feem as if Flora had particu- larly difpofed them into the form of a crown, for her own embellilhment. The leaves are not only beautiful in themfelves, but they are allowed, by phyficians and botanifts, to pof- fefs great medicinal virtues: they are faid to cheer the fpirits, by their infufion, as much NATURAL HISTORY. 523 much as they cheer the fi^ht by their ap- pearance. Their flavour is likewife fo agree- able, as to have caufed it to have been mixed among the herbs that are ufually boiled in our broths and foups. Thus after delighting us in the parterre, they heighten the delica- cies of our table. BE LVIDERE. ROM the leaves of this plant, refem^ bling thofe of flax, it is called in Latin^ lina* ria, from linus, which fignifies flax. It rifes into fcveral ftems, two, three, or four feet high ; and fhoots into many branches, gar- nilhed with ftrait, oblong leaves, of a light- green colour. At the extremities of thefe boughs appear Angle flowers with irregular leaves. Thefe plants are of ufe in little courts, where they are fet two feet diftant from each other, in borders raifed for thepurpofe ; of in pots, placed in fymmetrical order. The belvidere is multiplied by feed, fown in plain ground, in any part of a nurfery j front whence it is removed, as foonas it is ftrong enough to be replanted. As the air injures the root, it fhould be replanted the moment it is taken from its native foil, and watered PRIM. 3*4 NATURAL HISTORY. PRIMROSE. TP HIS flower very early graces the lap of nature. Its golden leaves are frequently feen rifing from the fnowy beds. So welcome is this flower to man, that in Europe it is fre- quently reared in pots ; which are placed to adorn the windows, when fcarcely any ver- dure is to be feen abroad. When planted, it fhould be placed in good garden mould, and in a warm fituation, among the fmalleft flowers, or elfe to edge the compartments of the parterres with its golden tilTues. As no flower is more cheering, or agreeable to the fight, it generally graces the mofl choice and beautiful gardens. FLOWER OF PARNASSUS. TP HIS plant is called parnaflia, or gramen parnafli, by the botanifts, from its being found on the mountain of ParnalTus. It bears leaves very like thofe of the violet ; from amidft thefe leaves rife feveral fteins, about fix inches high : on the top is a rofy flower, compofed of feveral unequal leaves, fringed, and difpofed in a circle. This plant is annual, and confequently multiplied by feed, which fhould not be thrown too thick. It thrives belt in NATURAL HISTORY. ^25 In a fat, moift earth ; and is cultivated like thofe other plants that are Town in hot-beds in March, and vyhich are confequently to be fecured from the cold by glafles, ftraw or matting. This flower is not only a great beauty in parterres, but in ' pots, or very large tubs, where it appears to equal advan>- tage. WALLFLOWER I S called by fome, the yellow gillyflower. It confjfls of both Angle and double flower* ing kinds. It Ihoots out leaves of a dark green colour, that are pointed at the end : between thefe leaves, grow feveral branchy ftalks ; on the top of which, appear the flowers, com- pofed of four, and fometimes more leaves, of a yellow colour. The Angle wallflower ia multiplied by feed, and the double by layers, or flips. 1 his flower will grow every where ; even upon walls, or among rubbifh : but, when cultivated, more care fhould be taken of them, as they will prove an agreeable orna- nament to borders, or any other parts of a garden not defined for more choice flowers. BLUE 2z6 NATURAL HISTORY. BLUE BELL. T he blue bell plant flioots forth ftalkj two feet and a half high, which are hairy, and furniflied with leaves: thefe are oblong, broad, and pointed at the end, notched at the edges, and downy; along thefe fl;alks,and at the Items of the leaves, the flowers grow, in form of bells : thefe bloflbms are blue, notched at the brims, and divided into four parts ; each is fupported by a calyx, or little cup, divided likewife into five parts. This flower delights much in the foil of a kitchen garden. It is multiplied by fowing the feed, as thinly as polTible, on the end of a plot well dug, and fmoothed on the fur- face. The time of fowing is September and Oflober, and that of flowering is July. SUNFLOWER. T his plant is called turn-fol by the Itali-* ans, which turning towards the fun ; it is therefore called turnfol by feveral of our botanifts. The caufe of its turning towards the fun, is from the flow'er being heavy, and confequently inclining the ftem to that pofiti- on it is liable to, from being warped by the rays of this luminary. The NATURAL HISTORY. 327 The funflowers are of two forts : one pro- duces a Hem between five and fix feet high, which is very ftrait and branchlefs, with leaves nearly as large as thofe of the vine, jagged, pointed and rough ; on the top of this ftem appear the flowers, refembling the fun. Care fhould be taken in what part of a garden it is planted, left it fliould choke the flowers growing near it. The places nioft proper, are the broad allies planted with trees, and between which the turn-fol may be planted at three feet diftance. INDIAN PINK. .ALTHOUGHthisplanthasaftrongfmell, yet it is raifed in our gardens, for its beauti- ful flower. The Indian pink Ihoots into a ftem, about eighteen inches high, and then divides into feveral branches, full ol leaves, indented and pointed. At the extremity of each bough, appear radiated flowers, round, compofed of feveral well formed leaves, which are of a yellow colour. The dilk confifts of feveral flourilhes, divided into many parts. Thefe flowers have likewife. crowns, compofed of half-llouriflics, placed in a cup, of one leaf. The Indian pink re- quires much the fame management as the fe- male balfam apple. I'he cold injures them very materially. This plant is very proper- in NATURAL HISTORY. ■328 in all the compartments of our parterres : but they fhould not be placed among plants of ihefmaller fize, nor in the middle of beds ; for, by fuch a fituation, the great beauty of thefe pinks would be loft to the fpedator. LUPINE. X_jUPINflS confift of three forts; the great blue, the finall blue, and yellow flowering Jpecies. They all blolTom in May and June. The firft fort grows to about two feet high ; and the two latter, about half the height of the former. They are a flower that is feen in moft gardens ; and are remarkable for their neatnefs of bloflbm, and fimplicity of co- louring. The yellow fpecies pofl'eflTes an agreeable feent, which is denied to the other forts, that however are recompenfed, in ge- neral, with a greater brilliancy ofoclouring. CONVOLVULUS. Ills plant confifts of three fpecies, called the major, minor, and the fcarlet flowering kind. Ihe major has a flower of a rich purple colour ; the minor difplays a flower of a delicate hue, between a Iky and a marazine blue : this fpecies is fometimes variegated with NATURAL HISTORY. 329 with the colours of yellow and white. ’’I'lie fcarlet-llowerlng kind is dlllinguiflied for bearing a flower, of the colour from which it derives its name. But that which mod particularly charafterifes the convolvulus, In all Its three fpecies, is the flower, confifling of a Angle leaf, which is a remarkable in- ftance of the variety nature difplays in every part of the creation, when contrafled with the ranunculus, and other flow^ers that are compofed of fuch a multitude of leaves. The convolvulus blows from June until Au- gud ; and, as a pifture of humility, creeps upon the ground. ASPHODEL. T X HIS plant, from its appearance while blooming, being Amilar to a royal fpear, is called in Latin, hajiula regia, i. e. king’s fpear. The Hem of the afphodel is three feet high. In the middle of it grow, up to the top, a great number of Angle flowers, each divided into Ave parts. It thrives in every fort of foil ; is multiplied more by roots than feed ; and, if well watered; will afford mod beautiful flowers. The afphodel is conAdered as a great ornament to a bor- der, or any other part of a garden, where dwyarfs, or tall flowers, are railed. It flmuld be let three inches deep, and a fpan didance 33 ° natural history. from each other, or from whatever flowers may be in the fame compartments. FOXGLOVE. Js a large flower, refembling a thimble worn on the finger : from the root grows a flalk, two, and fometimes three feet high ; and is hairy, and of a reddifh colour : the leaves are oblong, and pointed at the end ; covered with a little hair ; indented on the edges : the outfide is a brownifh green, and the infide of a filvery white. On one fide of the chief ftem fprout feveral footftalks, which fupport fingle flowers that are wide at top, and are cut into two lines : their colour is generally purple, although they have fome- times a mixture of hues. In the middle of the cup is a chive, which adheres to the hind part of the flower. A light foil agrees befl with this plant. The feed being very fmall, fhould be thinly fown in September. Fox- gloves flower in June. Being tall plants, they are only adapted for the borders of beds, where the larger fpecies of flowers are fet or planted. HEARTS natural history. 33f HEART’S EASE. ^ J|_^ HIS flower, by the Latins, is called vio- la tricolor, from being adorned with three colours. It bears Items which have a ten- dency to creep along the ground ; and are full of leaves, and rather oblong ; the Items branch into boughs ; at the top of which grow the flowers, which are placed under the fpecies of violets, compofed of five leaves, from bearing a cup divided into five parts: each flower is white, blue and yellow- coloured. It is multiplied by feed fown in beds as thinly as pofllble. When fufficiently raifed, it is removed into pots, where it makes a more agreeable appearance than it does in its native humble fituation, where it is loft and overlooked, like modeft merit, amid, its greater and more fplendid neighbours. AURICULA. ^ I ^ HIS flower has been the greateft pride of all gardeners. One root of it has fold for twenty guineas. Thefe flowers are indeed very delightful, both in feent and beauty. They bloifom in April, and are in full bloom about the 20th of the lame month. The numerous variety of their flowers, are diftin- guiflied natural history. 3';2 guifhed by the names and titles of eminent and exalted charaiSters : thu«, it has been' not unaptly obferved, that, as auriculas in- creafcd fo fad, and great men, if poffible, decreafcd fader, in a fliort time names of didindlion would be wanting to denote their dilFerences. The goodnefs of an auricula condds in a drong flower-dem, fliort foot- dalks, large regular flowers, full, round, and white eyes ; and that the flowers them- felves may be flat, not the lead inclining to cup. ° The culture being particular, we refer our readers to Bradley s new improvements in gardening and planting. V I O L E T. nr JL HE violet produces, frornus root, tufts of leaves almod round, indented on the ed- ges, and of a beautiful green. In the middle of thefe leave's grow the flowers, confiding of feveral irrregular lips, fliaped like a butter- fly: the two ujjperinod refcmble a (land; and thofe on the fule are lilce wings ; and the two lowermod are formed like a little bark. Ihus curioufly formed, it has been equally the pride of the peafant, prince, and poet. It is one of the moft early beauties with which ITora prefents reviving nature, it grows ih “Hy fy;:t of ground, and is pariicularly pieaf- natural history. 33^ ing upon the borders of fmall gardens. The flower is agreeable to the fmell as to the fight ; which lias caufed it to be fo univerfal a favourite. It fhould be replanted every three years, and kept from weeds, which is the chief trouble the culture of the violet requires. The double violet is only that which is raifed in our gardens. PINK. TT' HIS plant fhoots long, flralt, thick, hard leaves of a blueifli green. In the middle rifes the ftem, long, round, and jointed at a certain diftance : on the top of this the flow- ers grow, confifling of feveral variegated leaves, fupported by a hollow membranous cup. Such is reckoned the beauty of this flower, that it has been the firfl fludy of the mod emnient gardeners, to raile them in the greatefl; perfeflion. Volumes have been written on their cultivation ; and, as the flower is fo well known, we Ihall only add, that pinks are let indift'erently, either in o- pen ground, upon beds, in earthen pots, or in tubs, in autumn, or the month of March. They are one of the chief ornaments of all gardens : and are remarkable for the variety, beauty, and excellence of the flower. S34 KATURAL HISTORt. AUSTRIAN ROSE. TT* HIS plant has, like other rofes, a prickly ftalk, -which is garnifhed with winged leaves of an oval form, and their lobes fawed. The flower confifts of petals that are indent- ed at the top, and which have one fide red and the other yellow. It being a fhrub, it may be propagated fromthe fuckers that grow from the roots or from the offsets, either in fpring or autumn. It bloflbms during the months of July and Auguft. Although this flower is much cultivated, yet Miller ob- ferves, that it is only an accidental variety of the rofe confidered as a genus. Among the many fpeeies of rofes, this is cultivated as one of the moft valuable cmbellifhments of a fhrubbery. G. HELLEBORE. ROWS wild in Italy, Auflria, and Lom- bardy. It thrives befl; on high fituations. It has a plain flalk, ungarniflied with leaves, until it produces the blolTom on its fuinmit : the flower is yellow, and compofed of five or more petals. The root is fibrous. This plant fliould be propagated by ofl'sets, and the roots fliould be taken out of the ground, and NATURAL HISTORt. 335 and tranfplanted. When their leaves decay, which is generally from the beginning of June to Oftober, the roots fliould be planted in fmall clufters, in order to improve the ap- pearance of their bloflbms. If ‘ ternately with fnowdrops, their etfett will be the more agreeable, as they flower about the fame time. IRIS. he bulbous iris Ihoots forth a ftem, formed of long, broad leaves, that are loft, and of a pale green colour. In the middle grows a ftalk which bears, on its top, a fm- gle-leafed flower divided into fix parts ; and, in the centre of the flower, is a chive of three leaves arched. Their flowers are either white, yellow, blue, fed of alh colour, and are moll beautiful in appearance. They are multiplied both by their feed, and by bulbs. When the feed is to be fown^ it fliould be gathered in July, and preferved until Sep- t ember, before it is committed to the foil ; and whatever colour the feed is, you may expe£t to have a flower arife from it of thd fame hue, which is a circumftance peculiar to the iris, and may account for its name, which is derived from a Greek word fignifying to foretell or prefage ; for the feed thus fore- tells the colour of the flower. NASTUR- 33 ® natural history. NASTURTIUM. The Nasturtium indicum, or Indian crefles, are of two forts ; one large, and the other fmall. The large fort is known by the name of monk’s hood : it has flowers, vari- egated with yellow and fcarlet ; they run upon the ground, and blow from May to September. This plant is raifed with little care. The feed, being large, is fown in fe- parate grains, at four inches diftant from each other, rhe flowers of monk’s hood grow upon fmall reddilh ftalks, and are compofed of feveral irregular leaves. The ftem is cov- ered with leaves; which are fometimes round, and fometimes angular. The fmall fort of nafturtium is frequently eaten as a pickle; but the larger, which is monk’s hood# is confidered as poifonous. HOLLYHOCKS. ^^ONSIST of feveral forts. They have a large Item, that rifes about fix feet high ; which is decorated with flowers, in the famq manner as other flower plants are decorated with leaves. The flower blends the delica- cy of the poppy with the richnefs of the rofe. 'Ihe colours ofthefe flowers are various as the NATURAL HISTORY. 337 the red, white, purple, and black. Al- though the Hems of the hollyhock are lo ftrong and large as to grow fix. feet high, yet they wither every winter to the ground. Their feeds are fown in March, in the natu- ral earth ; and, notwithffanding they lie not long in the ground, they produce no flow- ers until the next year. They may be tranf- planted about March or September. The time of flowering is in July and Augufl. LILY OF THE VALEY. JVI ANY are furprifed that this plant fhould be called a lily, as the bloffom has not the lead refemblance to that flower. Of this plant there are two forts ; the white and the large-leaved lily. The firfl has a ftem a foot high, bcaringthree long, large, fmooth, green leaves : the (fern, from the middle upwards, is adorned w'ith flowers almoft round, white, very fragrant, and faltened to a fmall fprig. The fecond only differs from the firlt in hav- ing red flowers inclining to white, and not having lb agreeable a fcent. The lily of the valley is only multiplied by flips talcen from the plant and roots. This plant, firft arifing in a valley, thrives no where fo well us iu fliady places ; for which reafon, it is never fet in the walks, but in foroe private part of F f the KAtURAL HISTORY. the garden, where it is reared for the fake of its flowers. CROWN IMPERIAL. 'T HIS plant has a ftem about two feet high, which is iiirrounded with long, pointed leaves, growing immediately from the root : the item is likewife garniflied with fmall leaves, growing in pairs, without any foot-flalk. Upon the top of the Item is the flower, com- pofed of feveral green, upright leaves, that appear to grow from the germ of another flower, formed of yellow inverted leaves, in a figure fomewhat refembling a turban l amid ihefe leaves are feen ftamina, with white anthera, which hang down in a grace- ful manner. The anthera refemble dew- drops, falling from the filaments of the fla- mina. The crown imperial is propagated from its bulbs, which fhould be taken out of their mould in June, well cleaned, and care- fully flored till Septimber; w'hen they fhould be replanted. It bK ffoms chiefly in March and April : during ihefe months, its fingu- lar beauty, and grace'ul d’gnity, form one of the chief ornaments of our moll elegant gardens. Uy jAf IMTIL natural history. H Y A C I N T II. EXT to thefe follows the hyacinth, with all its virgin beauties : there are fo many forts of them, and fo different in colour, that nature feenis to have taken pleafure In. forming them, and rendering them more ad- mirable by variety. As we are noticing the more early flowers, we have to obferve, that the winter and fpring hyacinth is blue, and odoriferous. It is little, round, and of a fingle colour. Hyacinths, like many other flowers, are multiplied by feed. Ihe bulbs that are produced from the feeds, bear no flowers until the fourth year. The greatefb part of hyacinths delight in places that are expofed to the fun, and apart from other flowers. Like animals that herd together in flocks, hyacinths are, by nature, moll a- dapted to grow in cluflers, by themfelvcs. hi A II T A G O N. ^"JPlIE martagon, or mountain lily, confifls of feveral forts. The great martagon has a red flower, growing on a flem between two and three feet high, without any footflalk. Ic is imnoth to the touch, and of a deep green ; the flower is crooked, and bends down at ' 340 NATURAL HISTORY. the end of the flalk, which fupports it frofli tailing. The plant may be fet in any foil. It mull: be planted a fpan deep in the earth, and the fame dillance from any other llowers which it accompanies. It is fet among flow- ers of the larger fize, or rather in middle of borders, with flowers fmaller than itfelf, "i he mariagon blooms in May, The bulbs fhould not be removed before you intend to tranfplant them. Being fooner affected with heat than cold, the bulbs lliould be fheltered from the fun with little layers of earth, or preferved from fummer heat by frequent wa- terings. SWEET PEA, .1. 'his plant is frequently introduced into gardens from the fweetnefs of its fcent, and the delicate beauty of its flowers. It is ge- nerally fet with another, called the painted lady, d'he flower of the fweot pea is exadly the fame as the common pea bloffom, except being purple inffead of white. The flower of the painted lady is pink and white. They are both railed from feed, which is fown a- bout the time of the other pea. They bloffom molfly in July, and are no little decorati- on to thole parts of a garden allotted for the irregular beauties and fimplicities of nature. POPPY. NATURAL illSTORY. 341 POPPY. HE garden poppy has a ftalk about two feet high, which fupports a flower diflin- guiflied for its delicate texture, beauty, and variety of colour, and its fomniierous odour : but although the flowers are fo agreeable in appearance, they are of fliort continuance. They ihould be fown in fpots, in order to afl'ord an aflemblage of colours, their varie- ty of hue is fo well calculated to afford. Ihis flower is faid to yield a fubflance which is generally fold by our apothecaries as opium. The Dutch wild poppy does not blow fo high as the former : The flowers are red ard white ffriped, and bloom during the months of June, July, and Auguff. M E Z E R E O N. TT' HIS plant is of two forts : the red and white flowering. The red is very common in gardens; but the white mezereon is rather fcarce. They are both dwarfs, and feldom rife higher than three feet ; their flalks are ornamented with flowers fo early as January, when the air is perfumed with their agree- ■ able odours. They remain a long time in bloflbtn, and are much adorned with the F f 2 beauty 342 NATURAL HISTORY. leauty of their fruitage. The only mode of propagating them, is by fowing their feeds in March. This plant may be profit- ably introduced into parterres, as a flow flower, or in wildernels works, for its de- lightful blolfoms. But they are adapted chiefly for a winter garden. HONEYSUCKLE. T is a flirub, which flioots forth feveral branches, that expand on every fide, and fupport themfelves by tw-ining round what- ever is within iheir reach. At the knots of the branches, the leaves grow in pairs op- pofite each other,_ at equal diflances : ’they arc foft, broad, pointed, green without, and white within. At the end of the branches the flowers grow, in the form of pipes bending in a manner fomewhat fimilar to a crowm. The peculiar form of the leaf, an agreeable diverfity of colour, and the aro- matic odour it dil'penfes around the gardens it decorates, render the honeyfuckle one of the inolf dcfirable appendages to every fpot where the bounties of Flora are collected for human delight. Sr NATURAL HISTORY. 345 Sr. J O H N ’s W O R T, (yROWS on a thin, leafy ftalk, about a foot high. From the chief Item grow many branches, which are garniflied with long, fmall, pointed, and plain-edged leaves. 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