REMARKS ON INSECTS, PICTORIAL AND POETICAL. BY EDWIN LEES, M. E. S., HONORARY CURATOR OF THE WORCESTERSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. * SCIENTIFIC Opinions and systematic arrangements are for learned bodies and purely scientific men; we have our choice, then-to mount up into the clouds, beyond mortal ken, alone in our sublimity or to be contented with the less dangerous though lower station of the green earth. In other words, our language must be adapted solely for the initiated in the mysteries of science, or we must take the trouble, if we wish the audience of the world, to speak a language the world can understand. Hence the propriety of employing those popular illustrations that might otherwise be considered as fanciful or puerile. Mr. Newman, as if in despair of producing a favourable impression in behalf of entomology, rather forbiddingly states that " the collector of insects must make up his mind to sink in the opinion of his friends, and be the object of the undisguised pity and ridicule of the mass of mankind."† I must confess, if this were really the case, I should feel inclined, like the blue-bottle fly, in November, to seek some comfortable cranny, safe ensconced behind my books and cases, where "good-natured friends" were not very likely to lay their hands upon me. In short, I should not by my buzzing give any tokens of my existence, but remain as quiet and snug as possible. As for a good-humoured laugh, we must expect it in this world, let our pursuits be what they may; but I can scarcely think that the entomologist has a greater load of obloquy to bear upon his shoulders than the devotees of other sciences-unless, indeed, he does as Peter Pindar makes Sir Joseph Banks do-break into a garden, and upset the gardener, glasses, flowers, hives, &c., in pursuit of an emperor butterfly. Some old stories, in the "Spectator," of legacies of grasshopper's legs and butterfly's wings, perhaps seem to make against us, and some "Saw-flies" of the present day‡ occasionally attempt an impotent stroke. But these are "trifles light as air,' no more needing serious attention than the game at tick which the merry flies amuse themselves with, and which they get up so early in the summer time to practise around the curtains of our bed, or circling about the ceiling. Some flies seem not to relish the liberty Having recently delivered a Lecture on the "Connection of Botany with Entomology," before the Worcestershire Natural History Society, in which I traced the Physiology and Economy of the Insect Tribes, I was requested to furnish the Editor of "The Analyst" with my notes, for an entire Report. But in such a form the paper would be too long; and perhaps, therefore, extracts from the more illustrative part will be considered most interesting. +"Grammar of Entomology." By Edward Newman. See a curious paper that appeared a few months since in the " Dublin University Magazine,” on the pretended introduction of a new large variety of the Flea. thus taken with their persons, and buzz an angry rebuff, but they soon see a joke is only to be smiled at, and push about in their turns, till all enjoy the spirit-stirring exercise. For my own part I know I have been more laughed at for attempting to carry off part of the entrails of a mountain, than ever I expect to be from the pursuit of entomology; and indeed, I must confess that I have often wondered that some tenacious lord of a manor has not prosecuted the geologist for purloining the stone from his quarries, sometimes to no inconsiderable extent; while the most litigious will scarcely object to the capture of an insect. If In sober seriousness, however, if any one objects to entomology as a frivolous pursuit, I at once unhesitatingly claim for it the lowest and the highest position any science can aspire to, and if its aspect satisfies us in both positions, there can be no fear that the whole picture can be satisfactorily filled up. I then claim for entomology the rank of an innocent and rational amusement. it were only this, if it merely afforded us pleasure amid scenes of romantic beauty-rock, water, and wood-if it merely led us from the tainted air of the pent-up city, to the breezy fragrance of the heathy wild-if it merely whispered pleasure-that pleasure which they only know who have found "Divine oblivion of low-thoughted care" in the contemplation of the wonders of creation-it would, only thus constituted, be not without its use. It is, indeed, true, that the objects contemplated by entomology, are, in general, minute; but insects make up in numbers for their want of bulk; and when the celebrated Dr. Edward Clarke, in his travels in the East, complains that the king of the fleas kept his court at Tiberias, I dare say he felt no wish for the increase of bulk of his skipping majesty. In fact, we may resolve all questions of bulk into the shrewd and sensible answer of the Spartan soldier, who when about to proceed to battle, was reminded that he had no emblem on his brazen buckler. But he pointed to a fly on the central boss, and informed his friends that however they might ridicule the emblem he had chosen, he should approach the enemy so near, that they would be as sensible of his presence as if he bore a more formidable ensign that might be known from a distance. So if any demur to the minuteness of the objects contemplated by entomologists, we may tell them to bring their eye to the microscope, and only approach as near to the object of their research as the Spartan brought his shield to the enemy, and if magnitude be their aim they need not be disappointed. I shall not enter into any lengthened argument on the subject of cruelty to insects, a point often needlessly insisted upon, since their internal structure proves their obesity of feeling; but I may note a few examples of insect endurance and vitality. A drop of Prussic acid, that would destroy a rabbit, has been put upon a fly, who only suffered temporary inconvenience, and afterwards flew away. A tipula, or crane-fly, loses leg after leg, by mere accident, without its evolutions being at all affected thereby; and cockchafers may be often seen moving about with only their head and elytra, having had their abdomen devoured by some bird. The flies that Dr. Franklin found in a bottle of wine that had crossed the Atlantic, and which, though apparently dead, revived in the sun, are well known. But a much more extraordinary circumstance is stated in Rennie's "Field Naturalist," of a quantity of bees imported in some hives from Holland, which are stated to have revived and flown about, after having been well boiled in a furnace! Not having witnessed the operation myself, I would not pledge myself as to the degree of temperature attained by the water in the furnace; such a power of enduring heat seems more than can be possible, even to insects, unless future observation should confirm it ;-and we all know it is certain death to the poor fly who, anxious for a drop of savoury cream, slips down the glazed porcelain into the scalding tea. Such accounts recal the caustic language of Cowper : "Can this be true?' an arch observer cries; Yet it is possible to be too sceptical. Mr. Spence, one of the most eminent entomologists of the day, relates that a beetle he once immersed in hot water, so that it seemed dead, afterwards came to life again; and Kirby and Spence affirm that bees will revive after being submersed in water for nine hours;* so that they have a better chance than Gray's cat, which "Three times emerging from the watʼry flood," mewed in vain for a deliverer.t I shall here mention an instance of insect vitality that fell under my own observation a few years ago. Having purchased a second-hand microscope, with various objects fitted up for observation, I noticed that among them was a group of aphides, (plant-lice,) with eggs, glued down to the glass upon which they were placed. These I had several times looked at without observing anything extraordinary. But one evening, some visitors wishing to view the microscope, I brought it for some time within the powerful influence of a gas-light, when, to our astonishment, while gazing at the aphides, they actually assumed motion, and crawled away from the glass beyond the range of vision. At that time the microscope had been for some months in my possession; and on inquiring of the optician from whom I had purchased it, he was of opinion that the aphides had *"Introduction to Entomology." By Kirby & Spence, 4 vols. 8vo. † A curious instance is mentioned by the Rev. Revett Shepherd, of a spider, which gets a comfortable subsistence by rowing about in a raft among drowning insects, and rescuing from a watery grave such as he could lay his fangs upon. been glued to the glass for several years. If insects, also, are placed beneath an exhausted receiver, and left, apparently dead, for some days, they will again revive when taken out. All these facts seem to prove the obtuseness of feeling in insects, and at the same time their astonishing retention of vitality. While, therefore, I would not for a moment defend the brutality of a Domitian in impaling every fly he could meet with, I think we are fully justified in taking, for scientific purposes, whatever insects we may require. If, indeed, an ichneumon were to remonstrate with us as we removed him from our net, we might gently hint to him that he himself had caused the destruction of numerous caterpillars, and would continue his murderous practices even if we spared his life. Indeed, the very persons who charge entomologists with cruelty, are themselves, in many instances, guilty of similar acts, with not half so good an excuse. I have occasionally been in society where the appearance of a poor spider only quietly taking a walk, or an elegant wasp which only wanted a taste of fruit, has caused irrepressible consternation-tongs, shovel, and poker, have been all raised for its destruction, and ere a humane entomologist has had time to implore a respite, the poor insect has been hurried out of life! The fact is, even humanity (so called) has its bounds, and it is as absurd to decry the taking away of animal life for useful purposes (of course in as quick a way as possible) as it is for the Banians in Hindostaun to establish hospitals for the support of vermin abhorred in all other countries. And yet a pseudo-humanity might reach such a pitch as this, which, carried out to its full extent, would justify the establishment mentioned by Lieutenant Burnes, of a large colony of about 5000 rats, at Anjar, in Cutch, one of the cities of India, which are actually maintained with flour at the public expense, by a tax levied upon the inhabitants ! The degree of sensation experienced by insects having been much disputed, I shall cursorily advert to their nervous system, as the only correct mode of arriving at the truth, analogical arguments as to the feelings of man under the impression of pain being of no value in this case, which must be at once allowed when it is recollected that a fall from a tower which would dislocate every bone in a man's body, would have no effect upon the frame even of an apterous insect. In vertebrated animals the brain is in the head, and all the nerves originate in the brain; hence the volition impressed upon the brain is conveyed to the nerves, and the order obeyed. If the brain is injured, or the head cut off, rationality and life ceases. But in insects no true brain is discoverable ;—a nervous cord extends through the body, with masses, or knots, called ganglions, at certain intervals. We may thus understand how it is that an insect deprived of its head, or any other part of the body, moves and acts as usual, because each of these ganglia is a separate and independent centre of volition, and will act, therefore, either with or without the rest. Cockchafers (Melolontha vulgaris) may be often seen in the summer, whose entire internal system has been June, 1835.-VOL. II. NO. XI. 2 U scooped out by a bird, but the head still appears perfectly active, and able to discharge its usual offices. From the nervous system it is that we are enabled to form an idea of the senses of animals, because the nerves obey the impulses given at the seat of volition, and convey the sensation to the external matter; hence it is commonly observed of an individual who displays some unaccountable antipathy to the roar of cannon, the levelled bayonet, or any other apparent or fancied danger, that he is a little nervous. The question then arises as to the senses of insects under their nervous system. That love penetrates their coriaceous covering there can be no doubt, and if the glow-worm, like another Hero, does not light her nocturnal lamp as a signal for her lover, it is unknown for what other purpose the fairy light can be employed. "Queen of the dusky eve she pensive glides, A train of glory gleaming from her sides; Perhaps this is confirmed by the fact that glow-worms seldom stray far from their usual haunts; for I know situations where, in the summer season, numbers may be found, with certainty, gemming the turfy bank every evening, while they are unseen in other places for miles round. In Instinct, or some stronger sense almost allied to reasoning, certainly appears in insects; for a female moth, confined in a box within a room to which there was no apparent access, has been found by some unknown means to cause the visit of a companion, who was obliged to descend down the chimney; and nothing is more common among entomologists than to capture other moths by enclosing one in a box, and leaving the window open that its situation may attract the sympathy of others of its species. sects, then, it is evident, are able to receive and communicate information to each other, and Dr. Franklin relates a story which is a very remarkable illustration of this point. Having placed a pot containing treacle in a closet infested with ants, these insects found their way into it, and were feasting heartily when he discovered them. He then shook them out, and suspended the pot by a string from the ceiling. By chance, one ant remained, which after eating its fill, with some difficulty found its way up the string, and thence reaching the ceiling, escaped by the wall to its nest. In less than half an hour a great number of ants sallied out of their hole, climbed the ceiling, and descended the string into the treaclepot, directed no doubt by the ant who had conveyed intelligence to his friends of the only way of access to the booty. Ants are fully sensible of the advantages of combination to give effect to what their individual efforts would be unequal, and I once witnessed a curious instance of this unity of purpose in the common brown ant (F. fusca.) A garden spider having crossed their path, they seized him by the only practicable method-one ant fastening himself at the extremity of each of the spider's long legs, like so many sailors |