LITTELL'S LIVING AGE.-No. 242.-6 JANUARY, 1849. From the Westminster Review. ternal forms of these creatures are the least curious and least instructive sources of interest attaching to them; and the popular style of the work at once secured for it an elevated rank in scientific literature, which, notwithstanding sundry unavoidable minor errors of detail, it will ever retain. In consequence of the acknowledged merit of this work, we shall not hesitate to borrow from its valuable pages such illustrative passages as may tend to further the object we have in view-the vindication of the study of insects from the charge of be It is a well established fact, that the attention ing either a frivolous or an unprofitable mode of 1. A Familiar Introduction to the History of In- account for this. occupying time. of observant minds has ever been more or less attracted to the wonders of the insect world from a But although this admirable work did much tovery remote period. We meet with numerous wards diffusing a taste for the study of insect life, references to insects in the most ancient records and consequently tended greatly to dispel much which have been preserved to us; and in the old- of the ignorance which had previously prevailed est of these the industry and foresight of certain relative to numerous obscure points of insect econinsects, and the ravages of others, are specially omy, yet even at the present day it is by no means brought under our notice. Nor is it difficult to unusual to meet with persons, tolerably well inThe splendid hues of many in- formed upon other points, who would see nothing sects, the remarkable forms of others, and the cususpicious in the famous Virgilian recipe for the rious habits of all, are well calculated to excite production at will of a swarm of bees from the the admiration even of those who know nothing carcass of a purposely slaughtered ox, or in of them scientifically; while the extensive injuries Kircher's directions for breeding serpents; who committed by associated bands of creatures, indican believe, with Hamlet, that "the sun breeds vidually so insignificant, could scarcely fail to conmaggots in a dead dog;" that a horse-hair will fer importance upon an enemy, against whose in-turn to an eel; and that Aphides are the effect, vasions the sufferers must have felt themselves to be altogether powerless. The scientific study of insects may be traced back to a much earlier period on the continent than in our own country; but we very much doubt whether, even there, the same class of individuals were ever so devoted to the pursuit as, to their honor, they have long been among ourselves. Crabbe's "friend, the weaver," was no imaginary personage; nor is the poet's description of his hero's ardent pursuit of this "untaxed and undisputed game," by any means a mere creation of the fancy. The Spitalfields weavers and the Sheffield cutlers have long been noted for their enthusiasm in search of Bright troops of virgin moths and fresh-born butterflies. But their purpose in collecting these beautiful creatures, with a few honorable exceptions, seems to have been limited to the formation of pretty pictures by the arrangement of the gayly colored insects, according to the caprice or the taste of their captors. The publication of Kirby and Spence's invaluable "Introduction to Entomology" gave a new direction to the study of insects, and taught their collectors that there was a far higher purpose to be attained than the mere admiration of elegant forms and gay colors. It showed beyond dispute that the exVOL. XX. 1 CCXLII. LIVING AGE. | and not the cause, of honey-dew. The size and price of Kirby and Spence's volumes unfortunately placed them beyond the reach of general readers; they consequently remained sealed books to precisely that class who would the most gladly have availed themselves of the valuable information contained in them. No effort to remedy this, at least none that we are aware of, was made before the appearance of the three volumes on insects in Charles Knight's Library of Entertaining Knowledge," which were precisely the description of books to rivet the attention of the reader, and to lead him on to examine for himself. In these volumes, the substance of Kirby and Spence's "Introduction," and of other generally inaccessible works, in most cases given in the very words of the authorities, is combined with much original matter from the pen of Professor Rennie, the compiler of the work. The three volumes are, moreover, profusely illustrated with wood-cuts, and their low price places them within the reach of all; though not free from error, they are admirably calculated to awaken and diffuse a taste for the observation of insects and their habits. The best popular guide to the scientific study of Entomology that we are acquainted with, is Mr. Newman's "Familiar Introduction to the History of Insects." Being himself practically well ac quainted with the subject, and knowing from acceptable present to the young student of entoexperience precisely the sort of aid required by be-mology than these two books. Miss Catlow's ginners, the author has made it his aim through- Popular British Entomology" contains an introout the volume to give the best kind of infor- ductory chapter or two upon classification; these mation in the plainest language; and in this are followed by brief generic and specific descripendeavor he has been eminently successful. The tions in English of above two hundred of the volume is divided into four books. The first of commoner British species, together with accurate these "The History of Insects"-contains a se- figures of about seventy of those described. The ries of histories of some of the most remarkable work is beautifully printed, and the figures for the species, copied for the most part from the works most part nicely colored; and will be quite a of original observers, the authority for each being treasure to any one just commencing the study of scrupulously given. Having by this means ex- a fascinating science. hibited the kind of material the young entomolo- The publishers of Miss Catlow's little book gist has to work upon, the author, in the second have in preparation a charming popular work on book, proceeds to give lucid directions for the entomology, to be called " Episodes of Insect "Collection and Preservation of Insects," with Life." We have been favored with a sight of the mode of investigating them. In the third the proof sheets, and must say that the book is book he treats of the "Physiology or Anatomy admirably adapted to induce the reader to dip of Insects;" and in the fourth, of their "Classi- below the surface, and to make himself further fication." The whole is illustrated by numerous acquainted with more of the sober realities of beautiful wood-cuts, with two exceptions drawn insect life, which, we can assure him, he will find upon the blocks by the author himself; and the fully as interesting as those so temptingly shown character of the book is well expressed by the up in these delightful episodes. Many of the words of the preface, where it is spoken of as a illustrations are exceedingly droll; insects being simple introduction, a kind of 'reading-made-easy,' made to figure in them in all sorts of funny charto the youthful butterfly-hunter ;" and this is pre-acters, and the humor displayed in the descriptions cisely the sort of work required by those interest- is quite on a par with that of the illustrations, ing members of the community. which we must not omit to say are exquisitely drawn on stone in the German style. 66 But from this digression on books we must return to insects. In their " Introductory Letter," Kirby and Spence set forth the claims of their science to a consideration equal, if not superior, to those of the other branches of Natural History. They show the sources of pleasure opened to the entomologist from the inexhaustible nature of the subject, the infinite variety and beauty of insects, their curious habits, the instruments of attack and defence with which they are provided for their own protection, as well as those expressly intended for the construction of habitations for their progeny; and, above all, the religious instruction to be drawn from an acquaintance with these wonderful little creatures. From this letter we make an interesting extract, showing that in most of his boasted inventions man has long been anticipated by the insect race. But this excellent work is only introductory; and consequently contains no specific descriptions or characters beyond those of the classes and orders; these could not have been added without defeating the author's object, by increasing the bulk and enhancing the price of his book, with but little adequate advantage to the purchaser. Other books are thus necessary to those whom Mr. Newman has assisted over the threshold of the science. The embarrassment consequent on the very abundance of the materials for study offered by this science, must obviously render the opportunity of consulting accurate figures of insects an advantage of primary importance to the young entomologist. Unfortunately, however, the extent of the subject has precluded the possibility of giving more than a selection of the most typical forms in any general work, even when confined to British insects; and the necessarily high price of standard illustrated books on entomology confines the possession of such publications to the wealthy. For The lord of the creation plumes himself upon his example, even such admirable works as those of powers of invention, and is proud to enumerate the Stephens and Curtis, in which are given descrip- various useful arts and machines to which they tions of all known British insects, although the have given birth, not aware that "He who teaches illustrations are confined to a figure of one species man knowledge" has instructed these despised in each genus, so extensive is the subject that they builders of Babel doubtless thought their invention insects to anticipate him in many of them. The are both very voluminous and very expensive. of turning earth into artificial stone a very happy Several volumes of Jardine's "Naturalist's Li- discovery; yet a little bee had practised this art, brary," published at a moderate price, are devoted using indeed a different process, on a small scale, to insects, and contain beautiful figures and good and the white ants on a large one, ever since the descriptions of a goodly number of British insects, world began. Man thinks that he stands unrivalled and consequently did much towards supplying the as an architect, and that his buildings are without a want; and Miss Catlow's pretty little volume, parallel among the works of the inferior order of animals. He would be of a different opinion did just published by the Messrs. Reeve, will be found he attend to the history of insects; he would find an excellent accompaniment to Mr. Newman's that many of them have been architects from time "Introduction;" in fact we know of no more immemorial; that they have had their houses divided into various apartments, and containing and knives, and lancets, and scissors, and forceps, staircases, gigantic arches, domes, colonnades, and with many other similar implements; several of the like; nay, that even tunnels are excavated by which act in more than one capacity, and with a them so immense, compared with their own size, complex and alternate motion to which we have as to be twelve times bigger than that projected by not yet attained in the use of our tools. Nor is the Mr. Dodd to be carried under the Thames at fact so extraordinary as it may seem at first, since Gravesend. The modern fine lady, who prides" He who is wise in heart and wonderful in workherself on the lustre and beauty of the scarlet hang- ing," is the inventor and fabricator of the apparatus ings which adorn the stately walls of her drawing- of insects; which may be considered as a set of room, or the carpets that cover its floor, fancying miniature patterns drawn for our use by a Divine that nothing so rich and splendid was ever seen hand.-(Introd., i. 14.) before, and pitying her vulgar ancestors, who were doomed to unsightly whitewash and rushes, is ignorant all the while, that before she or her ancestors were in existence, and even before the boasted Tyrian dye was discovered, a little insect had known how to hang the walls of its cells with tapestry of a scarlet more brilliant than any her rooms can exhibit, and that others daily weave silken carpets, both in tissue and texture infinitely superior to those she so much admires. No female ornament is more prized and costly than lace, the invention and fabrication of which seems the exclusive claim of the softer sex. But even here they have been anticipated by these little industrious creatures, who often defend their helpless chrysalis by a most singular covering, and as beautiful as singular, of lace. Other arts have been equally forestalled by these creatures. What vast importance is attached to the invention of paper! For near six thousand years one of our commonest insects has known how to make and apply it to its purposes; and even pasteboard, superior in substance and polish to any we can produce, is manufactured by another. We imagine that nothing short of human intellect can be equal to the construction of a diving-bell or an air-pump-yet a spider is in the daily habit of using the one, and, what is more, one exactly similar in principle to ours, but more ingeniously contrived; by means of which she resides unwetted in the bosom of the water, and procures the necessary supplies of air by a much more simple process than our alternating buckets-and the caterpillar of a little moth knows how to imitate the other, producing a vacuum when necessary for its purposes, without any piston besides its own body. If we think with wonder of the populous cities which have employed the united labors of man for many ages to bring them to their full extent, what shall we say to the white ants, which require only a few months to build a metropolis capable of containing an infinitely greater number of inhabitants than even imperial Nineveh, Babylon, Rome or Pekin, in all their glory? There is no exaggeration in these statements. The little stone-making insect first alluded to is a member of the family of mason-bees, all of which build their solid houses of artificial stone, formed principally of grains of sand selected with great care, one by one, and formed into masses with their own viscid saliva. With these masses of sand, transported singly in her jaws to the site of her building, the little architect constructs a number of cells, in each of which she deposits an egg, together with a supply of provision to be ready for the young larva on its exclusion; the vacuities between the cells are filled up with the same material as the cells themselves are formed of, and the whole is finally covered with a coating of coarser grains of sand. The mass of cells thus finished looks more like a splash of mud casually thrown on the wall than anything else, and is so hard as not to be easily penetrated by a knife; but hard as it is, certain parasitic insects contrive to pierce the structure with their boring instruments, and to deposit their eggs in the cells; the larvæ proceeding from the eggs of these intruders devour the provision stored up by the industrious cell-builders, whose care for the safety of their offspring is thus frustrated. Another family of bees includes the upholsterers, which excavate burrows in the earth for the reception of their eggs. These burrows they line with an elegant tapestry of leaves or flowers, cut from the living plants. One of these bees selects the brilliant scarlet petals of the poppy for the drapery of her apartments. After having excavated a burrow about three inches in depth, and polished its sides, she flies to the poppies, cuts oval pieces out of their flowers, and returns That insects should thus have forestalled us in to her cell with these portions so cut out carried our inventions, ought to urge us to pay a closer between her legs. The petals of poppies, before attention to them and their ways than we have they are fully expanded, are much wrinkled; the hitherto done, since it is not at all improbable that bee manages to smooth out the wrinkles, and the result would be many useful hints for the otherwise fit the pieces to the places they are to improvement of our arts and manufactures, and perhaps for some beneficial discoveries. The occupy. Placing three or four coats at the botpainter might thus probably be furnished with more tom, she overlays her walls with the brilliant brilliant pigments, the dyer with more delicate tapestry, proceeding from below upwards until the tints, and the artisan with a new and improved set whole is covered. An egg is then deposited, a of tools. In this last respect insects deserve par- supply of food provided, and the upper portion of ticular notice. All their operations are performed the lining folded in so as to envelope the contents with admirable precision and dexterity; and though of the cell, the mouth of which is last of all closed they do not usually vary the mode, yet that mode with earth. The proceedings of the other upholis always the best that can be conceived for attaining the end in view. The instruments also with sterer bees are equally curious; they usually which they are provided are no less wonderful and select the green leaves of trees for the lining of various than the operations themselves. They their burrows, which are filled with several thimhave their saws, and files, and augurs, and gimlets, ble-shaped cells, placed one within the other, the rounded end of one fitting into the mouth of that threads, which are attached to the leaves and next below it. The wonderful building operations of the white ants form the subject of a most interesting paper by Smeathman, quoted by Mr. Newman from the Philosophical Transactions." This chapter is too long for extract; we must therefore beg to refer our readers to the work itself, with the assurance that the perusal will amply repay the trouble; but we may be allowed to quote a summary account of the labors of these insects from Kirby and Spence. That such diminutive insects, (for they are scarcely a fourth of an inch in length,) however numerous, should, in the space of three or four years, be able to erect a building twelve feet high, and of a proportionate bulk, covered by a vast dome, adorned without by numerous pinnacles and turrets, and sheltering under its ample arch myriads of vaulted apartments of various dimensions, and constructed of different materials-that they should, moreover, excavate, in different directions and at different depths, innumerable subterranean roads or tunnels, some twelve or thirteen inches in diameter, or throw an arch of stone over other roads leading from the metropolis into the adjoining country to the distance of several hundred feet-that they should project and finish the (for them) vast interior staircases or bridges lately described-and, finally, that the millions necessary to execute such Herculean labors, perpetually passing to and fro, should never interrupt or interfere with each other-is a miracle of nature, or, rather, the Author of nature, far exceeding the most boasted works and structures of man; for, did these creatures equal him in size, retaining their usual instincts and activity, their buildings would soar to the astonishing height of more than half a mile, and their tunnels would expand to a magnificent cylinder of more than three hundred feet in diameter; before which the pyramids of Egypt and the aqueducts of Rome would lose all their celebrity, and dwindle into nothing.-(Introd., 1. 512.) This stems of water-plants; over this frame-work she next spreads a transparent varnish, impervious to water; then, by ascending to the surface, she manages to carry down into the chamber thus formed a bubble of air, and fills the chamber by repeating her visits to the surface a sufficient number of times to effect its distension, each time carrying down a bubble of air. On the under side of the leaves of pear-trees may often be seen, in spring, a number of spinelike projections, about a quarter of an inch high, and not much thicker than a pin. These are the silken tents of a little caterpillar, which preys upon the parenchyma or pulp of the leaf. The tent is attached to the leaf by a number of silken threads; but should any extraordinary violence threaten to disturb the perpendicularity of the habitation, the tenant instantly creates a vacuum in the lower portion by ascending to the upper part; its body fills the upper portion, and thus leaves the lowermost free of air; the vacuum so caused serving to attach the tent quite firmly to the leaf. One of the most curious things connected with insect economy is that succession of changes from the egg to the perfect state through which all inIn reference to these changes, or metamorphoses, as they are called, which equal in wonder while they surpass in interest any of the transformations recorded in the pages of Ovid, Kirby, and Spence have some appropriate remarks which are by no means exaggerated. Were a naturalist to announce to the world the discovery of an animal, which, for the first five years of its life, existed in the form of a serpent; which then, penetrating into the earth, and weaving a shroud of pure silk of the finest texture, contracted itself within this covering into a body without external mouth or limbs, and resembling, more than anything else, an Egyptian mummy; and which, Examine the nest of the common wasp. lastly, after remaining in this state without food and is generally formed in an underground cavity, without motion for three years longer, should, at usually in a bank; it is oval in shape, about sixteen the end of that period, burst its silken cerement, struggle through its earthly covering, and start into or eighteen inches long, and twelve or thirteen day a winged bird-what think you would be the broad. A well-peopled nest will contain at least sensation excited by this strange piece of intelli16,000 cells, similar in shape to those of the honey bee, and like them disposed in combs or layers; but, unlike those of the bee, the cells of the wasp do not contain honey, are not formed in double layers, and do not consist of wax, but of the same substance as the external envelope of the nest. What is this substance? No other than paper, of a grayish color, which the insect instinctively knew how to manufacture from the fibres of wood, And yet, without exciting much surprise, that detached by their jaws from posts, rails, or other is what is continually going on under our eyes; places, long, long before the art of making paper with divers modifications of minor import, it is the as we now see it was discovered by man; and the course through which have passed the countless pasteboard nests of another wasp, a native of Cey-hosts of insects, many of which were formerly belon, vie in whiteness, solidity, and polish with the lieved to be the result of spontaneous generationmost superior article of that description ever fabri- an absurd idea, by no means exploded in our own cated by the most celebrated manufacturers. The spider alluded to as having forestalled the diving-bell, forms her curious habitation at the bottom of the water. She spins a number of loose gence? After the first doubts of its truth were dispelled, what astonishment would succeed! Amongst the learned, what surmises!-what investigations! Amongst the vulgar, what eager curiosity and of such an unheard-of phenomenon; even the most amazement! All would be interested in the history torpid would flock to the sight of such a prodigy.Introd., i. 58.) days. Harvey's aphorism-omne vivum ex ovo— is no less true of the most minute insect than of the gigantic ostrich. On the score of variety the advantage is indeed on the side of the insect; for |