INSECTS.

Of Insects, with naked and with sheathed Wings, and of creeping Insects.

A Learned and Pious Author justly conjectures, that of the Papillio's or Butter-flies, there are no less than 300 Sorts, that are Natives of this Island, himself having observed and described 200 Kinds in the Compass of a Mile or two (a)(a) Ray's Wisdom of God in the Creation, p. 9. . Another ingenious Author, in these Parts of Yorkeshire observes, that what seems to be a Powder upon the Wings of a Butter-fly (which sticks to the Fingers when you catch them) is really an innumerable Company of extream small Feathers, not to be discerned without a Microscope (b)(b) Dr. Power's Microscop. Ob. p. 7. . Here are several Sorts of them with curiously variegated Wings, admirably beautiful for their Colours or Texture; one Sort hath round Specks of Silver naturally laid on. These are all English, and were Part of the Collection of the late ingenious Tho. Kirke Esq; who gave me them; the Lady Copley hath the Rest. A very large one from the Indies; the inner Wings blue, with yellow and white Studds very beautiful.

The Adders-boult, or Dragon-fly.

A Fly sent me by the Reverend Mr. Hall of Fishlake, An. 1699. with this remarkable Account, That in May the same Year, at Kerton in Lincolnshire, the Sky seem'd to darken North-Westward, at a little Distance from the Town, as though it had been with a Shower of Hail-stones or Snow; but when it came near the Town it appeared to be a prodigious Swarm of these Flies, which went with such a Force towards the South-East, that Persons were forced to turn their Backs of them, to the Wonder of those that were abroad and saw them, particularly the Minister of the Town, from whom my Friend had the Relation.

A great winged Locust; it is the first Sort described by Moufet (ic), (ic) Insectorum Theatrum, p. 117. having greenish Wings stained with black Spots. Don. Rev. Jac. Coningham V D M.

The Head of a Stag-Beetle or Flying Hart, as they are called in Virginia and New-England; it is considerably larger than the English Sort, the Horns near an Inch and half long. Of its shrill chirping, see the Phil. Trans. N° 127. Entire Flying Stags; it hath its Name from the Horns, which are branched exactly like the Stag's. These are of English Extraction, and by some called ..., from a park in Dorsetshire, whence these were procured for me by Patience Ward Esq.

The broad gilded Beetle, Cantharis latus, exactly described by Dr. Grew (d)(d) Mus. Regal. Soc. p. 168., a Golden Green on the Back, and like burnished Copper on the Belly. The Cantharis vulgaris, or common slender Spanish Fly, a pleasant Green. A small one with Crimson Wings, but green Head, all three of an inexpressible Splendor, and pleasant to the Eye (e)(e) Moufet, p. 145..

A Scorpion, the Head lies hid in the Breast, it hath 8 Legs, and a Tail of several Rounds; these are sometimes armed with one, sometimes with two Stings. Don. Jab. Cay M. D.

Bombyx, the Silk-Worm in all its Changes (undergone at this Town) the Egg, the Worm, Aurelia, Slough and Butter-fly, with some of the Silk very fine, wound by the Gentlewoman that kept them, Mrs. Elizabeth Skyes.