The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-07-19
NATURAL HISTORY.


grass. hopper, which ilutters with So much
yivacity through our meadows during the
autumn, feeds upon vegetable matter. and
deposits its eggs upon vegetables, tor the
purpose OF being supported until maturetl.--
Before the grass-hopper takes wing, anoth-
vr insect, the ichneumon, alights upon its
body, and thrusts under its skin number of
its eggs, by means OF tubular awl. shap
ri uyiduct. These eggs slowly acquire per-
/ tectinn, become living worms, and feed up
on the body Of the hap!eis grass-hopper, un-
! I'll themselves are II ady to take wing. So
admirably do they perform their office, that
they 90 not injure the vital organs of the IN
sect they are internally Sevo' ,iGg, until they
are Just ready to change their state; and At
the proper season, hundreds of grass-hop
pers, in this condition have Just strength
enough rcniaiung to autter to a tree or
fence, and with Il dyingo fort Fix their book
ed feet SO iirmiy as to retain their position
long after death. Examine thcir bodies 1T
tnl, season, and you will find IN empty shell,
r one filled with large and active worms,
! just ready TO burs. their coverings aud be-
cone winged insects
| lac recently p'Ibiishcd number OF the
I North American Retiew supplies us with
!
! little kNowu to common readers, though said
to be familiar to the sight Of those who nav-
igatc between the tropics, the beautiful and
cnignatical insect, commonly called the l'or-
tugurzc man-of- war. 1t is from memoir
To Doctor Tlosns who accompanied Mr.. de
Kruscnstcrp, in his voyage round the world.
"Ihis singular animal hid several times
been delineatcd, described, and endowed
with names, yet not only its denominations
were various. but also the nature and char
actcristics asrubed to it. According to
some it was Poiypus. according to others
a Ioophyte, and others ranged ii among the
Mullusca. Naturalists who followed in the
steps of Lime, have called it the Physalis.
Wonderful as are all the works oil Provi-
dence, admirably fitted as are the several
parts Of each created being for their sever
al functions, complex in their composition as
they at first seem, while vet they are always
found to be really so simple and situable in
their action, on a nearer investigation. we
may, nevertheless, venture to rank this lit
tie animated creat"re among the most curl.
ous phenomenal. A worm between and s
inches in length, which is found but in cer-
tain latitudcs, has seemingly the skill and
knowledge OF an experienced navigator, and
is in itself Little 81 ip. Its evolutons are
according t@ the winds; il r Asses and lowers
It's sal, which is a membrane provided with
clevating and depressingprg ans. When nj
led with air, it is SO light, that it swims on
the surface OF alcohol. and is at the same
time provided with structure. which fur
nishes It witn the necessary ballast.
When ,irh winds would endaDgcr its ex-
iStence, it tlescends into the deep, and is new
e, Sc en- on tie surface Of the water. From the
under side ef the body proceed tubes, which
extend twenty feet in length, and are SO
elastic and delicate, that they wind IN sPi-
raj form like screw, serving at once as an
chors, defensive ard Offensive weapons. pu-
cunatic tubes and ferlels. The insect has
the colcrs of the rainbow; its crest, which
performs the office of sail, IS intersectcd
with pink and blue veins, trimmed with
rosy border, and swells with the wind, or at
the animals pleasure. The iibres contain
a viscous matter, which has the properly OF
stinsing like uettles, and produces pustli!es.
1t acts so strongly, that vessels ~ which
they have been kept for time must be re-
peatcdly washed before they can be used
These !ibrcs NAV be cut Of without dcpriv-
ing them or the rest of the insect OF the prin-
cipe of life; and the separation takes place
spontaneously, whenever the glutinous mat
ter comes in contact with a hard surface,
like the sides Of glass globe. The insect
has, however, dangerous enemies in small
dolphins, aud medes2, against which nei-
ther It's nautical skill nor IT'S poison can de-
fend it. To the natural philosopher, this
little animal is curious cxempliiicatlon OF
the principles of hydrostatics and othygrom-
etry, as its bladder is perhaps among the
substances that can be used for the delicate
instruments Of the latter science. 10 the
ihysologist It has some importance as the
rest of that class of beings, of which every
part is endowed with an uncommonly strong
principle of vitality, and which have there
fore not improperly been called biola by Dr.
Hill. To a contemplatve mind, the won
derful organization of the Physaiis must be
a new proof that hardly any great effort OF
human Ingenuity, perseverance,, courage ana
skill, is without duplicate of more astonlsh-
ing Workmanship, simplicity and sagacity,
in beings coming from the hand OF the Au-
thor of creation. If navigation is justly
deemed the most daring enterprise, 1T may
be considered as remedy against pride, to
know that there exists g worm, which an al
powerful Providence has at once made a
navigator and ship, hydrostatic and pu-
epneumatic engine, being destitute OF
mind. and vet one that watches the winds
and rides on the waves.
The great number of offences committed
on the Sabbath, have rendered III necessary