The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-07-18
From The Boston Courier.
MATERIAL HISTORY.

Il
A curious circumstance in Natural His
tory is related in the last number OF the
American Quarterly Review. The large
winged grasshopper, which fiutters WIZ SO
much vivacity through our meadows dur
ing the autumn, feeds upon vegetable mat
ter, and deposits its eggs upon vegetables
for the purpose of being supported till ma
tured. Before the grasshopper takes wing,
another insect, the ichneumon, alights up
on it's body, and thrusts under Its skin a
number of its eggs, by means of tubular,
-awl-shapcd oviduct These eggs slowly ac-
-4uire perfection, become living worms, and
2 feed upon the body of the hapless grass
hopper, until themselves are ready to take
wing. So admirably do they perform their
office, that they do not injure the vital or
gans of the insect they are internally de-
Vouring, until they are Just ready to change
their state; and at the proper season,
hundreds of grasshoppers, In this condl-
zion, have just strength enough remaining
to fiu:ter to q tree or fence, and with a
dying effort fix their hooked feet SO firmly
as to retain their position long after death.
Examine their bodies at this season, and
you find an empty shell, or one filled with
large and active worms, just ready to burst
their coverings and become winged insects.
The recently published number of the
North American Review supplies US with
another description of natural object, but
little known to common readers, though
said to be familiar to the sight Of those
who navigate between the tropics,-the
beautiful and enigmatical insect, commonly
named the Portuguese man-of-war. 1t is
from a memoir by DR.. Tilesius, who accom-
panied NJ. de krusenstern in his voyage
round the world.
"Tlis singular animal had several times
been delineated, described, and endowed
with names, yet not only its denominations
swere various, but also the nature and char
acteristics ascribed to it. According to
some it was Polypus, according to others
n Zoophyte, and others ranged it among
Mollusca. Naturalists who followed in the
steps of Lime, have called it the PhysctiS
Wonderful as are all the works of Proyi
,dence, admirably fitted as are the severa
parts of each created being for their sew
eral functions, complex in their composition
as they sometimes at first seem, while YET
they are always found to be really so sim
pie and suitable in their action, on a near
or investigation, we may, nevertheless
zventGre TO rank this little animated crea-
tire among the most curious phenomena
of nature. A worm between 6 and 8 inch
"es in length, which is found but IN certain lat
itudes, has seemingly the skill and knowl-
edge of an experienced navigator, andis in
itself little ship. Its evolutions are &C
scording to the winds; it rises and lowers its
sail, which is a membrane provided with ell
~cvating and depressing organs. When FL
ed with air it is so light, that it sWims on the
surface of alcohol, and is at the same time
provided with structure, which furnishes
1t with the necessary ballast.
When high winds would endanger its
existence IT descends into the deep, and is
never seen on the surface. of the water.
From the under side of the body proceed
fibres, which extend twenty feet in length,
and are so elastic and delicate, that they
wind in a spiral form like screw, serving
at once as anchors, defensive and often
sive weapons, pneumatic tubes and feelers
The insect has the colors Of the rainbow
rs crest, which performs the Office of g
sail, is intersected with pink and blue
veins, trimmed with a rosy border, and
swells with the wind, or at the animals
pleasure. The fibres contain a viscous
matter, which has the property of singing
like nettles, and produces pustule. 1t acts
so strongly, that vessels in which thee
have been kept for time must be repeat
edly washed before they can be used.
These fibres may be cut off without de-
priving them or the rest of the insect OF
the principle of life; and the separation
takes place spontaneously, whenever the
glutinous matter comes in contact with q
hard surface, like the sides of a glass
globe. The insect has, however, danger
GUS enemies in small dolphns, and meduse
against which neither its nautical skill nor
its poison can defend it. To the natural
philosopher, this little animal is curious
exempliication of the principles of hydros-
1atics and of hygrometry, as its bladder -
perhaps among the best substances that
can be used for the delicate instruments of
the latter science. To the Psychologist it
has the same Importance as the rest of that
class of beings, of which every part is en-
dowed with an uncommonly strong principle
OHvitality, and which have therefore not i'm
properly been called biota by DR.. Hill. To
n contemplative mind the wonderful organ
ization of the Physais must be a new
proof that hardly any great effort ofhuman
ingenuity, perseverance, courage, and skill,
Is without duplicate of more astonishing
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 of man,
II may be considered as remedy against
pride to know that there exists worm.
which an all powerful Providence has at
once made a navigator and a ship, hy-
sdrostatic aud pneumatic engine. a being
destitute of mind, and yet one that watch
-es the winds, and rides on the waves"
Rum ANEcDoTR OF THE OLDER TINE.
To show in what estimation the primitive