The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-12-29
DR NORRIS,s I.ECTrRE

DR.. MORRIS'S LECTURE.
The Fifth Lecture of the Course before the members of
the Maryland Institute delivered last evening, by
Dr. Morris whose subject The wonders of the Insecs
world" The Lecturer commenced by stating that
might suppose that apology almost necessary for
introducing the subject the history habits insects
in public lecture-to small extent is the science Of
Entomology cultivated among and little of course it
it generally understood Many persons shrink with
from insects and consequently depreciae the
which treats of their habits. After referring
to remarkable win Case in England he alluded the
varying wonders which the Natural History of In
sects presensto their diversified colors their wonder
full instincts; their extraordinary transformations;
their apparent death and burial in sepulchre of
their construction, and their resurrection
in another and different form. He next spoke of
study of Zoology and of the difficulties and discourage
mens it presents to the student who finds this richly
peopled domain all the variety of occupations which he
sees in the trades of human life By the aid ofthe micro
he all the wonders othe other classes united
the piercing eye of the lynx and hawk; the branching
antler of the stag the strong of mail of the
dllo the gorgeous train of the peacock eetness of
the deer all the skill of the beaver in buildng the
vy of the squirrel in climbing; of the monkey in leap
ng of the frog in swimming and of the mole in burrow
ing. The lecturer here mentioned number of insects
that exempfed the various properties to which he
referred. He next alluded to the infinite number
of insects and the continued influence they other
productions, and himself Many persons, said
he express rapurOus delight at seeing birds of gorgeous
pumage but there are more than two thousand butter
flies which are not only adorned with the luxury
and pomp of vestment but whose magnificent colorng
offers variety of tnts and shadows which the highest
skill of the painter could rival He closed his
dncory remarks by quoting in view of these fascinating
wonders tbe exclamation of the enthusiastic LATRIELLE
Oh ye who resist the eloquent voice of nature, enter
this temple and be filed with alteration and gratitude
or rather stand in its vestbue for ages shall eapse
fore monument shall have been reared worthy of
sits glory and magnfcence' Taking up next the
common house Fly, he characterized it intrusive,
buzzing perng boozing tickling varle that regard
ed with antpathy by most men, and women too. He
ferred to Luther's fly uncle Tobys humane
of the troublesome varlet; quoted story which the Jew
ish Rabbns relate of King DAVID who they assert
red that God made three useless thngs-fools spiders
and f but others contend that David could have
said this for by acting the fool he escaped from AcHIsH
King OF Gath-that when he lay concealed from SAUL it
spider that his web the of the
cave, ana That 1t was fly whose buzzng woke him
the night he entered the tent of SAUL This anecdote
was followed by description of the physical peculiartes
of the Fly and especially the mechanism of its feet The
Flea was the next subject of his discourse
He then spoke of the Musquito insect well known,
terzed it a troublesome singing stnging, impu-
dent persevering little rascal that respects neither age
nor sex nor condition in life yet euprt vampire as he is
said the lecturer he has been made subject
and he quoted as an instance, Bryants lines
Fair insect that with thread like legs spread out
And blood extracting beak, &c.'
He also referred to McJon's poem the insect,
and after describing the formation and habits of the Mus
quito took up "the Plant Lce small green insect to be
found on stalks and other plants The ladies' he said
despse them-they crush them and call them hard
Marked that in the history of the Aphs. nature has
heaped up the incredible wonders Ordinary laws are
departed from and thnes are seen altogether new and
unusual The of insects described and d1
cussed Insect habtations referred speci-
mems exhibited. The pyramids of Egypt said the lee
turer as the work OF man. not more wonderful for their
size and soldy than the structures built by
secs Some insects said he, work sngly others soci
ETY. One species eXcavate hole in the groundthe Bee
fills it with three four cells about half inch long
shaped like thmble, the end of fitting in the other
these himbes made of silky substance-in each of
vii
composed of honey and pollen, which food fo
the young. The Ant Lion next claimed the lecturers
tentlon. This insect he said displays eXtraordi-
nary instinct, cunning, foresight and skill. 1t is
well-dlgger by profession, and an assassin by
practice 1t is bandit in ambush-a lion in a
pfal watching for its prey and if by chance its prey
should escape its horrible clutches, it literally throws
stones after him. 1t is cunning Fox employing the
most dexterous traps deceive tn poor which
principally feeds At this point the lecturer exhibited
representation of the Ant Lion multiplied in size
der the microscope, and detailed the in which
captured its prey and constructed the pit into which that
prey was lured. An anecdote of TAMERLANE and the
Ant was mere quoted as illustrative of the virtue of pa
tience and the auditors told that might learn
another lesson from the Ant Lions pnot to trust them
selves TO every inviting place; for there is another
Lion concealed, which will drag them ruin |
now, continued the lecturer, proceed to speak of
an animal which is looked upon with adherence by
most persons and remorseessly as
1t Is only necessary to cry Spider and instantly many
ladies thrown into fits and gentlemen invariably com
mence the work of death But this all popular preju-
dice and error for spider will hurt one and the
numerous stories we hear about persons having been hit
by spiders pure faacous There is in
sect more remarkable in its instincts aordng
interest than the spider After describing its physical
peculiares; the manner in which it spins the threads
which form its web; the mode by which spiders
transport themselves from place to another,
and their conrivances for catching their prey spoke
of species Spider in the tropics excavaes
in bank which is furnished with constructed of
web and this door has regular hinge, opens outward
and shuts and falls of its own weight The occupant
opens by pushing against it he goes out and draw
ing 1t up when he enters Another species actually forms
raft for the purpose of obtaining its prey. Keeping its
station upon ball of weeds of few inches in diameter
probably held together by slight sken cords it is waited
along upon the surface of the water The diving water
Spider next referred to- and then anecdote related
of certain ingenious Frenchman, NJ Bon, who un-
dertook to manufacture for Louis XIV. coat of Spiders
web, and really presented to the Academy gloves and
stockings made of this material. But the
manufacture would not pay-the sthread OF the spider
fine it required hundred thousand spiders
elaborate pound of stuff Strange it may SEEM said
the lecturer Spiders have historical They
eg h eE Of S9t h
that they have led to important discoveries and
facilitated the conquest of Holland by PIcHEGRu Here
is how it came to pass. DIsJoRyAL imprisoned in
Utrecht suspicion of being opposed the
his dungeon, the habits of spiders, and especially
the relation of their appearance and disappearance to the
changes of the weather. and finally ascertained
their repose, activity, he could foete infalibly
nine to fourteen days before the atmosphere
All his predictions verified In the winter of 1892
he announced through of his keepers the French
army of invasion, which about to abandon its ad-
vance account of the difficulty of crossing streams
that before three days elapsed cold would in
when all the canals could he crossed ce three
days the French entered Utrecht and the prisoner re
leased. Then ensued sudden thaw PICHEGRu became
alarmed and spoke of retreating DsJoRvAL consulted
his spiders and agreed to lose his head if in short time
dreadful frost did not PICHEGRU believed dec
and HOl was arp1