Better Gutenberg
Free, beautifully formatted public-domain ebooks

New-England’s Rarities Discovered

by John Josselyn

7 of 14 · Contents · Download EPUB

Of Insects105

A Bug.

There is a certain kind of Bug like a Beetle, but of a glittering brass colour, with four strong Tinsel Wings; their Bodies are full of Corruption or white Matter like a Maggot; being dead, and kept awhile, they will stench odiously; they beat the Humming Birds from the Flowers.

The Wasp.

The Wasps in this Countrey are pied, black and white, breed in Hives made like a great Pine Apple, their entrance is at the lower end, the whole Hive is of an Ash Colour, but of what matter its made no man knows; wax it is not, neither will it melt nor fry, but will take fire suddenly like Tinder: this they fasten to a Bow, or build it round about a low Bush, a Foot from the ground.

The flying Gloworm.

The flying Gloworm, flying in dark Summer Nights like sparks of Fire in great number; they are common likewise, in Palestina.

← Back to New-England’s Rarities Discovered

Scroll to Top