the size of a small melon. The tree, and even the fruit are full of an acrid milky juice; but the fruit is eaten with sugar and pepper, like melon; and when the halfgrown fruit is properly pickled, it is but little inferior to the pickled mango of the East Indies. There are many forms in the fruit, and some varieties in the color of the flower of the papaw; and there is also a dwarf species; though as this has been observed chiefly in airy situations, it may be the common sort stunted for want of moisture.

Selected for the Monthly Repository by the Rev. William Granville.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE GLOW-WORM.

The

The Glow Worm is an insect of the beetle kind. The female deposits her eggs in the month of June or July, among grass, moss, &c. Their eggs are of a yellow color, and emit light. After remaining about five or six weeks, the larvæ break the shells, and make their appearance: at first they appear white, and are very small; but they soon increase in size, and their color changes to a dark brown, or nearly black. body of the larva is formed of eleven rings; it has six feet, and two rows of reddish spots down the back. It emits light in the dark at its pleasure: this light arises from the last ring of its body, on the under side, and, when examined attentively, appears like two brilliant spots. The larva are seen shining during the fine nights of autumn, and some times in winter, when the weather is mild. The light they emit is to direct them to their food; they feed on small snails, the carcasses of insects, &c. They frequently cast their skins.

After the expiration of about one year and nine months from their birth, they arrive at their perfect size; they then cease to eat, cast their skin, and assume another appearance. The form of the perfect insect may be discovered through a thin skin that covers them. After remaining two or three weeks in this state (scarcely ever moving,) they throw off their last skin, and arrive at perfection, the male then appears a perfect beetle, having wings, and covers to them. The female, VOL. II.

18

on the contrary, has neither wings, nor wing-cases; she is larger than the male, and of a lighter color. The male is almost completely black. It is the female

that principally shines in the perfect state: her light is far superior to that emitted by the larva, and arises from the three last rings of her body on the lower side, which are of a pale yellow color. By this light it is just possible for a person to read.

Here we behold the wonderful wisdom of the great Creator. The female insect being void of wings, and therefore incapable of flying through the air to seck her mate, is provided with a beautiful lamp, which answers her purpose equally well. After the female has deposited her eggs she dies; and about the same period the male dies also.

Those of your readers who wish to investigate the wisdom of God, displayed in the Glow-Worm may keep them in glass jars, among damp moss. The larvæ

may be fed with small snails, in pieces, which they eat greedily. The moss should be exchanged every two or three weeks. I have kept the Glow-Worm for years in glasses, and have traced them through all the changes of their lives, from their exclusion from the egg to their death. These insects may be found on sandy grounds under hedges, and on bank sides that abound with moss or heath-English Wesleyan Magazine, for May, 1831.

CIRCLE OF THE SCIENCES, WITH SUITABLE REFLECTIONS.

THE COMET OF 1834.

There are few comets which are visible to the naked eye, and on this account the comet, whose return figures among the calculated memorabilia of the year 1834, is entitled to an early and special notice. So far as modern observations reach, this comet was seen for the first time, in the year 1465, and it approached to a distance of 11,700,000 miles from the sun, on the 8th of June in that year. It came near the earth, and under very favorable circumstances; presenting itself with peculiar splendor and remarkable brilliancy; travelling

with a tail which extended over a third portion of the firmament; and affording a spectacle of far greater beauty than it has exhibited since those times. Its next appearance was in 1531; and on the 25th day of August it was at the distance of 11,600,000 from the sun. The period of its revolution was, therefore, ascertained to be 75 years, 2 months, 17 days. Calculating each of its revolutions at 75 years, the return of this comet might have been predicted for the year 1606 or 1607; and in fact, it did return, for the third time, in 1607. It approached nearest to the sun on the 26th of Oct. when it was 11,750,000 miles from it. The period of its revolution had consequently been 76 years, 2 months and 1 day-one twelvemonth longer than the preceding; whence it is obvious, that its progress had been disturbed by some planet, or other strange body. It was of considerable magnitude, its head being of the size of the planet Jupiter; but its light was weak and nebulous; it had a long tail, and this was also feeble in its rays, as if overcast with vapors.

The revolutions of this comet having been of seventy five or seventy-six years duration, it followed, that its return would occur in 1682 or 1683. This calculation was confirmed by its re-appearance in 1682 wien its nearest approximation to the sun took place on the 14th Sept. on which day it was distant from it 11,650,000 miles. It was now, for the first time, observed, with any degree of accuracy, by Halley, from whom it has consequently been denominated "Halley's Comet." This astronomer compared the results of his several observations with those made on the comets of the years 1607 and 1531, and found them closely to correspond with one another; froin which he was led to infer, that the three appearances belonged to one and the same body. On this occasion, its revolution amounted to seventy four years ten months and eighteen daysgiving a mean duration of 75 years and one half. Halley predicted the return of this comet in the year 1759; at first, however, it seemed as if the event would not realize the prediction, as the comet was tardy in appearing; but, to the delight of every astronomer, it became visible at last and put an end to the doubt

which had hitherto existed as to the durable nature of such bodies as comets. It attained its solar elevation on the 13th of March, when its distance from the sun was 11,650,000 miles and was of inferior size to what it had been on its last appearance. Its tail was but lightly illuminated and not discernible except when the sky was clear; on which account no precise judg ment could be formed of its length.

The weakness of its irradiation was principally owing to its unfavorable position. Its last revolution had been seventy-six years and six months. It may reasonably be asked, why the comet consumed a whole twelvemonth more in its revolution than was natural to it? To this it may be answered, and upon very accurate calculation, that it first displayed itself upon the planet Jupiter, which influenced and retarded its movement. Hence it appeared at a somewhat later period than Halley had foretold. The return of the comet in our days ought to take place in the year 1834; but it is possible that it may be so influenced by Saturn and Uranus as not to make its appearance before 1835 or even 1836.-Numberless calculations have already been formed on this event; and we must leave it for time to pronounce which of them is correct. Neither can we predetermine what will be the degree of its brilliancy, or the extent of its tail; these are matters, which seem to depend on circumstances beyond the sphere of our present knowledge..

INTERESTING AND USEFUL EXTRACTS.

THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM.

Our state in this vale of tears is a mixed one. Life may be likened to the winds-ever shifting and never alike. Sometimes it appears as calm as a summer evening, and again storms and tempests chequer its even surface, darkening every prospect; and rendering scenes once bright and joyous, gloomy and bleak as the caverns of death. But even over all these scenes there is one star that seems to brighten. In the absence of all that renders life tolerable, in weal or wo, in joy or sorrow, it still beams out alone unchanged, undimmed, as though

it had found its way from the third heavens. It stands out in peerless beauty, dispensing its blessed light at all times and all seasons, flinging its hallowed though not brilliant rays across the path of the wilderness; and even in our sunniest moment when it is forgotten, and we steer wide of its heavenly direction, still it seems to twinkle near the blazing orb that burns when prosperity rules at the destiny of an hour.-THIS IS THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM.

SUBJECTS FOR THE PULPIT.

"The Preacher of everlasting truth has certainlly the noblest subjects that ever elevated and enkindled the soul of man-not the intrigues of a Phillip-not the plots of a Cataline-but the rebellion of angelsthe creation of a world-the incarnation and death of the Son of God-the resurrection of men-the dissolution of nature-the general judgment-and the final confirmation of countless millions of men and angels in happiness or misery. No subjects are so sublime -none are so interesting to the feelings of a reflecting audience: no orator was himself ever so deeply interested in his subject, as a godly minister is in the truths which he presses upon his hearers. If on any topic he can become impassioned, and be carried beyond himself, it is on the theme of immortal love, and the everlasting destinies of men."

BRUCE AND THE SPIDER.

When driven from haunt to haunt by his enemies, uncertain, in the complicated difficulties with which he was surrounded, whether it would not be desirable, at once, to renounce the daring and desperate enterprise in which he was engaged, and become a voluntary exile from Scotland, Bruce had retreated into a wretched hovel, where he threw himself down to snatch a short interval of repose. There, as he lay on a heap of straw, and bitterly pondering on a plan for engaging in the holy war, and for ever forsaking his country, his eye involuntarily directed to a spider, which, engaged in the process of constructing its web, had suspended itself