evening, enabled me to observe the frequent presence and disappearance
of the light of an individual, which did not seem to be the result of
will, but produced by situation. During the time the insect crawled
along the ground, or upon the fine grass, the glow was hidden; but on
its mounting any little blade, or sprig of moss, it turned round and
presented the luminous caudal spot, which, on its falling or regaining
its level, was hidden again.

A summary of the peculiarities of the year 1825, very appropriately
concludes the volume, from which we may be tempted to make future
extracts.


THE TALIPOT TREE,

The first of our Engravings is a species of palm, a native of Ceylon,
and is one of the most magnificent wonders of the vegetable kingdom. The
leaf is circular, terminating in the most beautiful rays, and folding up
into plaits like a fan, which, in figure, it nearly resembles.

This leaf is used in the maritime provinces of Ceylon as a mark of
distinction, each person being allowed to have a certain number of these
leaves, folded up as fans, carried with him by his servants; and also in
the Kandian country, in the shape of a round, flat umbrella on a long
stick. The talipot leaves are likewise used by the common people to
shelter themselves from the rain, _one leaf affording sufficient
shelter for seven or eight persons_. It is also used in making tents.

In 1818, Sir Alexander Johnston gave to Sir Joseph Banks a very fine
specimen of a tent made of their leaves, large enough to hold a party of