History of All Animals. 29

But, in addition to what has already been described in the appropriate place, it should be noted that in the New World, horned beetles are produced which the locals call *Temolin*. They scrape the horns of some of these, serve the shavings in water, and claim that they stimulate sexual desire in a marvelous way.

# ON FLIES

In the final book of the *History of Insects*, the river flies of Rondelet were mentioned. During the summer, these insects fly over the surface of the waves; they have eyes that are large in proportion to their bodies, a rounded back, a flat belly, and six legs—the hindmost of which are larger to provide significant help in propelling the body through water. Although they extend a pair of wings while swimming, they are capable of both swimming and flying.

However, in the Mexican region, a marsh fly lives in the waters that is not entirely unlike the one just described. It is called the *Akkagacatl* because it mirrors the appearance of the water—the very element in which it constantly dwells. These flies provide a steady food supply for the Mexican commoners; at certain times, a vast abundance of them is caught in nets. They are then ground and mixed to prepare balls that are sold in markets throughout the year. The natives wrap these in the husks of maize (Indian corn) and cook them in nitrated water, producing a food that is both good and quite pleasant to the taste.

Furthermore, they use these same insects to feed a thousand types of small birds which, when kept in cages, sing various melodies to the delight of those listening. Finally, both a larger and a smaller variety of this fly can be found.

Additionally, the Mexican lake provides a great abundance of *Ahuahutli*, which is the name the Indians give to the eggs of these flies. These eggs resemble poppy seeds and are harvested by casting ropes as thick as a man's arm into the lake where the waves are roughest. The eggs cling to these ropes, from which the fishermen scrape them and store them in vessels for use.

They later shape them into cakes or discs and tuck them into corn husk wrappers so that, when the opportunity arises, they can prepare dishes by toasting them. They have a fishy aroma and are said to be a quite wholesome food; indeed, they are claimed to strengthen a weak or upset stomach.

It has already been explained that some flies are aquatic and others terrestrial. Likewise, it was noted in the proper place that terrestrial flies have a twofold generation: some proceed from eggs and others from putrefaction. Even in the case of eggs, a worm first emerges, which gradually develops legs and wings until it finally becomes a flying creature—a fly.

Since the worms that produce flies have this double origin—either the mating of flies or decay—it should be noted that this decay involves not only carcasses but also the corruption of fruit. For this reason, I have chosen to present here an illustration of a fly born within an oak gall, where the reader may also view an image of a cockroach that eats through cloth.