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HARDWICKE'S SCIEN CE - G OSSIP. ' 



weapons of defence, but only, I grieve to say, of 

 offence. The attack of this little midnight prowler 

 on a delicate subject is often plainly visible for days, 

 and many sensitive persons, after an introduction to 

 one of these beautifully-formed but desperate blood- 

 suckers, feel somewhat shy of venturing into public 

 life till the red splotches, so sadly suggestive of 

 indulgence in " drops," have disappeared from the 

 cheeks and forehead. The caterpillar of the Puss 

 Moth {Cerura vinula) carries at the end of its body 

 two black sheaths or tails, each inclosing a pinkish 

 tentacle or thread, which, when the creature is 

 irritated, it thrusts out in a very menacing manner. 

 This apparatus is said to be used as a whip to drive 

 away the ichneumon flies, which prey in their larval 

 state on caterpillars ; but this we beg leave to 

 doubt, and also the assertion that the tentacle will 

 give an electrical shock when touched with the 

 hand. This caterpillar is common on willow and 

 poplar trees in autumn. 



The beetles have various means of active defence. 

 There is the Bombardier, a species provided with a 

 kind of artillery with which to keep at bay its 

 insect enemies. The bombardier, on being alarmed, 

 turns its hinder part to the enemy and lets fly a 

 charge of blank cartridge, having all the essentials 

 of real artillery, viz., a noise, accompanied with 

 smoke, and a peculiar smell. If one discharge does 

 not stop the progress of the enemy, the bombardier 

 again turns its artillery upon it, and bangs away 

 with the perseverance of Wellington's Spaniards. 

 It has been known to fire twenty times in succession. 

 The explosive substance is a fluid contained within 

 the body, which, on being ejected, becomes volatil- 

 ized by contact with the atmosphere. 



A mode of defence almost unicpie among British 

 insects is that of the Death's-head Hawk-moth 

 (Acherontia atropos) and its caterpillar, both of 

 which emit a shrill squeak when alarmed ; and this, 

 it is said, is sufficient to scare even the plundered 

 bees when the moth, too lazy to obtain honey in the 

 usual way, creeps into the rich hives for that 

 purpose. 



Another method of active defence in insects is the 

 emission of certain fluids, accompanied in some cases 

 by a fetid smell, in others by a mimicry of death. 

 The whole family of Coccinellidte, or Ladybirds, on 

 being alarmed, fold up their legs and counterfeit 

 death, at the same time emitting from the joints of 

 the limbs a mucilaginous, disagreeably-smelling, 

 yellow fluid. The power of counterfeiting death is 

 not peculiar to the ladybird, but is shared by 

 several other insects, and in many cases is their 

 only means of defence. Birds, as a rule, are averse 

 to picking up dead game, and consequently many 

 of the insects which possess the power of feigning 

 death escape destruction by this means. Other 

 examples of insects emitting fluids are the two 

 Bloody-nose Beetles [Timarchia tenebricosa and 



coriaria), which, on being handled or alarmed, exude 

 from the head a bright ruby-coloured fluid ; and this 

 they will repeat several times in succession. This 

 fluid does not smell or taste particularly strong, 

 and when applied to the skin only stains it slightly. 

 It has been affirmed, however, that when the insect 

 has been compelled by pressure to eject the fluid 

 with violence against the cheek, or other delicate 

 part, the result has been a smart pain. Another 

 eccentric individual is that curious insect the Oil 

 Beetle {Proscarabceus vulgaris), which is so often 

 seen in April on the grass by the sides of hedges. 

 If you take it up, it will fold its legs and emit from 

 the joints a clear yellow oil, not an ordinary insect 

 fluid, but possessing all the essentials of an oil. 

 Some caterpillars likewise exude a fluid from the 

 mouth (generally of -a green colour), among which 

 may be mentioned those of the large Cabbage 

 White and Peacock butterflies (Pieris brassier, 

 Vanessa Io.). The caterpillar of the Puss Moth, 

 previously mentioned, has the power of ejecting a 

 fluid, which, though harmless to its human foes, is 

 probably very obnoxious to its insect enemies. 

 This fluid it ejects from an aperture under the 

 head. The Wood Ant {Formica Herculanea), in 

 addition to its powers of biting, can also dart a 

 venomous fluid which will raise a blister on the 

 skin. 



In place of the ejection of ifluids'as a means of 

 defence, some insects, and especially beetles, have 

 the power, when in danger, to throw out such a 

 quintessence of stenches as to taint the surrounding 

 atmosphere. I once drew fa handkerchief across 

 one of these insect-skunks, and in an instant every 

 part of the cambric was affected with the disgusting 

 odour. The majority of Londoners need not be 

 reminded of the defensive powers of that metropolitan 

 household pest, the Bug. Then, again, some insects 

 have the power of diffusing odour pleasant to us, 

 but probably offensive to certain foes. The Musk 

 Beetle {Cerambyx moschatus), found in summer 

 about old willow-trees, gives out a smell 'of roses, 

 and the Tiger Beetle {Cicindela compestris), common 

 in May and June, on sunny banks and highways has 

 a pleasant smell not unlike the leaf of the verbena. 



There is a method of active defence among 

 insects which consists of a single effort and a passive 

 awaiting of the result. Thus, many of the hairy 

 caterpillars on being alarmed curl up into a ring 

 aud fall to the ground, leaving the stiff spines to 

 project on every side as a defence from attack on 

 the more vital parts. The almost impenetrable 

 coat of the hairy caterpillar is a capital means of 

 defence, and is no doubt the reason why so few of 

 these insects fall victims to ichneumon punctures. 



The most common mode of active defence in 

 insects, and the last we will mention, is that of quick 

 motion, which is shared by the majority of insects. 

 Properly speaking, however, quick motion is not a 



