NOTES UPON INSECTS. 209 



butterfly. The first (which belongs to the order Coleoptera*) has 

 every part of its body formed for strength, and in the most of instances 

 is well supplied with the organs both of offence and defence f. The 

 first pair of wings form an effectual protection to the under pair, and 

 likewise to the abdomen. By some authors they have been denomi- 

 nated the " wing sheaths," but they are more properly wings, although 

 they " are so horny and stiff, that they have no close resemblance to 

 what are called wings in other insects J." The use which the work 

 just quoted assigns to these first pair of wings is, " to cover the second 

 pair in a state of repose, and to balance the body, perhaps by their 

 weight, in flying." These reasons I consider perfectly satisfactory ; 

 but there is one point left which deserves mention : I allude to the 

 humming noise which some beetles make in their flight, attributable to 

 the rapid displacement of the opposing particles of the atmosphere, 

 produced by the quick passage of the insect through it. Your intel- 

 ligent correspondent Solitarius, at page 406 of the first volume, speak- 

 ing of the gnat (Culex pipiens), says he conceives it possible, that " it 

 may learn its situation in a dark room by the variations produced upon 

 its piping noise, (which may thus be as serviceable to it in the dark, as 

 its sight in the day time,) to avoid breaking its wings, &c. He also 

 conjectures that " the humming of the cockchafer (M. vttlgaris), the 

 dung beetle (G. stercorarius~), and many other insects," may be refer- 

 able to the same cause. With all due deference to the ingenious obser- 

 vations of this gentleman, I would humbly remark, tbat the latter 

 conjecture does not appear to be borne out by facts. How is it, it may 

 be asked, has the proverb " as blind as a beetle," arisen, but from the 

 well-known stupid tendency of beetles to fly direct against any obstacle 

 which may occur in their course, by which many of those kinds which 

 fly about in the dusk of the evening are stunned and captured. Besides, 

 the rapidity of their flight would not give them much time to employ 

 the instinct for which Solitarius gives them credit. The question is 

 very interesting, and to the lover of Entomology, is very important. 

 Experiments might be made which would throw some light on this 

 subject. In the next number (if deemed worthy of insertion) I shall 

 resume these notes. 



Camberwell, February 26th, 1834. 



* Derived from the Greek ico\tos, a sheath, and irrfpov, n w'ng. S. 

 f For instance, the large forceps of the L. C'cri-us. 

 % Alphab. Inf. page 54. 



