154 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



theni by the acute ear. Who has not noted the difference betwen the 

 hum of contentment and pleasure of a bee when flitting from flower to 

 flower collecting its fragrant stores, and its notes of perplexity and 

 anger when swarming or pursuing some intruder? Even the buzzing 

 of flies seems to be somewhat under their control, as is proved by the 

 absolute silence with which, upon occasion, they dart back and forth 

 through our rooms. 



In the vast order of the Lepidoptera (the butterflies and moths), 

 containing almost innumerable species, but a single one, so far as is 

 yet known, has the power of emitting a distinct sound. This is the 

 weird death's-head sphinx moth of Europe ( Acherontia atropos.J It is 

 a large and rather richly colored species, having on its thorax a dis- 

 tinct skull and cross-bones in lighter shades. When seized or dis- 

 turbed it sends forth a shriek of fright or pain, that, combined with its 

 ghastly markings, gives good ground for the superstitious dread with 

 which it 1 is everywhere regarded by the ignorant and credulous. The 

 means by which the cry is produced, not only by the perfect insect but 

 by its larvae, has not yet been discovered. 



Quite a number of beetles have a claim to recognition as musicians, 

 not by the buzzing that accompanies their lumbering flight, but by the 

 squeaking sounds which they emit when captured, and occasionally 

 when entirely undisturbed — for the mere pleasure in the "practice" evi- 

 dently. 



The instrument, in the case of the long-horned beetles, is a little 

 pointed rasp, on the underside of the second joint of the thorax, which 

 grates, by the up and down motion of the body, over a ridge on the 

 third joint. 



It may not be generally known, but the notorious curcnlio, small 

 as it is, is in its way no mean musician. I well remember my surprise 

 when sitting one evening in the twilight by my desk, on which was a 

 jar containing a considerable number of plum curculios, at the singing* 

 sounds that proceeded from said jar. The sound is produced by these 

 insects by rubbing the horny tip of the abdomen against the ridged 

 margin of the wing covers. 



Prof. Eiley says of this sound that "both sexes share in the power 

 of producing it, and it no doubt serves as a mutual call, or is used 

 under the Influence of distress, fear or pleasure." My own observa- 

 tions lead to the conclusion that it is used chiefly as an expression of 

 enjoyment — fear in all the curculionid beetles being expressed by ab- 

 solute inactivity, in other words by "playing possum." 



Our noisiest insects are found in the order Homoptera, the musi- 

 cians constituting but a limited group, but making up in size and sound 



