4C 



JOURNAL OP HORTICDLTTJES AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



t July 17, 1873. 



that represented in the accompanying figure caUed S. (Goorius) 1 Wood points out, the beetle is at times baffled by the earth 



olens ; and it can certainly be very odorous if annoyed, being 

 furnished with an apparatus by which is given forth an offensiye 

 liquid. Sometimes it will also exude an acrid fluid from the 

 mouth, apparently of a similar nature. This and other species 

 allied have also been designated Kove Beetles from their propen- 

 sities, and the common species specially has attached to it the 

 epithet of the " Devil's Coach-horse." A modern naturalist 

 justifies the appellation, for he says that he made a " coloured 

 drawing of the head of this insect, representing it with its jaws 

 ■widely opened as if in the act of seizing its prey, and the light 

 glancing from its polished eyes. It was a perfectly faithful 

 sketch, drawn by the help of the camera lucida, but yet almost 



Ocypufi olens.* 



everyone who saw it for the first time thought that it was a 

 fancy sketch for an imp." With regard to the pugnacity and 

 courage of the insect, the same author observes that when he 

 was out with a party of friends a cock-tail beetle brought the 

 group to a standstill. The ladies shrank back, but the natur- 

 alist advanced stick in hand. " I kept the creature fighting 

 me for about ten minutes, its determined attacks and the fierce 

 looks which it put on exciting general applause. Even when 

 at last I allowed it to retreat, I had only to strike the end of 

 my stick on the disputed ground to provoke another attack." 

 The rights of the quarrel were evidently not on the side of the 

 naturalist, but on that of the beetle. The bite of this species 

 and of other Staphylinidas should be avoided, however, as it 

 has been known to inflame the skin considerably. 



The menacing aspect of Ocypus olens is, as Kirby remarks, 

 increased by the mode in which, scorpion-like, it turns up the 

 abdomen, as if about to strike its foe. This is, however, only 

 a threat, and the flexible abdomen subserves other purposes in 

 the insect's life. The observer who is no entomologist can 

 see at a glance that the wings are of good size, and the elytra 

 or wing-cases are small. In many beetles the latter are of 

 service in folding-up the organs of flight, but in O. olens the 

 delicate membranes could not be packed away without other 

 assistance, which is afforded by the hind segments. Alter an 

 excursion in the air (should one of these beetles be noticed in 

 the act of coming to rest), a cock-tail beetle gives its wings a 

 flourish, and then by the help of the tail puts them under the 

 elytra, and is all ready for a run. The operation is performed 

 with great rapidity. 



Besides destroying insects, this common beetle helps to 

 reduce the number of earth worms in the garden. It does not 

 find any difliculty in pursuing the slippery annelid, since its 

 long body and powerful structure enable it to follow its prey 

 along the tracks beneath the ground, though, as the Rev. J. tl. 



* For this and the other illnstrations to the present article we are indebted 

 to Fignier's " Insect World," published by Messrs. Casseil. 



worm's practice of dragging down leaves to some depth into 

 the openings it has made — a practice which has been accounted 

 for in a variety of ways. These leaves are just as likely to be 

 those of living plants as not, and hence one decided objection 

 the horticulturist has to a multitude of these creatures in his 

 domain. But these leaves impede the progress of 0. olens hi 

 pursuit of worms, though perhaps the insect would be more 

 determined in the chase were it not capable of feeding on so 

 great a variety of substances living and dead. 



The larva of 0. olens is, of course, devoid of wings, yet quite 

 as capable of providing for itself as when fully matured. It is 

 predacious even when quite young, and, though darkling in 

 its habits, comes into view sometimes, and may fre- 

 quently be detected under stones and logs. How it 

 wriggles into some of the situations where we find i), 

 is surprising. Many of the small insects and other 

 creatures killed by this larva are not actually eaten up ; 

 the juices having been extracted, the larva often quits 

 its prey and renews its search for more. The pupa is 

 quiescent and usually concealed under the earth, con- 

 trasting strangely with the restless larva and imago. 



The Tiger Beetles claim a passing notice, as at least 

 occasionally certain of the common species are to be 

 found on the wing in gardens situate near waste or 

 heathy land ; and even when flying or running in other 

 spots, they kill insects which are at times frequenters 

 of gardens, though bred elsewhere. The familiar Cicin- 

 dela campestris is a good representative of the tribe ;. 

 it is an insect wonderfully active, 

 though it lakes but short flights 

 for the most part. Decidedly dif- 

 ferent in appearance from the 

 species under our notice just now, 

 with a rather elegant outUne, and 

 displaying pleasing colours, it is 

 quite as ferocious as the repulsive 

 Staphyhni. At its front it bears 

 a deadly weapon, resembling in 

 miniature two sickles crossed at 

 the points, and poor are the 

 chances of any insect that has 

 the misfortune to come in the 

 way of these. For its own se- 

 curity, and to assist it in its pre- 

 dacious excursions, the Tiger Beetle has 

 eyes so situated that an object approach- 

 ing from any direction is at once seen. Like wasps andjothers 

 of the Hymenopterous order, the Cicindelidffi rarely devour 

 i their victim ; partially dismembering it, they remove the soft 

 contents of the body. An alarm will make them fly oft' with 

 anything they are grasping, but they have not strength of wing 

 to carry it far. A specimen of Cicindela campestris held be- 

 tween the fingers leaves an odour which has been compared to 

 that of a crushed Verbena leaf : it is not disagreeable. In some 

 species of Cicindela we notice a perfume resembUng that of 

 the Rose or Sweet Briar. 



The larva of this species cannot emulate the rapid move- 

 ments of the imago. It has short legs and a body not adapted 

 for locomotion. But what it cannot secure by force it obtains 



Cicindela campestris. 



Ambush of larva of Cicindela campestris. 



LaiTa oi Cicindela campestrip; 



by stratagem. In sandy ground we may expect to find the 

 ingenious pitfalls constructed by this larva, which suggest to 

 us the oft-described traps made by the ant-lion, not a nativo 

 of these islands. The pit sunk by the larva of Cicindela cam- 



