INSECT VARIETY. 



41 



Stag Beetles, when an-ested at twilight on a pathway, stand 

 motionless as if paralysed, gaping with their mandibles, and 

 when seized fall theatrically on their backs. The Bugs and 

 many Neuroptera on touch similarly contract their limbs ; the 

 latter, -with many moths, retaining their wings also stiff and 

 motionless. Among the Bees, the shining red and blue Chry- 

 sidida?, often noticed on brick walls, involute their abdomens as 

 wood-lice on seizure ; but the Bumbles and others turn on their 

 backs, whine, and extend the four hinder-legs like a cat on the 

 defensive. These spasmodic symptoms not uncommonly result 

 from sight or hearing. Bees also raise their legs and larviB jerk 

 their heads when light is intercepted. A dark trailing cloud- 

 shadow passing over a colony of the Orange-ringed Caterpillars 

 of the rag- weed {CiiUiiiiorjj/ia Jacob fff?) causes quite a sensation 

 of wicr-wao-o-ina- while it lasts. I likewise remember once, on 

 approaching to pill-box a very minute vernal beetle near London, 

 seeing its limbs yield, when down it came, like a dust-shot, ere I 

 could reach it. It must have seen my shadow ! Sj^eeies of 

 other orders, the smaller moths especially, thus elude the ardent 

 collector among herbs and grasses. 



Of the butterflies it is noticeable that the majority, when 

 confined in a pill - box sink into torpidity, so that some 

 indeed, as the Peacock and Tortoiseshells, with others of 

 the genus Vanessa, may be afterwards actually taken out and 

 handled without moving; and some others, as the Melifece, 

 on the imprisoning lid being opened, escape, flutter, and 

 then drop down tragically, as though dead. As a corollary 

 we find many of these Day-fliers, and the Si/rj)/ndce, or 

 Hoverers among flies, exhibit similar lethargic symptoms 

 on a cloud supervening; when species before so wary and 

 active in gardens and shrubberies may be boldly gathered 

 from the leaves and blossoms with the hand. The metallic 

 purple and olive-coloured flies of the sunny genus Sargiis are 

 especially light-apathetic. Hybernation, or living through 

 the winter, exemplified in this country by the Brimstone 

 Butterflies and species of Vanessidi, may be viewed as a 

 prolongation of this phenomenon, since on the influx of a 

 brighter atmosphere with gayer meadows these regain their 

 activity. Benumbing cold, however, is doubtless favourable to 



