464 



JOURNAL OP HORTICDLTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ June 11, 1874. 



tben, again, we have many friends amongst them; and a host 

 miiEt be ranked as merely neutrals, interfering in no way with 

 horticulture. Ko doubt the name has an olijectionable ring 

 about it, because we so associate it with the house pest known 

 as the black beetle, not properly a beetle at all. I must ac- 

 knowledge to some measure of faith in Johnson's Dictionary — 

 it may be a wealuiess of mine, but so it if — and when I went, 

 anxious to af certain why some insects had the name of " beetle " 

 applied to them, and also how that word is also used to desig- 

 nate a heavy instrument, I did not find the lexicographer com- 

 municative, only the inference suggests itself that in both 

 there is some association with the earth. The living insect 

 called " beetle " runs on the earth or delves in it ; the wooden 

 beetle strikes the earth. According to Johnson a " beetle- 

 headed " man is a stupid man, which makes an uncompli- 

 mentary insinuation regarding the insect's character. Then 

 as to " clocks " — for by that name in some countries they 



know the black beetle or cockroach, and also other darkling 

 species, such as Blaps mortisaga and Staphylinus olens — how 

 is that to he explained ? These insects do not tick, or they 

 might deserve the appellation as well as the " death-watch," 

 which frequents walls. Probably the word either applied to 

 their hard cases, or else to their habit of skulking iu dark 

 places, not always because they have anything to be ashamed 

 of ; for some of those beetles or " clocks " fond of hiding them- 

 selves are useful to us. We may say they " do good by stealth, 

 and blush to find it fame." I suppose, however, their grand 

 object in keeping themselves out of view is to enable them the 

 better to surprise their prey, which they will hunt down, some- 

 times with great swiftness, usually with dogged determination. 

 There is a group of beetles sometimes designated as the 

 " Sunshiners," since they are occasionally to be seen actively 

 pursuing their prey along paths and by roadsides during the 

 day ; but this is not the habit of all, as some of the family are 



Fig. 1. — Carabns violaccns.* 



nocturnal in their habits. The larvffi, as predacious in their way 

 as the perfect insects, also almost invariably hide from view ; 

 and though they may seem not very agile in their movements, 

 yet as the immature condition lasts a good while in most of 

 the species, they manage in that time to destroy a large number 

 of other insects and small molluscs, most of which are pests 

 to the gardener. The division of the Geodephaga, as it is 

 called iu science, comprehends what have been said to be, by 

 comparison, the lions and tigers of the realm of insects, and 

 the Carabida; are prominent among these ravenous land beetles, 

 and particularly noticeable at this season of the year. The 

 build of one of these, as we take it np for examination, would 

 at once give a clue to its habits. The limbs so well adapted 

 for running, and in certain species also for digging, the pro- 

 minent eyes and long antenna;, and the hard elytra or wing- 

 cai-es, all suggest combativeness, and the life of a predacious 

 wanderer. Yet it is singular that some of the large and power- 

 ful beetles, such as Carabus violaceus (fifj 1), may be discovered 

 half devoured by ants, and it is evident these insects do not 

 merely attack tbeir formidable prey when in artlculo mortis, 

 but when in health. I have myself observed one, seemingly 

 in healih and vigour, pursuing its course along a path until 

 it happened to cross a run of ants, by which it was surrounded, 



* From Cassell's Figoier's " Insect World." 



Fig. 2 — Carabus auratuB.t 



and after some hours, during which the hostile force did 

 nothing, apparently, but surround the (to them) huge creature, 

 it succumbed, and was borne off a victim. It is not snpposable 

 that the jaws of ants, trenchant as they are, can inflict a fatal 

 wound on the hard-shelled Coleopteron, and my own theory 

 of the matter is that in some way the fumes of the formic 

 acid effused freely by the ants have a poisonous or stupifying 

 effect. This will be another count in the indictment against 

 the ant tribes, if they help to accelerate the death of such 

 useful insects as the Carahids. 



The Violet Ground-beetle, Carabus violaceus, is a species 

 found commonly throughout Britain, both indoors and out 

 of doors, mostly the latter, though it is sometimes tempted 

 into the house by the chance of a banquet upon cock- 

 roaches and crickets. The wing-cases in this species have 

 a beautiful violet hue, and they are studded over with small 

 indentations. Not unfrequently specimens will be seen with 

 their wing-cases bent or partially damaged, owing to the in- 

 sects having thrust themselves into narrow openings for the 

 purpose of seizing other insects that may have fancied them- 

 selves in a secure hiding-place. It is at night that C. viola- 

 ceus takes its excursions by preference, when individuals are 

 abroad on the garden mould, and also in the paths, seizing 



t From Duncan's " Transformations ot Insects." Published by Messrs. 

 Cassell. 



