Jane 16V4. J 



JOURNAL OF HOBTIODLTUEE AND C6TTAGE GAEDENER. 



46 



_53Sv 



various JBBects, large and small, aud also occasionally young 

 snails. This must not be handled too roughly, as it can exude 

 from the mouth a pungent liquid that is irritating to the 

 human skin, and the jaws can also give a sharp nip. The 

 Golden Ground-beetle, C. auratus (I'lff. 2), is not so plentiful as 

 the preceding, perhaps even moro iiseful to us, as it has a great 

 liking for the terrible cockchafer or May-bug (Melolontha 

 vulgaris). There is no doubt that C. auratus does attack and 

 kill not only cockchafers, but also the handsome Rose beetle, 

 which is mischievous in some years. And, according to 

 Latreille the Carabus selects the moment when the female 

 cockchafer is seeking on the ground for a suitable hiding- 

 place tq bury her eggs, and destroys the parent aud the brood 

 in embryo. This species is a golden green, with antenna) and 

 legs brown, and sculptured wing-cases, which are also ribbed. 

 On the Continent they have given it the uame^of " The Gar- 

 dener," and also "The Seamstress," which is not so intelli- 

 gible, and the insects are'occasionally collected by the peasants 

 and farmers and brought to those spots where their services 

 may be of value. M.^Michelet, in true French style, is ex- 

 uberant in his praises of these and the allied species. " These 

 tribes of warriors," says he, " armed to the^teeth, under their 

 heavy cuirasses, have a wonderful activity ,^aud form a perfect 

 rural constabulary 

 day and night, with- 

 out holidays or re- ^ 

 pose, protecting our 

 fields and gardens. 

 They never touch 

 the smallest thing. 

 They are occupied 

 entirely in arresting 

 thieves, and they 

 desire no salary but 

 the body of the thief 

 him.self." Like the 

 beetles of the genus 

 Cicendela, the 

 Carabi are not very 

 friendly to each 

 other, and a pair 

 that happen to 

 meet wiU combat 

 fiercely. 



The larvfE of these 

 beetles are not abou 

 in the day, keeping 

 under stones or 

 clods. By the spade 

 of the gardener they 

 are often brough 

 into view against their will, aud then appear helpless, though 

 not so in reality. Their bodies are narrow, and in colour 

 suited to the usual abode of each species, while the front legs, 

 head, and neck, are very strong, and the arched mandibles, 

 sickle-like in aspect, have also additional teeth at their base. 

 The larval state probably lasts two or even three years in many 

 species. 



Some beetles, familiarly called " Bombardiers," belonging to 

 this group, Mr. Wood considers have a title to our friendly 

 notice, as, though not generally visitants to gardens, when 

 they do arrive it is to prey upon small insects. Several have 

 the singular faculty of being able to explode or discharge a 

 bluish vapour, which serves for their protection, and a volley 

 of which is even accompanied by a sort of report. One of 

 the most distinguished by its use of this mimic artillery is 

 that called Brachinus explodens {fig. 3), which resorts to 

 the banks of streams, gathering in parties, perhaps on the 

 principle of self-defence, for another predacious beetle of a 

 rich green hue, Calosoma inquisitor by name, has a fancy for 

 hunting Brachini, aud a stern chase between one of each 

 species is rather amusing, because the Bombardier will repeat 

 his discharge of smoke several times, and as each time the foe 

 in the rear makes a pause, it gives the fugitive a chance of es- 

 cape, though not the nimbler species. That species of Calosoma 

 has been termed " inquisitor," on account of its investigative 

 habits, as it is always searching or peering about, not from 

 mere curiosity, doubtless, but excited by the " keen demands 

 of appetite." But this beetle does not limit itself to excur- 

 sions in the lower regions, for, quitting the earth, it wiU 

 mount trees and shrubs after sunset and devour caterpillars, 

 which can, of course, make little resistance. Mr. Wood states 



The 



lit'. 3. — Calosoma fajcophauta puisuiug a Bombardier Beetle (EracLinus explodens). 



that in England it is partial to Oak-feeding caterpillars, 

 larva has similar habits. 



Another species of the genns Calosoma, that is, sycophanta 

 {fig. 3), is more remarkable in several particulars. Seldom 

 taken, or, at least, seldom noticed in this country, abroad it is 

 considered of great value, and encouraged in parks aud gardens. 

 Undoubtedly it must be reckoned as British, for in 1872 speci- 

 mens were taken in several places in the south of England, 

 where it could hardly have been introduced from abroad ; 

 though it might be to our advantage to do that, aud have the 

 beetles or their larvie imported from France, for they would in 

 all probability soon increase, and do us effectual service. C. sy- 

 cophanta in the mature condition is a handsome beetle, the 

 limbs and head are of a violet colour, and the wing-cases, 

 which are punctuated, usually of a green and gold tint. Unlike 

 the Carabi, which are rarely able to fly, C. sycophanta can 

 proceed rapidly by the aid of either wings or legs. One of the 

 species of the Processionary Moths (that attached to the Oak), 

 is a mark for this beetle, which rushes upon them regardless 

 of their webs aud of the numbers in which the caterpillars are 

 found, where they occur at all. The black grub or larva is 

 ^equally disposed to attack them, and this black rather help- 

 •less-looking creature may be^seen on trees, sometimes in com- 

 pany with the per- 

 fect insect, gorging 

 caterpillars until it 

 can scarcely crawl. 



The family of the 

 Harpalidie contains 

 a host of small 

 beetles, some of 

 which are " Sun- 

 shiners," for they 

 have golden or 

 bronze colours, and 

 display themselves 

 in the sunshine, 

 while others are dull 

 in hue, and inclined 

 to concealment. A 

 well - known repre- 

 sentative is Har- 

 palus cereus, which 

 is to be taken even 

 in the garden of the 

 cockney. Nearly all 

 these are carnivo- 

 rous, preying upon 

 various larvfe, bugs 

 proper, of the order 

 Hemiptera, small 

 flies, probably also on jmillipedes aud Aoari. Many of these 

 are killed by accident in the needful operations of digging, 

 &c., which is unfortunate but unavoidable. — J. E. S. C. 



DIMORPHISM IN FRUITS. 



We have frequently met with and heard of two varieties of 

 fruits apparently quite distinct being foimd on the same tree, 

 and not unfrequently we have heard the correctness of state- 

 ments to that effect disputed. The circumstance has been 

 attributed to budding or to grafting ; and to some it has never 

 appeared possible that such a thing as bud-variation could 

 possibly take place. It is not unusual to see variations of 

 various kinds on plants. Leaves, shoots, and flowers "sport" 

 on the same plants, and why not fruits ? 



The instance of two distinct Apples being produced annually 

 on the same tree in the garden of Mr. Lee at Clevedon is now 

 well known. The origin of the Scarlet Golden Pippin by bud- 

 sport is also well known to ourselves ; and a sinular instance 

 of two distinct Pears being produced on the same tree in the 

 garden at Badminton is also a well-ascertained fact which we 

 have investigated. A new example has appeared in France in 

 the collection of our friend M. Durand, of Bourg-la-Eeine. It 

 is thus described by M. Ei'viere in the " Eevue Horticole." 

 " Among the Apple trees we saw a yoflng vertical cordon bear- 

 ing two beautiful fruits of the same size, but each of different 

 form and colour. One was on a spur above a yard from the 

 ground ; its colour of a beautiful greenish yellow, golden 

 towards the sun, with numerous white dots. It was shghtly 

 irregular in shape, the stalk almost wanting ; and it exhaled 

 a strong very agreeable perfume. The other, produced on a 



