246 Bugs, Butterflies, and Beetles 



it is the Death Watch and they will believe it is the 

 Death Watch as long as they live. 



If this foolish belief would end there, we would 

 not care, but these people will try to teach you boys 

 that the noise of the snap-beetle is the Death 

 Watch and it is one of the purposes of this book 

 to set you right on this question and many others 

 like it. 



When the old red-headed woodpecker hammers 

 on its drum, the hollow tree, or the yellow hammer, 

 higliholder or flicker does the same, it is calling its 

 mate. The rat-tat-tat has the same meaning to the 

 woodpecker or yellow hammer as did the plinkty- 

 plunk of the troubadour's lute to his fair lady. 

 And that is all the meaning that there is in the 

 snapping of the beetle. 



But if you want to have some fun with a snap- 

 ping beetle, get one of the smaller kind, one of 

 those little brown fellows or the ash-colored snap- 

 bug (ash-colored Elater). Keep him in a little 

 pill box or some convenient place mitil evening, 

 then when the family is looking for amusement, 

 tell them all that you are a medium and the spirits 

 wull rap for you on the table. Have the company sit 

 around the table and only rest the tips of their 



