MEANS OP DEFENCE OF INSECTS. 223 



shrowding its vesiculose abdomen, gave it much the 

 appearance of a fine flower. — A most beautiful and 

 brilliant beetle, of the genus Chlamys^ Knoch, as yet 

 undescribed, and found by Captain Hancock in Brazil, 

 by the inequalities of its ruby-coloured surface, strik- 

 ingly resembles some kinds of fruit. — And to make the 

 series of imitations complete, a minute black beetle, 

 with ridges upon its elytra, (Hister sulcatus,0\i\.)'^f 

 when lying without motion, is very like the seed of an 

 umbelliferous plant. The dog-tick is not unlike a small 

 bean; which resemblance has caused a bean, commonly 

 cultivated as food for horses, to be called the tick-bean. 

 The Palma Christi, also, had probably the name of Ri" 

 cim/s given to it from the similitude of its seed to a tick. 



Another tribe of these little animals, before alluded 

 to, is secured from harm by a different kind of imita- 

 tion, and affords a beautiful instance of the wisdom of 

 Providence in adapting means to their end. Some 

 singular larva?, with a radiated anus'', live in the nests 

 of humble-bees, and are the offspring of a particu- 

 lar genus of flies, (Volucella, Geoffr., Pterocera, Mei- 

 gen), many of the species of which strikingly resemble 

 those bees in shape, clothing, and colour. Thus has 

 the Author of nature provided that they may enter 

 these nests and deposit their eggs undiscovered. Did 

 these intruders venture themselves amongst the humble- 

 bees in a less kindred form, their lives would probably 

 pay the forfeit of their presumption. Mr. Sheppard 

 once found one of these larvai in the nest of Aphis 



* Oliv. Enfomolog. i. no. 8. IT. 



" Plate XIX. Fig. 11. Vol. i. ?d Ed. 266.* Latreillc, G«n. Crust. 

 tt Ins. iy. 32?. 



