238 MEANS OF DEFENCE OF INSECTS. 



author just quoted, whenever it rests from feeding, 

 turns its head over its back, then become concave, at 

 the same time elevating its tail, the extremity of which 

 remains in a horizontal position, with two short horns 

 like ears behind it. Thus the six anterior legs are in 

 the air, and the whole animal looks like a quadruped 

 in miniature ; the tail being its head — the horns its 

 ears — and the reilexed head simulating a tail curled 

 over its back*. In this seemingly unnatural attitude 

 it will remain without motion for a very long time. 



Some lepidopterous larvsB, that fix the one half of 

 the body and elevate the other, agitate the elevated 

 part, whether it be the head or the tail, as if to strike 

 what disturbs them''. The giant caterpillar of a large 

 North- American moth {Bonibt/x regalis, F.) is armed 

 behind the head and at the back of the anterior seg- 

 ments with seven or eight strong curved spines from 

 half to three-fourths of an inch in length. Mr. Abbott 

 tells us that this caterpillar is called in Virginia the 

 hickory-horned devil, and that when disturbed itdraAVS 

 up its head, shaking or striking it from side to side ; 

 which attitude gives it so formidable an aspect, that no 

 one, he affirms, will venture to handle it, people in ge- 

 neral dreading it as much as a rattle-snake. When, to 

 convince the Negroes that it was harmless, he himself 

 took hold of this animal in their presence, they used to 

 reply that it could not sting him, but would them'^. 

 The species of a genus of beetles separated from Ccm- 

 iharis, L.. under the name of JMali/chiils, F., endeavour 

 to alarm tlieir enemies and show their rage by puffing 



' Reaum. ii. 260. t. 20. /. 10. 11. " Ibid. i. 100. 



" Smith's AbboiCs fas, of Gccrgici, ii. 151. 



