MOTIONS OF INSECTS. 34f) 



this order, as far as I have observed them, arc always 

 in a position nearly vertical, which gives to the larger 

 sorts, the stag-beetle for instance, a very singular ap- 

 pearance. Olivier, probably having some of the larger 

 and heavier beetles in his eye, affirms that the wings 

 of insects of this order are not usually proportioned to 

 the weight of their bodies, and that the muscular ap- 

 paratus that moves them is deficient in force. In con- 

 sequence of which, he observes, they take flight with 

 difficulty, and fly very badly. — The strokes of their 

 wings being frequent, and their flight short, uncertain, 

 heavy, and laborious, they can use their wings only In 

 very calm weather, the least wind beating them down. 

 Yet he allows that others, whose body is lighter, rise 

 into the air and fly with a little more ease ; especially 

 when the weather is warm and dry, their flights how- 

 ever being short, though frequent. He asserts also, 

 that no coleopterous insect can fly against the wind*. 

 These observations may hold perhaps with respect to 

 many species ; but they will by no means apply gene- 

 rally. The cockchafer {Melolontha vulgaris), if thrown 

 into the air in the evening, its tin^^e of flight, will take 

 wing before it falls to the ground. The common dung- 

 chafer (Sc«raZ»a?w^ stercorarius) — wheeling from side to 

 side like the humble-bee — flies with great rapidity and 

 force, and, with all its dung-devouring confederates, 

 directs its flight with the utmost certainty, and proba- 

 bly often against the wind, to its food. The root-de- 

 vourers or tree-chafers {Melolontha, Iloplia, &c.) sup- 

 port themselves, like swarming bees, in the air and over 

 the trees, flying round in all directions. The Staphj/li' 



' E»li)mi>l. i. 1. 



