uNOlSES OF INSECTS. 891 



elytra with the extremity of their abdomen. This is 

 the case with the duno'-chafers (Scarabci^us vernalis^ 

 stercorarius, and Copris lunaris) ; with the carrioii- 

 chafev (Trox sabulos24s) ; and others of the Scarahccida\ 

 The buryino-beetle {Necrophorus Vespillo), Auchenia 

 mehmopa E. B., Crioceris merdigc-rd, and Di/tiscus 

 Hermanni, and many other Co/coplera produce a simi- 

 lar noise by the same means. Wlien this noise is made, 

 the movement of the abdomen may be perceived; and 

 if a pin is introduced under the elytra it ceases. Long 

 after many of these insects are dead tlie noise may be 

 caused by pressure. Rcisel found this with respect to 

 Ihe Scarabwidcc'^^ and! have repeated the experiment 

 with success upon Necrophorus Vespillo. The capri- 

 <oYi\ tribes {CeramhycidcE) emit under alarm an acute 

 or creaking- sound — which Lister calls querulous, and 

 Dumeril compares to the braying of an ass"' — by the 

 friction of the thorax, which they alternately elevate 

 and depress, against the neck, and sometimes against 

 the base of the elytra *". On account of this, Prionus 

 roriarius, F. is called the Jidler in Germany''. Two 

 other coleopterous genera, Cychrus and Clytus, make 

 their cry of Noli me tangere by rubbing their thorax 

 against the base of the elytra. Pimelia, another beetle, 

 does the same by the friction of its legs against each 

 other ^. And, doubtless, many more Coleoptera, if ob- 

 served, would be found to express their fears by simi- 

 lar means. 



In the other orders the examples of cries of terror are 



• Rosel, II. 208. " Rai. IHsL Im. 384. Dumeril, Trait. EUment. 



ii. 100. n. 17. « De Geer, v. 58. 69. Rosel, U. iii. 5. 



" Rosel, ibid. • Latr. Ilisi. N,d. x. 264. 



