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The other beetle in the Brachelytra we have something to say 

 about, is the giant of the section, of rather repulsive and ferocious 

 aspect, and one which you don't care about making friends with. 

 It is commonly known as The Devil's Coachhorse ( Ocypiis olcns); 

 and its ferocious aspect is fully borne out by its actions, being 

 readier to fight than fly, caring little what its opponent is. Most 

 of you, I dare say, have seen this beetle, as it has a peculiar habit 

 of turning up in all sorts of places — about the edges of sinks, 

 pantries, meat safes, in the bone bag, etc. The menacing attitude 

 it puts on when alarmed, raising its head and working its jaws, 

 while the tail is turned up over the back as if it were going to sting, 

 makes people fight shy of it, and you had best let it alone, at least 

 don't handle it ; if you want it for the cabinet, pick it up with a 

 pair of forceps, and drop it into the cyanide bottle, or boiling water. 

 Tha bite of it would not hurt you very much ; but when excited, 

 two yellow points protrude from the end of the tail, from which is 

 distilled a fluid, the smell of that same fluid being really something 

 horrible. We have been trying to compare it with something else, 

 but cannot ; but we know in this case the old saying would come 

 true — that comparisons are odious ; and if once infested with the 

 smell, it will take a good deal of soap and water before you get rid 

 of it. It is a carnivorous beetle, though not disdaining carrion 

 when it has the chance ; and we remember once seeing the Devil's 

 Coachhorse attack a small earthworm, which it grasped by the 

 middle and shook, much as a terrier does a rat ; the end of the 

 tragedy we did not see, as both spoiler and prey disappeared down 

 a hole. This beetle, like the rest of the family, uses the tail to 

 pack the long wings under the short elytra, after a fight. 



We now come to a very interesting order of beetles, and one 

 to which we have paid a good deal of attention. We refer to the 

 Burying or Sexton beetles, section JS'ecropIiaga. And it will amply 

 repay anyone who has the time and circumstances to suit, to 

 observe the habits of these insects. It is not at all a difficult 

 matter to do, if you live in the country, or even the outskirts of the 

 city. Though the burying beetles are seldom seen, they are not 

 uncommon 3 working and flying as they generally do by night, and 



