19S 



which is very abundant in them. The antennae of the Chafers have 

 a very beautiful leaf-life arrangement, from which they take the 

 name of Lamellicornia, and which is most conspicuous in the 

 male Cock Chafer. Watching the insect opening and closing them, 

 reminds one of a lady toying with a fan. Another beetle in this 

 section is well known to all of you who are anglers, by the name of 

 Brackenclock, or June bug, (Phyllopertha horticola), but which 

 may be found quite as plentifully among nettles and other plants 

 as brackens. If you are going for a day's Brackenclock fishing you 

 may save time by looking for the beetles the night before, with the 

 aid of a lamp, about places where they resort. The June bug has 

 a curious manner of simulating death when alarmed. This it does 

 by sticking the two hind legs up over its back, shoving the front 

 pair out and squatting close to whatever it may be resting upon. 

 In this rather absurd position it will continue some considerable 

 time till all likelihood of danger is past. No doubt but this simulating 

 of death, both in this and other beetles, occasionally saves their 

 lives, as toads will not touch an insect unless it is moving, and 

 birds often act in the same way. 



Another well known beetle belonging to the Lamellicornia, 

 though differing in family from the foregoing, is the Dor (Geotrupes 

 stercorarius) alias the Watchman, the Clock, the Lousy Clocker, 

 &c. It is one of the very few beetles that have been honored with 

 a place in poesy. In that beautiful poem of Gray's, Elegy written 

 in a country churchyard, it is alluded to in the line : — 

 " Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight ?" 



Tennyson in " Claribel " says, 



"At eve the beetle boometh." 



While Collins in an " Ode to Evening" sings of it, 



" Or where the beetle winds 



His small but sullen hoon, 



As oft he rises midst the twilight path 



Against the pilgrim borne, in heedless hum." 



We might quote more passages relating to the " Shardborne" 



beetle, but the above, we think, are sufficient for our purpose. The 



Dor Beetle, we have no doubt, is familiar to you all, and some of 



you may have unpleasant recollections pf coming into collisiqn 



