THE BLOOD BEETLE. 75 



tnre to evaporate, they begin their peregrinations. 

 The antennae look like strings of small beads, very 

 beautiful ; and, when the insect is moving, they are 

 in constant motion from side to side, tapping the 

 ground or stem over which it is travelling, as if to 

 test its safety. The scarlet fluid is said by Westwood 

 to be emitted both from the mouth and the joints of 

 the limbs ; I have never, however, been able to 

 detect the smallest particle flowing from the latter 

 places. Country people say it is a specific for the 

 toothache ; and, having once tried it, I am inclined 

 to believe them. I found relief from rubbing it over 

 the tooth and gums ; but, perhaps, one is not entitled 

 to state it as a general fact from one trial. The 

 Blood-Beetle is often figured and spoken of in old 

 works as the Catch- weed Beetle, no doubt from its 

 being commonly found in Galiiuii Aparinc. 



