320 THE DORR BEETLE. 



This creature affords us a good example of that 

 extraordinary artifice to which some insects have re- 

 course upon the apprehension of danger the coun- 

 terfeiting of death. The dorr, with a violent and 

 noisy flight, proceeds on its way, or circles around 

 with an apparent fearlessness of harm; yet the 

 instant it is touched, or interrupted in its progress, 

 though in no way injured, it will immediately fall 

 to the ground, generally prostrate on its back, its 

 limbs extended, stiff, and seemingly devoid of life, 

 and suffering itself to be handled without manifest- 

 ing any signs of animation. In time, finding no 

 harm ensues, it resumes its former state. If our con- 

 jectures be correct, that the object of this stratagem 

 is to preserve its life, it is difficult to comprehend 

 how far it can be successful. Several birds feed 

 on it, as we observed ; and that others do so like- 

 wise, is evident from their castings. Of these, the 

 owl and the nightjar catch it when on the wing ; 

 and the crows, rooks, magpies, &c., seem to have 

 no hesitation in picking it to pieces, as well as all 

 the other beetles that put on the semblance of 

 death, in whatever state they find them. One or 

 two beasts, it is said, when captured, feign death. 

 With these exceptions, we remember none of the 

 other orders of creation that have recourse to such 

 an expedient upon any emergency ; but with in- 

 sects it is by no means an uncommon procedure, 

 most probably resorted to by them for a motive we 

 are not fully acquainted with, and which is in all 

 likelihood attended with the success it was designed 

 to effect. 



