84 THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE CHAP. 
the large South American rivers, he went out 
with a lantern to make an astronomical obser- 
vation, accompanied by one of his black ser- 
vant boys; and as they were proceeding, 
their attention was directed to numerous 
beetles running about upon the shore, which, 
when captured, proved to be specimens of a 
large species of Brachinus. On being seized 
they immediately began to play off their artil- 
lery, burning and staining the flesh to such a 
degree that only a few specimens could be 
captured with the naked hand, and leaving a 
mark which remained a considerable time. 
Upon observing the whitish vapour with 
which the explosions were accompanied, the 
negro exclaimed in his broken English, with evi- 
dent surprise, ‘Ah, massa, they make smoke!’ ”’ 
Many other remarkable illustrations might 
be quoted; as for instance the web of the 
Spider, the pit of the Ant Lion, the mephitic 
odour of the Skunk. 
SENSES 
We generally attribute to animals five 
senses more or less resembling our own. But 
