THE TICKLER. 



105 



tained in them, as well as to promote a more vigorous 

 growth. Much evil might be prevented by employing chil- 

 dren to collect the beetles while in the act of providing for 

 the continuation of their kind. A common black bottle, con- 

 taining a little water, would be a suitable vessel to receive 

 the beetles as fast as they were gathered, and should be 

 emptied into the fire in order to destroy the insects. The 

 gathering should be begun as soon as the beetles first appear, 

 and should be continued as long as any are found on the 

 trees, and furthermore should be made a general business 

 for several years in succession. I have no doubt, should this 

 be done, that,, by devoting one hour every day to this object, 

 we may, in the course of a few years, rid ourselves of this 

 destructive insect. 



The largest Capricorn-beetle, of the Cerambycian family, 

 found in New England, is the Lamia {Monohammus titillator) 

 of Fabricius (Fig. 50), or the tickler, so named probably on 



Fig. 50. 



\ 



account of the habit which it has, in common with most of 

 the Capricorn-beetles, of gently touching now and then the 

 surface on which it walks with the tips of its long anten- 

 nae. Three or four of these beetles may sometimes be seen 



14 



