More Beetles 



erty, without strife or contest; but the par- 

 ticle extracted belongs to the individual and 

 must be nimbly carried out of the reach of 

 any thievish enterprises. 



Let us vary the provisions as far as my 

 resources will permit. Some Cetoniae (C. 

 floricola) remain in the Gold Beetles' com- 

 pany for a couple of weeks. They are un- 

 molested; they are hardly vouchsafed a 

 passing glance. Does this mean indifference 

 to the particular game? Does it mean that 

 the game is difficult to attack? We shall 

 see. I remove the wings and wing-cases. 

 The news that there are cripples about soon 

 spreads. The Carabi hasten along and 

 greedily root in their bellies. After a brief 

 spell, the Cetoniae are drained dry. The 

 fare therefore is deemed excellent, and it 

 was the harness of the tight wing-cases that 

 at first intimidated the ravenous Beetles. 



The result is the same with the big Black 

 Chrysomela-beetle {Timarcha tenebricosa). 

 The intact insect is disdained by the Carabus, 

 who often encounters it in the vivarium and 

 passes on, without trying to open the hermet- 

 ically sealed meat-tin. But, if I remove the 

 wing-cases, it is very satisfactorily devoured, 

 notwithstanding its orange-yellow secretions. 

 292 



