222 MEANS OF DEFENCE OF INSECTS. 



Europe, and of the stag-horn Capricorn beetle (Prionus 

 cervicornis) in America, may save them from the cruel 

 fate of the poor cockchafer a , whose gyrations and mo- 

 tions, when transfixed by a pin, too often form the 

 amusement of ill-disciplined children. The threatening 

 horns also, prominent eyes, or black and dismal hue of 

 many other Coleoptera belonging to Linne's genera 

 Scarabtxus, Cicindela, and Carabus, may produce the 

 same effect. 



But the most striking instances of armour are to be 

 found amongst the homopterous Hemiptera. In some 

 of these, the horns that rise from the thorax are so sin- 

 gular and monstrous, that nothing parallel to them can 

 be found in nature. Of this kind is the Cicada spinosa, 

 Stoll b , the Centrotus clavatus c , and more particularly 

 the Centrotus globularis d 9 so remarkable for the ex- 

 traordinary apparatus of balls and spines, which it ap- 

 pears to carry erect, like a standard, over its head. What 

 is the precise use of all the varieties of armour with 

 which these little creatures are furnished it is not easy 

 to say, but they may probably defend them from the at- 

 tack of some enemies. 



Under this head I may mention the long hairs, stiff 

 bristles, sharp spines, and hard tubercular prominences 

 with which many caterpillars are clothed, bristled, and 

 studded. That these are means of defence is rendered 



a One would almost wish that the same superstition prevailed 

 here which Sparrman observes is common in Sweden, with respect 

 to these animals. " Simple people," says he, " believe that their 

 sins will be forgiven if they set a cockchafer on its legs." Voyage, i. 28. 



b Cigales y f. 85. 



c Ibid./. 115. Coquebert, Illustr. Ic. ii. t. xxviii./. 5. 



d Stoll, CigalesJ. 163. Comp. Pallas, Spicil. Zool. t. i./. 12. 



