238 MEANS OF DEFENCE OF INSECTS. 



to disarm them of their fury \ This insect, when in fear 

 or danger, is known to produce a sharp, shrill, mournful 

 cry, which with the superstitious has added to the alarm 

 produced by the symbol of death which signalizes its 

 thorax b . This cry, there is reason to believe, affects and 

 disarms the bees, so as to enable her to proceed in her 

 spoliations with impunity . One of these insects being 

 once brought to a learnejd divine, who was also an ento- 

 mologist, when he was unwell, he was so much moved by 

 its plaintive noise, that, instead of devoting it to destruc- 

 tion, he gave the animal its life and liberty. I might say 

 more upon this subject of defensive noises : but I shall re- 

 serve what I have further to communicate, to a letter 

 which I purpose devoting to the sounds produced or 

 emitted by insects. 



You are acquainted with the singular property of the 

 skunk (Viverra putorius, L.), which repels its assailants 

 by the fetid vapour that it explodes ; but perhaps are not 

 aware that the Creator has endowed many insects with 

 the same property and for the same purpose some of 

 which exhale powerful or disagreeable odours at all times, 

 and from the general surface of their body ; while they 

 issue from others only through particular organs, and 

 when they are attacked. 



Of the former description of defensive scents there are 

 numerous examples in almost every order ; for, next to 



a VOL. I. p. 164. b Ibid. 34. 



c Huber appears to be of this opinion ; he does not, however, lay 

 great stress upon it. Yet there seems no other way of accounting 

 for the impunity with which this animal commits its depredations. 

 Huber, ii. 299- 



