338 



INSECTS ABROAD. 



birds, the only ones that did not touch them were the doves 

 and parakeets, both vegetable feeders." 



The bear appears to be especially fond of locusts. Mr. 

 Shaw mentions that in 1863, when vast multitudes of these 

 insects perished on a glacier, the bears came by dozens to 

 feed on the dead bodies, which in some places filled the 

 crevasses ten or twelve feet deep. The animals were so 

 occupied with their feast, that they scarcely noticed the pre- 

 sence of travellers, and allowed them to pass without taking 

 any notice. 



Like many of its kin, the Rhomalea centurio loses much of its 

 beauties soon after death, its bright green hues, in particular, 



Fio 168. — Rhomalea centurio. 

 (Bright green, with scarlet wings.) 



becoming dull yellow, brown, or even black. ^Tany insects can 

 be guarded against loss of colour by being kept in absolute 

 darkness, the action of light causing them to fade. But with 

 these creatures, though the light is quite as destructive of colour 

 as in others, the drying up of the juices produces a similar 



