THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF INSECTS. 



77 



are dwellers on the chalk can hardly fail to find a 

 carabus if they take the trouble to turn over a few large 

 stones. At the right season of the year, say late 

 summer, half-a-dozen dorbeetles may easily be secured 

 on a fine evening almost anywhere, while in some 

 localities stag-beetles are equally common. Every 

 bicyclist must have at some time experienced the feel- 

 ing of one of the smaller brachelytra lodging itself in his 

 eye. The mischief is usually attributed to a fly, but it 

 is not the less painful. The 

 larger and more familiar 

 member of this family, the 

 devil's coach horse, provides 

 the photographer with an 

 excellent object, and can be 

 made to display his points, 

 both head and tail, with a 

 minimum of irritation. 



The golden rule in 

 handling 'beetles for photo- 

 graphic purposes is to place them on a sample of the 

 plant or soil which they are accustomed to, and which 

 has been arranged in focus for the camera beforehand. 

 The larger beetles can exercise a considerable force in 

 their endeavours to escape from one's grasp. It is not 

 unlikely that they possess a delicate sense of smell, 

 and, if this be so, their efforts are easily accounted for. 

 Once the beetle is safely settled (of course, the settling 

 must be done quietly) on a plant which is familiar to 

 him, he will in all probability remain motionless 



Dragonfly. 



