THE MUSK BEETLE. 151 



takes of this variability, being sometimes rough, and 

 sometimes very smooth and glossy. 



It owes its popular name to the powerful and pleas- 

 ing odour which it exhales, and which is said by some 

 persons to resemble ottar of roses. For my part, I 

 never could perceive much resemblance between 

 the somewhat sickly scent of the ottar and the 

 fresh sweetbriar-like odour of the Beetle. This 

 scent can be perceived at a considerable distance, and 

 the presence of the Beetle can often be detected by it, 

 even when the insect is itself concealed. Shortly 

 after I came to live in West Kent, I was passing 

 along the road, and declared that a Musk Beetle was 

 in the neighbourhood. My companions, not knowing 

 the scent, could not believe me, and made themselves 

 rather merry on the subject. In the course of the 

 day, however, one of the same party, a young lady, 

 was passing by the same place, and carried off a fine 

 Musk Beetle in her hair. 



The scent of this insect is as enduring as it is 

 powerful, and, if the Beetle be held with a gloved 

 hand, or wrapped in a handkerchief, it will impart 

 either to the kid or cambric its peculiar odour, which 

 will last for a very long time. From a series of 

 experiments made some few years ago, I have come 

 to the conclusion that the Musk Beetle can emit or 

 retain its odour at pleasure as long as it is in full 

 health, but that when the insect is weak, or in a 

 dying state, it is unable to retain the scent. 



Wherever willow-trees are to be found abundantly, 

 there the Musk Beetle is sure to be, because it feeds 

 on the interior of that tree while in the- larval state. 



