JULY. 255 



being caressed, and may be tamed without any bad smell 

 attending them ; but I should think them dangerous pets, 

 for a house in which the odour is emitted, is rendered unin- 

 habitable for a long time. I have likewise been informed 

 that if the animal be suddenly seized by the tail, and held 

 up in the air, it has not the power of ejecting this foetor, 

 and may be killed without trouble or offence; but this I give 

 only on the report of others. It lives on birds, and other 

 small animals ; and often makes great devastation among 

 the poultry. 



C. I have just taken a pair of large and very handsome 

 beetles crawling up a tree : the head and thorax and 

 half the elytra are of a brilliant blue ; the fore-half of the 

 elytra, rich golden yellow : the joints of the antennae are 

 large and conspicuous. Is it a common species ? 



F. It is the Blue and Gold Cerambyx (Desmocerus 

 Cyaneus), and is described and figured in the " Naturalist's 

 Library," where it is said to be a native of India. It is by 

 no means uncommon with us through the autumn. The 

 colours of this large and showy Cerambyx remind me of 

 a very large species of Whame-fly (Tabanus Affinis ?), 

 which I caught in the act of sucking my horse's blood : it 

 was altogether black, except three or four segments of the 

 middle of the abdomen, which were bright orange yellow. 

 I noticed, also, at the same time, another species of the same 

 tribe, strange to me, which was black, with white triangles 

 down the back (Tabanus Zonalis ? ). 



C. I picked up, while you were speaking, this pretty 

 little Cicindela ; it is dark sea green, covered with punctures. 



F. It is rare and curious : I believe it is Elaphrus In- 

 termedius, not a Cicindela. Here is a bed of plants, which 

 will be the means of increasing your entomological cabinet ; 

 as it is a constant resort of many species of insects, by night 

 and day. This is the Sweet-scented Milkweed (Asclepias 



