iHE Ki.iri.E. 383 



lower Iiorn resembles this. The (eet are all forked at the end, 

 but not like lobsters' claws.* 



To this class we may also refer the Glow-worm, that little 

 animal which makes such a distinguished figure in the descrip- 



* We shall here notice some of the more importaut of the uuraeroiis 

 Kpi'cics of beetles. 



I'he Bombardier, or Exploding Beetle. — The head, antennae, thorax, 

 ;ind feet of this insect are of a brownish red colour. The eyes are black, 

 and the abdomen and vi'ing'-cases blue, bordering on black ; the latter 

 are marked with broad but shallow striae. Tliis insect is sometimes found 

 in f^ngland. It conceals itself among- stones, and seems to make little nsc 

 of its wings. When it moves it is by a sort of jump ; and when it is 

 touched, we are surprised with a noise resembling the discharge of a mus- 

 quet in miniature, during which a blue smoke may be seen to proceed from 

 its extremity. The insect may at any time be made to play off its ar. 

 tillery by scratching its back with a needle. If we may believe Rolander, 

 who first made tliese observations, it can give twenty discharges successive- 

 ly. A bladder, placed near its posterior extremity, is the arsenal that con- 

 tains its store. Tliis is its chief defence against its enemies ; and the va- 

 pour, or liquid, that proceeds from it is of so pungent a nature, that, if it 

 happen to be dischai'ged into the eyes, it makes them smart as if brandy had 

 been thrown into them. The principal enemy of the bombardier is another 

 insect of the same tribe, but three or four times its size. When pursued or 

 fatigued, the bombardier has recourse to this stratagem : he lies down in 

 the path of his enemy, who advances with open mouth to seize him ; but on 

 the discharge of the artillery, this suddenly draws back, and remains for a 

 while confused, during which the bombardier conceals liimself in some 

 neighbouring crevice ; but, if not lucky enough to find one, the other re- 

 turns to the attack, taltes the insect by the head and tears it off. 



The Mush Beetle derives its name from its musky smell. The grubs from 

 which these beetles proceed resemble soft, slender W(n'ms, and are provided 

 with six hard legs. They are commonly white, and penetrate into the in. 

 ner part of trees for the purpose of obtaining food, and likewise a retreat 

 after they are transformed into nymphs. As soon as the last change io 

 completed, the winged Capricorn is seen issuing from these cavities, and may 

 then be very easily caught. Many of these beetles emit an odour wliich is per. 

 ceived to a considerable distance ; and when they are laid hold of, produce 

 a sound wl'.ich is supposed to be occasioned by the friction of the thorax and 

 abdomen. 



'J lie Larger ilusk-scenled Green Capricorn Beetle is a very l.irge, beau- 

 tiful insect, being of a glossy, brilliant, bluish green colour, with a cast of a 

 ehiiiing golden yellow. The upper part of the body is blue, and the wings 

 underneath the cases are jlack. The legs are of the same hlui:>h green co- 

 Iiiiir, but rather paler ; each side of the breast is furnisln-d with a sharp pro- 

 tuberance ; between these points are three small tubercles iie;ir the wings, 

 and three others towards the head. The cases of the wings are oblong, and 

 have three ribs somewliat elevated, which run lengthwise. The feelers are 

 v."! long as the body, and are corapo ed of many small joints, which decrease 

 Ml si/e towards the ends. It frequents tlw leaves ol the « illou , and ha.'* na 

 Bgreeal'le musky smell. 



2 K t 



