The Glow- Worm and Other Beetles 



but the facts gathered in captivity are enough 

 to tell us all about it. They show us -in the 

 Scarites a bold hero who is not to be in- 

 timidated by the biggest or strongest ad- 

 versary. 



We have seen him coming up from under- 

 ground, falling on the passers-by, seizing 

 them at some distance from the burrow and 

 dragging them forcibly into his cut-throat 

 den. The Rose-chafer, the Common Cock- 

 chafer are but small deer for him. He dares 

 to attack the Cicada, he dares to dig his 

 hooks into the corpulent Pine-chafer. He is 

 a fearless ruffian, ready for any crime. 



Under natural conditions his audacity can 

 be no less. On the contrary, the familiar 

 spots, freedom of movement, unlimited space 

 and his beloved salt air excite the warrior to 

 yet greater feats of daring. 



He has dug himself a refuge in the sand, 

 with a wide, crumbling mouth. This is not 

 so that he may, like the Ant-Lion, wait at the 

 bottom of his funnel for the passing of a vic- 

 tim which stumbles on the shifting slope and 

 rolls into the pit. The Scarites disdains 

 these petty poachers' methods, these fowlers' 

 snares; he prefers a run across country. 



His long trails on the sand tell us of noc- 

 turnal rounds in search of big game, often 

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