The Glow-Worm and Other Beetles 



different subjects, throws a vivid light upon 

 the question. It expressly assures us that the 

 attitude of death is not the ruse of an in- 

 sect in danger. Here there is nothing to 

 alarm the creature. Around him all is si- 

 lence, solitude, repose. When he persists in 

 his immobility it cannot now be to deceive 

 an enemy. I have no doubt about it: there 

 is something else involved. 



Besides, why should he need special de- 

 fensive artifices? I could understand that 

 a weak, pacific, ill-protected insect might re- 

 sort to ruses when in danger; but in him, the 

 warlike bandit, so well armoured, it is more 

 than I can understand. No insect on his 

 native sea-shore has the strength to resist 

 him. The most powerful of them, the 

 Sacred Beetle and the Pimelia, are easy-go- 

 ing creatures which, so far from molesting 

 him, are fine booty for his burrow. 



Can he be threatened by the birds? It 

 is very doubtful. As a Carabus, he is 

 saturated with acrid humours which must 

 make his body a far from pleasing mouthful. 

 For the rest, he lives hidden from the light 

 of day in a burrow where no one sees him; 

 he emerges only at night, when the birds are 

 no longer inspecting the beach. There are 

 no beaks about for him to fear. 

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