128 IN THE GREEN LEAF 



myself, but I refrained from doing so, out of 

 respect for the prejudices of the country folk. 



One of the most repulsive insects known 

 to me is the long, black-bodied, strong-jawed 

 beetle, commonly known as the cock-tail, or 

 devil's coach-horse. It is a hideous creature ; 

 and if it were a thousand times as large as it 

 is, it would be one of the most horrible pre- 

 sentments of the principle of evil possible to 

 imagine. No matter where you may fall in 

 with it, the vicious propensities of this beetle 

 show at once. It stands still in front of you, 

 it opens its jaws and cocks its tail. If you 

 pick it up, and it bites you, which it will cer- 

 tainly try to do, a poisoned finger may be the 

 result ; for it is a carrion feeder. The feeling 

 of horror which it inspires, I can assure my 

 readers, is one which is shared by all classes, 

 and not without reason. Fortunately it is a 

 favourite morsel for our butcher-bird, being, 

 as I well know, one of his luxuries, which he 

 hunts for in the most persevering manner. 

 That is one of the reasons why he is respected 

 by the rustic population ; they will tell you that 

 he kills " old Cockyhoop's coach-hosses." 



It is a most amusing sight to see a lot of 

 young butcher-birds turn out of the nest, if 



