CHAP. V. ATTITUDES OP INSECTS. 155 



terrific appearance, that the natives dread it as much as 

 they do a rattlesnake. 



(175.) Another extraordinary mode of intimidation 

 is mentioned by De Geer, as being used by a species of 

 Malachius Fab. When irritated, this insect shows its 

 rage by puffing out and inflating four vesicles from the 

 side of the body; these vesicles are soft, of an ir- 

 regular shape, and of a bright red colour. When the 

 cause of alarm is removed, they are retracted, so that 

 only a small portion of them appears. Nearly all the 

 species of rove beetle (Staphylinus), if disturbed, ex- 

 pand their jaws, and elevate the body upwards, as if 

 they intended to sting their foe. Now, the first of 

 these defences is real, because the insect can really 

 bite very hard ; but the latter is merely to intimidate, 

 for the abdomen has neither forceps nor sting, and is, 

 consequently, incapable of inflicting the least injury. 

 Humble-bees, when disturbed, intimidate by well 

 assuming grotesque and threatening attitudes : they 

 lift up the legs in a strange manner ; turn themselves 

 upon their backs, and protrude their sting, accompanied 

 by a drop of poison j sometimes they will even spit 

 out that liquor. Other bees will dash and strike about 

 the heads of those who intrude near their nests. Every 

 one must have remarked that the peculiarly irregular 

 zigzag flight of the butterflies renders it extremely 

 difficult to catch them ; and it is, no doubt, to this 

 circumstance that they are indebted for their safety 



