160 HABITS AND INSTINCTS OF ANIMALS. CHAP. V. 



sight of these formidable processes may be sufficient 

 to protect those which possess them from many enemies. 

 All the large masticating insects, without doubt, em- 

 ploy their jaws as weapons of defence, no less than for 

 preparing their food ; and some of the larger locusts of 

 South America bite so hard as to draw blood from the 

 part they get hold of ; the spines, also, of the hinder 

 legs of these insects, and those upon the anterior feet 

 of the Mantidce, will penetrate the flesh, and fre- 

 quently oblige the entomologist, who has captured these 

 insects, to let go his hold. 



(180.) But the most formidable weapon belonging 

 to insects is the sting. Such as are provided with this 

 defence, are the most courageous little warriors of the 

 animal world. They attack, with the greatest boldness, 

 any animal which impedes their progress, or whom 

 they suspect of injuring them : the giant bulk of the 

 elephant, or the sovereignty of man, will not deter these 

 puny warriors from entering the lists against them. 

 Death has been known to follow the united attack of a 

 hive of enraged bees, and even the single infliction of a 

 sting from some of the large African scorpions. ( ' I know 

 nothing more astonishing," observes Mr. Kirby, " than 

 the wonderful muscular strength of insects ; which, in 

 proportion to their size, exceeds that of any other class 

 of animals. This is likewise to be reckoned among 

 their means of defence. Take one of the common 

 chafers or dung beetles in your hand, and observe how 

 he makes his way in spite of your utmost pressure ; 

 and read the account which authors have left us of the 

 very great weights that a flea will easily move, which 

 is just as great as if a single man should be able to 

 draw a waggon with forty or fifty hundred weight of 

 hay. 



(181.) Concealment is another method by which Na- 

 ture has provided for the safety of these little creatures. 

 One mode is that of covering themselves with various 

 substances. This is often done by small aquatic bee- 

 tles, with mud; so that when feeding, at the bottom of 



