02 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Musk-beetle Larger green Capricorn ditto. 



greatest ease, things that are many times their 

 own weight. Dr. Brickell was supping one 

 evening in a planter's house of North Carolina, 

 when two of them were conveyed, without his 

 knowledge, under the candle-sticks. A few 

 blows were struck on the table, and to his great 

 surprise the candlesticks began to move about, 

 apparently without any agency; and his surprise 

 was not much lessened when, on taking one of 

 them up, he discovered that it was only a chafer 

 that moved. 



The musk-beetle derives its name from its 

 musky smell. The grubs from which these bee- 

 tles proceed, resemble soft, slender worms, and 

 are provided with six hard legs. They are com* 

 monly white, and penetrate into the inner part 

 of trees for the purpose of obtaining food, and 

 likewise a retreat after they are transformed into 

 nymphs. As soon as the last change is com- 

 pleted, the winged Capricorn is seen issuing from 

 these cavities, and may then be very easily 

 caught. Many of these beetles emit an odour, 

 which is perceived to a considerable distance ; 

 and when they are laid hold of produce a sound, 

 which is supposed to be occasioned by the fric- 

 tion of the thorax and abdomen. 



The larger musk- scented green capricorn-bee- 

 tle is a very large, beautiful insect, being of a 

 glossy, brilliant, bluish-green colour, with a cast 

 of a shining gorden yellow. The upper part of 



he boilv is blue, and the wings underneath the 



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