48 LIVING LIGHTS. 



readers, who cannot fail to be interested in their peculiari- 

 ties, their habits, methods of protection and defence, their 

 intelligence in caring for their young, and the wondrous 

 light-emitting power of some species. 



In my walks about the San Gabriel Valley, I generally 

 meet a peculiar beetle, a large, black fellow, who lumbers 

 along in a clumsy manner. If touched, he cannonades me 

 with a fluid of iodine color, which has a most disagreeable 

 odor ; so much so, that upon one occasion, my nostrils being 

 in range, I was made temporarily faint by it. The fluid 

 stained my hands like iodine, and caused not a little irrita- 

 tion to the skin. The beetle, then, is a living cannon ; the 

 fluid, which is contained in certain glands, being its defence. 

 It can be ejected or thrown two inches, so that it affords 

 quite a protection, and probably would be effective with 

 birds. 



Many insects have a curious odor which serves several pur- 

 poses, one, in rendering them nauseous to birds and various 

 enemies ; and, again, as a means of communication among 

 themselves. Thus, if a community of deaf and dumb persons 

 should decide to identify themselves by certain odors, we 

 would see a practical application of this. One family would 

 carry musk, and be recognized some distance off by it ; and 

 so with other perfumes or odors. This is just how some 

 beetles call each other; and in the one referred to both 

 male and female possess the same odor. 



Some of the flesh-eating beetles (Plate IX.) exhibit great 

 ingenuity and intelligence in securing a food-supply and an 

 asylum for their young at the same time. To their work is 

 due the fact that the remains of few animals are found at the 

 surface. The moment the latter die, these insects, and espe- 



