INSECTA. 100 



collections of plants, which it entirely destroys. Nothing 

 but strong poison will arrest it in its ravaging course ; it 

 is often brought into a cabinet or museum in cork wood, 

 therefore it is necessary that this wood should be boiled 

 previous to being admitted into the cabinet. 



The Domestic Beetle or Deathwatch (anobium per- 

 tinax), plate 22, fig. 5, is two lines long ; pale dark 

 brown, with long feelers, and short hairs under the ab- 

 domen, dwells in old wood, and as it gnaws its way 

 through it, makes a noise like the ticking of a watch, 

 from it has received its name ; and the superstitious, 

 hearing this sound, regard it as a herald of death. Oil 

 being caught, this insect feigns itself to be dead, and is 

 so obstinate, that it will suffer itself to be roasted alive, 

 rather than show signs of life. 



The Smith or Jumping Beetle (elater pectinicornis), 

 is known by the term of Skipjack, and over half an 

 inch in length ; brilliant green with black feelers. The 

 head is small and retreating ; the feet so short, that if 

 the creature falls on its back, it Can not turn by the 

 ordinary effort, but springs perpendicularly into the air, 

 so as to recover the natural position ; this is effected by 

 applying the feet to the outside of the body, which has 

 particular impressions for their reception, depressing the 

 head and thorax and the point of the post-sternum against 

 the sides of the medio-sternum* with a jerk, the body is 

 by its elasticity elevated into the air. It lives in mold- 

 ering wood, and is altogether harmless. There are many 



* The thorax is the middle portion of the body. The middle line 

 of the inferior surface of the trunk is termed the sternum, and is 

 divided into three parts : the ante-sternum, medio- sternum, and post- 

 sternum. RuSClfENBUEGEE. 



