MUSICIANS 275 



of the hind body these are made to play over each 

 other, and the result is a mouse-like squeak which 

 might cause an astonished bird to drop it in alarm. 

 . The Dung Beetles (Geotrupes) effect a similar note 

 by rubbing a file that is on the base of the hind 

 legs over a ridge on the lower side of the hind body ; 

 and the larva has a contrivance similar to that 

 described in the Stag Beetle, etc. 



In the Burying Beetles (Necropborus) there are a 

 couple of parallel rasps on the upper surface of the 

 hind body, and these are scraped by the hind 

 margin of the wing-covers. Pelobius tardus, one 

 of our water beetles, is known to dealers in aquarium 

 stock as the Squeaker, on account of the noise it 

 makes by scraping the horny tip of the hind body 

 across a file along the inner margin of the wing- 

 covers. Dr. Russel Wallace informed Darwin that 

 Euchirus longimanus " makes, whilst moving, a low 

 hissing sound by rubbing its hind legs against the 

 edges of the elytra " (wing-covers). 



The Asparagus Beetle (Crioceris asparagi), and 

 Clythra quadripuncta, whose grub has been referred 

 to as a Tailor, are among the beetles that stridulate ; 

 so are many of the long-horned wood-boring 

 beetles, which emit sound by rubbing the first 

 segment of the thorax against a special area on the 

 next segment ; others rub the thigh of the hind 

 legs against the edge of the wing-covers. 



Butterflies and moths do not shine as Musicians. 

 They are mute insects ; but at least one the 

 Death's-head Hawk Moth (Acberontia atropos) emits 



