BOOK XI. XXXIV. 97-100 



XXXIV. In some species the wings are protected Vaneties of 

 by an outer covering of shell, for instance beetles ; Sf^.orm» 

 in these species the wing is thinner and more fragile. cockchafers. 

 They are not provided with a sting, but in one large 

 variety " of them there are very long horns, with two 

 prongs and toothed claws at the point which close 

 together at pleasure for a bite ; they are actually 

 hung round children's necks as amulets ; Nigidius 

 calls these Lucanian oxen. Another kind of them 

 again is one that rolls up backwards with its feet 

 vast balls of mud and nests its brood of little grubs 

 in these against the rigour of winter. Others * flutter 

 about with a loud murmur or a shrill noise, and others " 

 giving out a buzz bore numerous holes in hearths and 

 walls in the night. Glow worms shine like fires at 

 night time owing to the colour of their sides and loins, 

 now giving a flash of light by opening their wings and 

 now darkened by closing them ; they are not much 

 seen before the crops are ripe or after they have been 

 cut. The cockroaches' hfe on the contrary is a 

 nurseUng of the shadows, and they fly the light, being 

 mostly produced in the damp warmth of bath- 

 houses. The reddish and very large beetles of the 

 same kind dig diy earth and mould combs that 

 resemble a small porous sponge and contain poisoned 

 honey. There is a small place near Olynthus in 

 Thrace that is fatal to this animal, and is conse- 

 quently called Beetle-bane. The wings of all ranetiesof 

 insects have no cleft. None has a tail except l't"ucture. 

 the scorpion. This is the only insect that has arms, 

 and also a spike in the tail ; some of the rest have a 

 sting, for instance the gad-fly (or if you hke, ' breeze '), 

 and also the gnat and some flies, but with all of these 



" The wood-worm and the death-watch beetle. 



493 



