BRITISH INSECTS 



possession with a rival. This insect presents an engaging 

 sight when seen flying, and often ascends to a consider- 

 able height. The small antlers of the female enable 

 her to pierce a hole in a tree-trunk, and in this she de- 

 posits her egg. The resultant grub feeds upon the wood 

 but, when full-fed, crawls to the ground, and pupates 

 in a cocoon. It appears to emerge in late Autumn, 

 but is not ready to become a free-agent until the next 

 Summer. The adult lives on the juices of plants, being 

 provided with a brush-like organ admirably suited for 

 this purpose. 



The Anohiidce includes a number of species which 

 are very destructive to dry timber, woodwork, and 

 furniture, this being the work of the larva as it 

 tunnels and eats its way along. Valuable furniture 

 may be utterly ruined in this way by the larva of the 

 well-known Death- Watch Beetle {Xestohium riifovillo- 

 sum), and four-post bedsteads, bookcases, and other 

 articles specially suffer. One of my own walnut book- 

 cases was reduced almost to matchwood by the incursions 

 of these larvae, and at the time of writing very large 

 cavities have been made by them in the roof of the his- 

 toric Westminster Hall, which has made it quite unsafe, 

 and needing immediate attention. The curious ticking 

 noise which has given rise to so many superstitions and 

 beliefs, is caused by the beetle striking the jaws in regular 

 motion against resounding wood. When wainscoting 

 was more used than to-day, the " supernatural " sound 

 often came from its vicinity, this being a favourite re- 

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