194 



HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



markable fact, that it is often stronger after the death of the beetle 

 than during its life. The Musk Beetle is easily kept alive, pro- 

 vided that it is well supplied with water, and that a little sugar 

 and water be occasionally given to it. The mode of feeding is 

 very curious, as are many of the habits of the insect. 



The larva of the Musk Beetle is a mighty borer, making holes 

 into which an ordinary drawing-pencil could be passed. Old and 

 decaying willow-trees are its favorite resort, and in some places 

 the willows are positively riddled with the burrows. If such a 

 tree be sawn open longitudinally, a curious scene is presented to 

 the spectator. In some spots, the interior is hollowed out by nearly 

 parallel burrows, until it looks as if it had been tunneled by the 

 ship-worm, while sections are made of burrows that turn suddenly 

 aside, or gradually diverge toward the yet uneaten parts of the 

 timber. In some of the holes will be found the long white grubs, 

 in others the pupa may be seen lying quiescent, while a perfect 

 beetle or two may possibly be discovered near the entrance of the 

 holes. Nor are the Musk Beetles the only tenants of the tree, for 

 there is generally an assemblage of wood-lice, centipedes, and other 

 dark-loving creatures, which have crawled into the deserted holes, 

 and taken up their abode within the tree. 



If the reader will refer to the accompanying illustration, he will 

 see that in the upper right-hand corner is represented a beetle 



IUmgium, etc. 



