102 BEETLES, GRASSHOPPERS, ETC. 



margined with yellow, and inhabits ponds. 

 This beetle will live for a long time in a 

 tumbler of water, feeding on worms or small 

 pieces of meat. It is said to indicate changes 

 of weather by the height at which it stays 

 in the tumbler. 



The Devil's Coach-horse (Ocypus olens), 

 Plate VIII., Fig. 4, is an ugly insect with 

 an ugly name. It is a type of the great 

 division called Brachelytra, or beetles with 

 short wing-cases, the members of which have 

 often a superficial resemblance to earwigs. 

 This one is dull black, with short, matted hair. 

 It hides beneath stones, and when disturbed 

 raises its abdomen in a threatening manner, 

 although it has no sting. Its strong jaws can 

 give a smart bite, which may prove dangerous, 

 if the beetle has recently been making a meal 

 of decaying matter. These beetles act as 

 scavengers to remove putrescent material. 



The Burying Beetle (Necropkonu ntepator), 

 Plate VIII., Fig. 5, is another which per- 

 forms this sanitary service. It is black, with 

 orange-yellow bands, and will be discovered 

 under or near the dead bodies of birds or 

 small animals. 



