ORDER V. COLEOPTERA. — COCK-CHAFERS. 287 
very early date. The Common Cock-chafer is one of the greatest pests to 
agriculture. In its perfect state it devours the leaves of many trees, princi- 
pally those of the elm ; and so children, in some countries, call the fruit of the 
elm tree by the name of “ Bread of the Cock-chafer.” But the destruction 
which they occasion in their perfect state is little when compared with that 
which is caused by their larvee—those white grubs so dreaded by agriculturists. 
Cock-chafers make their appearance in the month of April if the season 
is warm. But it is in the month of May that they show themselves in great 
quantities. And so they are called in Germany Maikiifer (May-chafer, or 
May-bug). They are met with also in June. The duration of their life as 
a perfect insect is six weeks. They fear the heat of the day, and the bright 
sunshine; so, during the day, they remain hooked on to the under surface 
of leaves. It is only early in the morning, and at sunset, that one sees the 
Cock-chafers fluttering around the trees which they frequent. They fly with 
rapidity, producing a monotonous sound by the friction of their wings. 
But the Cock-chafer steers badly when it flies. It knocks itself at each 
instant against obstacles it meets with. It then falls heavily to the ground, 
and becomes the plaything of children, who are constantly on the lookout 
for them. There is a saying, “ stupid as a May-bug.” 
What contributes still more to render the flight of these insects heavy and 
sustained only for a short time together, is, that they are obliged to inflate 
themselves, like balloons, in order to rise into the air. It is a peculiarity 
which they share with the migratory locusts. Before taking its flight, the 
Cock-chafer agitates its wings for some minutes, and inflates its abdomen 
with air. The French children, who perceive this manewuvre, say then that 
the Cock-chafer “ compte ses cus” (is counting his money), and they sing 
to it this refrain, which has been handed down for many generations : — 
** Hanneton, vole, vole! 
Va-t'en a l’école!” 
“* May-bug, fly, fly ! 
To the school hie!” 
During the day the Cock-chafers remain under the leaves in a state of 
perfect immobility ; for the heat, which gives activity to other insects, seems, 
on the contrary, to stupefy them; and it is during the night only that they 
devour the leaves of elms, poplars, oaks, beeches, and birches. In years 
when their number is not very great, one hardly perceives the damage done 
by them; but at certain periods they appear in innumerable legions, and 
then’ whole parts of gardens or woods are stripped of their verdure, and 
present, in the middle of summer, the appearance of a winter landscape. 
The trees thus stripped do not in general die; but they recover their former 
