MODES OF DEFENCE. 



325 



grown, it forms a globular cocoon of sand, within which it 

 becomes a small inactive pupa, and in a short time bursts 

 forth under the perfect and beautiful form represented in the 

 preceding page. 



Pilfallof the Aiit-liou. 



The various modes of active or passive defence adopted by 

 insects, present us equally with many of the most interesting 

 phenomena of insect instinct. Here we find Nature ever 

 rich in resources ; the smallest as well as the largest objects 

 of the animated creation are equally beneath her care. We 

 will run through the various orders of insects, and notice a 

 few of the more remarkable of these peculiarities. We find 

 the predaceous beetles well enabled to defend themselves, 

 not only by the hard scaly covering of their bodies, and the 

 powerful organs of their mouths, especially 

 their strong and hooked jaws, but also by 

 the emission of a black and foetid fluid, which 

 is well calculated to ensure them from the 

 attacks of their enemies. It is this fluid, 

 which is occasionally volatilized on coming 

 into contact with the air, that the bombardier beetle employs 

 when in danger from the attacks of its enemies. The pre- 



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