THE WEEVIL TRIBE. 2£I 



the beats very readily, and will even continue to re- 

 peat its efforts as long as it is required. 



Dr. Derham kept a male and female together in 

 a box for about three weeks ; and, by imitating 

 their noise, he made them beat whenever he pleased. 

 At the end of this time one of them died, soon af- 

 ter which the other gnawed its way out and 

 escaped *. 



This insect, which is the real Death-watch of the 

 vulgar, emphatically so called, must not be con- 

 founded with a wingless insect, not much unlike a 

 louse, that makes a ticking noise like a watch, but, 

 instead of beating at intervals, continues its noise 

 for a considerable length of time without intermis- 

 sion. The latter belongs to a tribe very different 

 from this ; it is the Termes Pulsatorium of Linnaeus, 

 and will be described in its proper place in the pre- 

 sent work. 



THE WEEVIL TRIBE, 



The larva of the Weevils have, like those of the 

 other coleopterous insects, six legs and a scaly 

 head. They bear a resemblance to oblong soft 

 worms. Some of them infest granaries, where, 

 from their numbers and voracity, they often commit 

 great ravages among the corn : some live in fruits, 



* Phil. Tian. vol. xxii. p. 835.— See also a paper of Mr. Allen, in 

 vol. 20. p. 376. 



