ito TIMEHRI. 
olden time to extort confessions from prisoners or slaves. 
A number were put in half a cocoanut shell, this was 
tied firmly on the viétim, and the confession extorted by 
the excruciating pain caused by the boring and scratch- 
ings of the beetle. In the cocoanut palms are also found 
the palm weevil or “ gru-gru” beetle, an oval black beetle 
with a curious proboscis covered with fine hair. Man- 
tidz, of which there are several species in the colony, 
may be found among vines, and creepers or trees covered 
by these plants, but are somewhat difficult to deteé 
owing to their resemblance to leaves, being greenand 
very much of the same shape. The thorax is very thin ~ 
and carries a pair of long powerful front-legs, while the 
abdomen is large and full. The Chinese it is said amuse 
themselves by placing two of these Mantide in a bowl 
or glass and watching them fight. Sometimes the 
elephant beetle (Megasoma A@tzon), may be caughtunder __ 
the ele€tric lamps in the town at night, becoming stunned 
or wounded by flying against the lamp with great force, 
after having been attraéted by the glare. Hardbacks from 
the same cause may be frequently seen lying by hundreds 
under each lamp, often blackening the road. The Harlequin 
beetle, (Acrocinus Longimanus) so called from the peculiar 
red and black markings on elytra or wing, has been found 
on soursop trees in Georgetown, but is a rather rare 
“find.’ They appear to be common in the Corentyne, 
and are handsome inseéts, the largest measuring, if the 
legs are extended, fully 8 or 9 inches. The Beetle known 
as the “Sawyer’ (Prionus Cervicornis)—so named for 
its woodcutting propensities—is an exceedingly beau- 
tiful and powerful inseét for its size. It possesses 
enormous jaws of great strength, very much jagged; 
WED: cma Re Ae el ety 
