THE DEATH WATCH. 381 



with myriads of blazing stars, crossing and reerossing in every direction, making the deepest 

 glades luminous with their flaming lamps, and appearing and vanishing as if suddenly 

 brought into existence and as suddenly annihilated, they present a sight almost too magnifi- 

 cent for description. So splendid are these beetles, that the ladies are often in the habit of 

 catching them and trimming their dresses with these living diamonds, taking care to fasten 

 them in such a way as not to injure them. 



When in full glow, the light is so intense that a letter or book may be read by its aid, 

 provided that the insect be slightly squeezed so as to excite it to throw out the luminous 

 element. There are very many species of Fire-flies, but this is the best known, and one of the 

 most luminous of its kind. Mr. Westwood mentions that one of these insects was brought in 

 a living state to Europe, and was kept alive by continually moistening the woodwork of its 

 cage. 



The Elateridee, or Spring Beetles, so well known from their habit of jumping with a slight 

 clicking sound when laid on their backs, are allied to the Buprestis beetles. 



The Elateridce comprise several prominent beetles. They are well known in America as 

 Snap-beetles. Pyropltorus is the genus that embraces several species of Fire-flies of Central 

 and South America. The genus PJiotinus has several species, most of which have phosphor- 

 escent glands. Our common New England Fire-fly is a familiar example. 



The celebrated Glow-worji belongs to the typical genus of its family. 



Contrary to the usual rule among insects, where the male absorbs the whole of the beauty, 

 and the female is comparatively dull and sombre in color and form, the female carries off the 

 palm for beauty, at all events after dusk, the male regaining the natural ascendancy by the 

 light of day. Either through books, or by actual observation, almost every one is familiar 

 with the Glow-worm, and would recognize its pale blue light on a summer 1 s evening. Many, 

 however, if they came across the insect by day, would fail to detect the brilliant star of the 

 night in the dull, brown, grub-like insect crawling slowly among the leaves, and still fewer 

 would be able to distinguish the male, so unlike are the two sexes. 



The family Dermestidce embraces the pests of our museums, Dermestes. They are also 

 very destructive to small fruit shrubs when in leaf. The Anthremts is equally destructive, 

 and is the most common pest in museums. 



Next to this family is another, called the Telephoridfe, which is represented in Europe 

 by the well-known beetles, popularly called, from their red or bluish colors, Soldiers and 

 Sailors. They are found in great quantities in the spring, and upon the umbelliferous 

 flowers they assemble plentifully. They are carnivorous, voracious, and combative to a degree, 

 and in my school-days the fashionable spring amusement consisted in setting Soldiers and 

 Sailors to fight with each other. They fly readily, but slowly, and only to short distances, 

 and may be known while in the air by their peculiar attitude, the long body hanging nearly 

 vertically from the wings. 



A vert destructive family, termed Ptinidse, must now be briefly noticed. To this family 

 belong the insects which are so well known by their labors, though them- 

 selves are mostly hidden from sight. Among the Ptinida3 are placed the 

 little beetles that eat holes in our furniture, books, etc., and do such irremedi- 

 able damage in so short a time. Mr. Westwood mentions one instance where 

 a new bedpost was wholly destroyed by one species of these beetles {Ptilinus 

 pectinicornis) in a space of three years. 



The celebrated Death Watch, represented in the accompanying engraving, 

 belongs to this family. That peculiar name is popularly given to several 

 species, such as Anobium striatum and tesselatum, on account of the ticking death \ atch.- 



. 'r Anobium tessellation. 



sound which is made by knocking their heads against the woodwork, and 



which is used as a signal to their mates. The exact natural length of the beetle is indicated 



bv the line next to the illustration. 



