COLEOPTERA. 451 
come after mild weather, they surprise the larve at the surface 
of the soil, and kill them. Unfortunately, the same causes do 
harm to the plants which have already begun to spring up. 
Nature has not then sufficiently provided the means of destroying 
these mischievous beings. One would say that she had not fore- 
seen their extraordinary multiplication, which has been, we must 
confess, encouraged by agriculture and by the cultivation of the 
land. 
Animals do not contribute much towards limiting the number 
of cockchafers, although the latter are not wanting in natural 
enemies. Among insects, it is the large species of Carabus which 
search after the larve as well as the adult cockchafers. The 
Carabus auratus attacks them with great coolness. M. Blanchard 
saw a carabus seize a cockchafer in the middle of the road, 
open its belly with its mandibles, and devour its intestines. 
The cockchafer tossed about from one side to the other, and 
even walked, while it was undergoing its cruel punishment; and 
the Carabus followed it without interrupting its work. Some 
reptiles, many carnivorous animals, such as the shrew-mouse, pole- 
cats, weazels, rats, and certain birds, especially the night-birds, 
prey upon the cockchafer and its larve. Ravens and magpies, 
which one sees going from clod to clod, make savage but insuffi- 
cient war against them. In fact, all these animals together do 
not destroy the hundredth part of the cockchafers which are born 
every year. 
As an example which will show the extent of the evil, a 
field of 29 acres was ploughed up into 72 furrows. At the first 
ploughing were gathered 300 larve per furrow; at the second, 
200; at the third, 50 more; which amounted to 600 per furrow, 
and to 43,200 in all. Man, who is the victim of these ravages, 
has been necessarily obliged to think of a means of destroying 
this enemy. Many infallible means have been proposed, which 
have, however, given no result. Prizes have been offered, but the 
evil has not diminished. Here are a few of the processes recom- 
mended. 
Immediately after the ploughing, you must turn into the field 
infested by the larve a flock of turkeys, to whom it will be a 
great treat to devour them; or else, you must sow in the field 
GG2 
