ordered them all to go and bring fire. 

 They obeyed, and to this day they still 

 visit lamps and candles, and burn them- 

 selves for love of the cruel beetle." 



"Aunt Jane, tell us of the origin of 

 the saying, 'As blind as a beetle;' are 

 beetles usually blind?" inquired John. 



"No; but they cannot easily change 

 their direction when flying, so they often 

 come in contact with other objects, and 

 thus have the appearance of blindness. 

 The aquatic beetle has its eyes divided in 

 such a way that it can see down into the 

 water, and also up into the air. 



'The 'Dancing Beetle' has a round, 

 little body, like burnished metal, and it 

 spends its life in a mazy dance, so great 

 is its delight in motion. The 'Kangaroo 

 Beetle' has very long legs and very thick 

 thighs, so he looks like a gentleman of 

 the old school, dressed in knee breeches. 

 The 'Stag Beetle' has a little gold-colored 

 brush of hair on his legs, with which 

 he cleans his antennae. He will amuse 

 himself when tamed, by tossing about «a 

 ball of cotton with his horns." 



"How funny he must look," exclaimed 

 the younger children. "Is there any- 

 thing else beetles can do?" 



"Yes, one kind saws off twigs from 

 trees. The 'Dor' or 'Clock Beetle' tries 

 to tell the time of day ; at least, he makes 

 a drowsy hum as monotonous as the tick- 

 tock of a sleepy, old clock. 



"The 'Harlequin Beetle' has a gay, 

 parti-colored dress, and is the 'dude' 

 among beetles. 



"The 'Bombardier Beetle' has a vola- 

 tile fluid, which, upon discharging, evap- 

 orates with a detonating sound. As he 

 can fire off several volleys successively, 

 the other insects must stand in great awe 

 of his warlike accomplishments. 



"Many beetles destroy insects injuri- 

 ous to vegetation. The work of those 

 who act as grave diggers and scavengers 

 is very useful. Like fireflies, some 

 beetles have a luminous secretion. 

 Ladies, in tropical countries, confine such 

 under gauze, about their heads and thus 

 add great splendor to their attire. The 

 wingcases of some varieties make ex- 

 quisite jewelry." 



"Auntie, please tell us what it is tha' 

 makes the fireflies shine," cried Madge 



"The luminous substances is composed 

 of albumen and phosphorus which, com- 

 bined with the oxygen the insect breathes, 

 makes it shine." 



"I don't know what such big words 

 mean," complained Madge. "Please tell 

 me so I can understand. Why is it that 

 the fireflies don't shine in the daytime?" 



"I know, I know" shouted Bird; "I'm 

 learning a speech to recite about it, on 

 Friday, at school. It says — 



" 'Oh, firefly of wondrous ray, 



Why do you never salute us by day ?' 



'Deep in the dark 



I have a background for showing my spark ; 



But if T try to abolish the sun 



Who of all mortals will see me? Not one.' " 



"Stars shine all the same in the day- 

 time," said John ; "only we can't see them 

 for the sun; but I'd like to hear more 

 about these living lamps." 



"We shall be compelled to leave the 

 subject for the present as the clock is 

 striking nine. Perhaps, if you are not 

 tired of hearing about 'horrid bugs,' as 

 I often hear you call them, we will have 

 another evening devoted to them." 



"Oh, Auntie," said the repentant chil- 

 dren, "insects are such curious little crea- 

 tures, we will never call them names 



agam — never ! 



Belle Paxson Drury. 



