84 THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE chap. 



the large South American rivers, he went out 

 with a lantern to make an astronomical obser- 

 vation, accompanied by one of his black ser- 

 vant boys; and as they were proceeding, 

 their attention was directed to numerous 

 beetles running about upon the shore, which, 

 when captured, proved to be specimens of a 

 large species of Brachinus. On being seized 

 they immediately began to play off their artil- 

 lery, burning and staining the flesh to such a 

 degree that only a few specimens could be 

 captured with the naked hand, and leaving a 

 mark which remained a considerable time. 

 Upon observing ' the whitish vapour with 

 which the explosions were accompanied, the 

 negro exclaimed in his broken English, with evi- 

 dent surprise, 'Ah, massa, they make smoke!' " 

 Many other remarkable illustrations might 

 be quoted; as for instance the web of the 

 Spider, the pit of the Ant Lion, the mephitic 

 odour of the Skunk. 



SENSES 



We generally attribute to animals five 

 senses more or less resembling our own. But 



