A YOUNG NATURALIST. 159 



a Greek word which signifies elastic ; and it has just shown 

 you that it well deserves the family name which has been 

 given to it. Examine for an instant how it is shaped ; the 

 angles of its corslet form sharp points ; added to this, its ster- 

 num also terminates in a point which the insect can insert at 

 will into the cavity which exists under its second pair of legs. 

 The women in the Terre-Chaude, by passing a pin through this 

 natural ring, can fix this brilliant insect as an ornament in their 

 hair, without injuring it in the least. Now, then, place it on its 

 back." 



" It's pretending to be dead !" cried Lucien. 

 " Yes ; it does that, like many other kinds of insects, in order 

 to deceive an enemy about to seize it." 

 " Oh, how it jumps ! " exclaimed Lucien. 

 " That is its only means of getting on its feet again, when it 

 has had the misfortune of falling on its back. Look, it pushes 

 the point which terminates its chest against the edge of the hole 

 situated lower down ; then it raises its head, pifT ! paff ! you 

 might fancy it was a spring going off. It didn't succeed the 

 first time, but now it is up on its legs, and now you've lost 

 it, for it has flown off ! " 



Lucien's first impulse was to dart off in pursuit of it, as the 

 route it had taken was shown by its luminous appendages. But 

 it was long past our usual hour for repose, so we all sheltered 

 ourselves as well as we could, and dreamt of our next day's 

 adventures. 



Daybreak found us all up, and already comforted with a cup 

 of cofi'ee. We had been troubled during the night by musqui- 

 toes ; but they were only the harbingers of the legions which 

 are before us. Lucien, full of impatience, could not take 

 his eyes off the entrance of the cave, and followed all our 

 movements with anxiety. A hollow stone which I'Encuerado 

 had found was filled with fat, a morsel of linen served as a 

 wick, and our make-shift lamp soon burned and gave forth 

 light. 



As the branches which were to serve as torches were being 

 distributed, I noticed that a yellow and transparent drop had 



