1843.] Extract from Note Book regarding the Genus Paussus. 431 



with the ant, from which I captured it. On being touched, it would 

 immediately similate death, and remain with contracted legs for many 

 minutes at the bottom of the tumbler in which it was placed. The 

 second day becoming more and more lethargic, and fearing its death 

 might ensue, I plunged it into hot- water, at which moment the abdo- 

 men became very much distended and glabrous ; but this was the 

 nearest sign I could perceive of any approximation to the Brachini. 



No. 5, Fig 5. — Sultanpore, Benares, August 17, 184 L. — I this day 

 captured the Paussus delineated as No. 5, which I however consider to 

 be of the same species as No. 4, but differing in sex. On being captured, 

 it immediately emitted two loud and very distinct crepitations accom- 

 panied with a sensation of heat, and attended by a strong acidulous 

 scent. It left a dark-colored stain on the fingers resembling that pro- 

 duced by caustic, and which had a strong odour, something like nitric 

 acid. A circumstance so remarkable induced me to determine its 

 truth, for which purpose I kept it alive till the next morning, and in 

 order to certify myself of the fact, the following experiments were 

 resorted to. Having prepared some test paper by coloring it with 

 a few petals of a deep red oleander, I gently turned the Paussus 

 over it, and immediately placed my finger on the insect, at which 

 time I distinctly heard a crepitation, which was repeated in a few 

 seconds on the pressure being renewed, and each discharge was accom- 

 panied by a vapor, like steam, which was emitted to the distance of 

 half an inch, and attended by a very strong and penetrating odour of 

 nitric acid, in every respect (as far as I could judge) similar to that 

 produced by many species of Brachini, I have frequently had opportu- 

 nities of trying. On removing the Paussus from the paper, I found 

 that a large spot was formed, near the place where the abdomen had 

 been, and extending backwards for one-third of an inch. The paper 

 appeared strongly corroded as if with caustic, the color of the spot 

 being light brown, and totally distinct from the purple of the surround- 

 ing surface. Having repeated this experiment four times during the 

 day with the same results, and being perfectly satisfied that I could not 

 be mistaken, I proceeded to kill and set the specimen. On being 

 thrown into boiling water, the abdomen swelled up and appeared like 

 an inflated bladder, being very much distended, assuming the same 

 appearance as that which is observable in Brachinus and other 



