1843.] Extract from Note Book regarding the Genus Paussus. 435 



centre. Elytra slightly narrowed anteriorly, and when viewed through 

 the microscope appearing smooth, with diminutive frettings running in 

 irregular lines down each ; these are blue black, with a line of brown 

 extending along the sutural margin, and a shading of the same color 

 obtains both anteriorly and posteriorly. Head, thorax, and body chest- 

 nut brown ; tarsi of five joints, the first small. Palpi rather large, sali- 

 ent, those of the maxillaries in particular. Eyes almost oval, but still 

 uniform. Follicle on the elytra very apparent. 



Note. — On capturing this insect which came in towards the light on 

 the table some time after gun-fire, last night, I distinctly heard two 

 strong crepitations, and my fingers were deeply stained with a brown- 

 ish black color, and I accordingly reserved it for further trials, but un- 

 fortunately it appeared so weak this morning, that I was after ineffec- 

 tual attempts to induce crepitation, obliged to postpone my experi- 

 ments to a future date. On being killed with hot-water, the abdomen 

 however shewed the usual sign, becoming greatly inflated. 



Almorah, July 30, 1842. — I have indeed been fortunate in capturing 

 the same species of Paussus as that of the 29th instant, and which was 

 taken under precisely similar circumstances, having come to the lights 

 at about 10 p. m. The crepitation on its capture was loud and very 

 distinct, so much so, as to be heard by the company at table, and cer- 

 tainly equal to that of most of the small Brachini. I therefore tested 

 its powers this morning again, having prepared some post paper with 

 the petals of a deep colored Dalilia. I went through the old trial. The 

 insect being carefully turned over it, I attempted its seizure, and as ex- 

 pected, a loud explosion was given, accompanied with vapor, and a 

 strong scent of nitric acid. (I have the pleasure to transmit the paper on 

 which the experiments were tried which bears two distinct marks, hav- 

 ing only tested this insect twice.)* 



I now proceeded to examine the foliaceous appendage on the elytra 

 through the microscope, and I found that when the part was touched, 

 an emission immediately took place from the spot, which spread so 

 instantaneously over that part, that I could not observe exactly 

 whence it originated. The appearance of the liquid resembled pus, 

 which in a second or two granulated (if I may so term it) into egg- 

 shaped grains, of which no traces remained after a lapse of a minute. 

 * We have not received this. — Eds. 



