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bad as a boy that the same is the case with the hornet ; 

 I did not, however, on that occasion wait to investigate 

 matters any further. In spite of all that has been said it 

 appears plain that the rattle of the rattlesnake is in part 

 a warning organ, whatever may be its other uses. With regard 

 to the Coleoptera it is well known that they possess a large 

 number of sound and stridulatory organs. Mr. Guy A. K. 

 Marshall believes that these are apparently often meant to 

 intimidate, even if they are not true warning organs : for 

 there can be no doubt that the sound is begun when the 

 beetle is disturbed or taken in hand, as we have most of us 

 experienced. The whole question, however, is a very large 

 one, and will well repay investigation. 



7. A large number of Coleoptera secrete and exude dis- 

 tasteful juices or odorous substances. The members of the 

 genus Carabus, and many other Carabidse, and also certain 

 Chrysomelidai, and the majority perhaps of the Coccinellidai 

 will at once occur to us : the most malodorous species for their 

 size are certain small Staphylinidre. Species of Myrmedonia 

 possess the quality in a very noticeable degree, and evidently use 

 it as a means of defence if attacked by their hosts, and one often 

 wonders how a tiny Oxytelus can produce such a powerful smell. 

 The odour of many of these small beetles is very like the 

 smothering smell of a candle which has been blown out and left 

 to smoulder, and this, as I know by experience, is the char- 

 acteristic smell of the local Longicorn Agapanthia lineatocollis, 

 but some have the peculiar smell of rotten fruit, and others 

 again like Aromia moschata have an agreeable effect upon our 

 olfactory nerves. In my work on British Coleoptera I see 

 that I have a note with regard to the latter species to the effect 

 that "it is the only member of the sweet-scent-emitting group 

 which is found in Britain : the allied genus Callichromia con- 

 tains a large number of exotic species, in some of which the 

 odour is very strong : it is apparently more or less of a 

 sexual character, and exercises a markedly attractive power, 

 as it is present in both sexes, although it is believed, as a rule, 

 to be more powerful in the female." I still believe that these 

 scents have a sexual significance, at all events in many cases, 

 but the example of the skunk and other higher animals at 



