MEANS OF DEFENCE OF INSECTS. 235 
when an entomological finger approaches them, as I 
have often experienced to my great disappointment, ap- 
plying their rostrum and legs to the underside of their 
trunk, fall from the station on which you hope to entrap 
them, to the ground or amongst the grass; where, 
lying without stirring a limb, they are scarcely to be 
distinguished from the soil around them. Thus also, 
doubtless, they often disappoint the birds as well as 
the entomologist.—A little timber-boring beetle (Ano- 
bium pertinax, F.), (and others of the genus have the 
same faculty,) which, when the head is withdrawn 
somewhat within the thorax, much resembles a monk 
with his hood, has long been famous for a most pertina- 
cious simulation of death. All that has been related of 
the heroic constancy of American savages, when taken 
and tortured by their enemies, scarcely comes up to that 
which these little creatures exhibit. You may maim 
them, pull them limb from limb, roast them alive over a 
slow-fire*, but you will not gain your end; not a joint 
will they move, nor show by the least symptom that they 
suffer pain. Do not think, however, that I ever tried 
these experiments upon them myself, or that I recom- 
mend you to do the same. [am content to believe the 
facts that I have here stated upon the concurrent testi- 
mony of respectable witnesses, without feeling any temp- 
tation to put the constancy of the poor insect again to 
the test.—_A similar apathy is shown by some species of 
saw-fly (Tenthredo, L.), which when alarmed conceal 
their antennz under their body, place their legs close to 
it, and remain without motion even when transfixed by 
a De Geer, iv. 229. 
