MEANS OF DEFENCE OF iNSECTS. G49 
stripped they all move together to another. If one of 
these caterpillars be touched or disturbed, it immediately 
with a twist lifts the anterior part of its body, and emits 
from its mouth a drop of clear resin, perfectly similar 
both in odour and consistence to that of the fir?. What 
is still more remarkable, no sooner does a single indivi- 
dual of the group give itself this motion, than all the 
rest, as if they were moved by a spring, instantaneously 
do the same’. Thus these animals fire a volley as it 
were at their annoyers, the scent of which is probably 
sufficient to discomfit any ichneumons, flies, or preda- 
ceous beetles that may be desirous of attacking them. 
Amongst those which annoy their enemies by the 
emission of fluids from their anus are the larger Carabi. 
These, if roughly handled, will spirt to a considerable 
distance an acrid, caustic, stinking liquor, which if it 
touch the eyes or the lips occasions considerable pain *.— 
The rose-scented capricorn (Cerambyx moschatus, 1.) 
produced a similar effect upon Mr. Sheppard by simi- 
lar means. The fluid in this had a powerful odour of 
musk.—The acid of ants has long been celebrated, and 
is one of their most powerful means of defence. When 
the species that have no sting make a wound with their 
jaws, they insinuate into it some of this acid, the effluvia 
produced by which are so subtile and penetrating, that 
it is impossible to hold your head -near the nest of the 
hill-ant (Formica rufa, L.), when the ants are much dis- 
turbed, without being almost suffocated. ‘This odour 
thus proceeding from myriads of ants, is powerful enough, 
4 De Geer, ii. 971. 
> T owe the knowledge of this circumstance to Mr. MacLeay, 
¢ De Geer, iv. 86. Geoffr. 1. 141. 
