MEANS OF DEFENCE OF INSECTS. 



183 



radiance, especially in the sunny situations frequented by 

 these insects, may dazzle the eyes of their enemies, and en- 

 able them to effect unhurt the purpose for which they were 

 created. 1 



The frightful aspect of certain insects is another passive 

 means of defence by which they sometimes strike beholders, 

 especially children, often great insect tormentors, with alarm, 

 and so escape. The terrific and protended jaws of the stag- 

 beetle (Lucanus Cervus) in Europe, and of the stag-horn 

 Capricorn beetle (Prionus Cervicornis) in America, may save 

 them from the cruel fate of the poor cockchafer 2 , whose gy- 

 rations and motions, when transfixed by a pin, too often form 

 the amusement of ill-disciplined children. The threatening 

 horns also, prominent eyes, or black and dismal hue of many 

 other Coleoptera belonging to Linne's genera Scarabceus, Ci- 

 cindela, and Carabus, may produce the same effect. 



But the most striking instances of armour are to be found 

 amongst the homopterous Hemiptera. In some of these, the 

 horns that rise from the thorax are so singular and monstrous, 

 that nothing parallel to them can be found in nature. Of 

 this kind is the Cicada spinosa Stoll 3 , the Centrotus clavatus 4 , 

 and more particularly the Centrotus globularis 5 , so remarkable 

 for the extraordinary apparatus of balls and spines, which 

 it appears to carry erect, like a standard, over its head. 

 What is the precise use of all the varieties of armour with 

 which these little creatures are furnished it is not easy to 

 say, but they may probably defend them from the attack of 

 some enemies. 



Under this head I may mention the long hairs, stiff bristles, 

 sharp spines, and hard tubercular prominences with which 

 many caterpillars are clothed, bristled, and studded. That 

 these are means of defence is rendered more probable by the 

 fact that, in several instances, the animals so distinguished, 



1 Latreille, Annal. du Mus. 1810, 5. 



2 One would almost wish that the same superstition prevailed here which Sparr- 

 man observes is common in Sweden, with respect to these animals. " Simple 

 people," says he, " believe that their sins will be forgiven if they set a cockchafer 

 on its legs." Voyage, i. 28. 



3 Cigales, f. 85. 



4 Ibid. f. 115. Coquebert, Illustr. Ic. ii. t. xxviii. f. 5. 



5 Stoll, Cigales,f. 163. Comp. Pallas, Spicil. Zool. t. i. f. 12. 



N 4 



