JULY. 255 
being caressed, and may be tamed without any bad smell 
attending them ; but I should think them dangerous petsy 
for a house in which the odour is emitted^ is rendered unin- 
habitable for a long time. I have likewise been informed 
that if the animal be suddenly seized by the tail, and held 
up in the air, it has not the power of ejecting this foetor, 
and may be killed without trouble or offence ; but this I give 
only on the report of others. It lives on birds^, and other 
small animals ; and often makes great devastation among 
the poultry. 
C. — I have just taken a pair of large and very handsome 
beetles crawling up a tree : the head and thorax and 
half the elytra are of a brilliant blue ; the fore-half of the 
elytra^ rich golden yellow : the joints of the antennae are 
large and conspicuous. Is it a common species ? 
F, — It is the Blue and Gold Cerambyx ( Desmocerm 
Cyaneus )^ and is described and figured in the ^'^ Naturalist's 
Library/' where it is said to be a native of India. It is by 
no means uncommon with us through the autumn. The 
colours of this large and showy Cerambyx remind me of 
a very large species of Whame-fly (Tabanus Affinis ? J, 
which I caught in the act of sucking my horse's blood : it 
was altogether black, except three or four segments of the 
middle of the abdomen, which were bright orange yellow. 
I noticed^ also^ at the same time, another species of the same 
tribe, strange to me, which was black, with white triangles 
down the back (Tabanus Zonalis ? ). 
C, — I picked up, while you were speaking, this pretty 
little Cicindela ; it is dark sea green, covered with punctures. 
F. — It is rare and curious : I believe it is Elapkrus In- 
termedius, not a Cicindela. Here is a bed of plants, which 
will be the means of increasing your entomological cabinet ; 
as it is a constant resort of many species of insects, by night 
and day. This is the Sweet-scented Milkweed ( Asclepias 
