THE DORR BEETLE. 
218 
odors reach this beetle in such a manner as to rouse so 
inert an insect into action ! But it is appointed one of 
the great scavengers of the earth, and marvellously en- 
dowed with powers of sensation, and means of effecting 
this purpose of its being. Exquisitely fabricated as it 
is to receive impressions, yet probably it is not more 
highly gifted than any of the other innumerable crea- 
tures, that wing their way around us, or creep about our 
path, though by this perceptible faculty, thus “ dimly 
seen,” it excites our wonder and surprise. u How won- 
drous then the whole ! ” 
This creature affords us a good example of that ex- 
traordinary artifice, to which some insects have recourse 
upon the apprehension of danger, the counterfeiting of 
death. The dorr, with a violent and noisy flight, pro- 
ceeds on its way, or circles around with an apparent 
fearlessness of harm ; yet the instant it is touched, or 
interrupted in its progress, though in no way injured, it 
will immediately fall to the ground, generally prostrate 
on its back, its limbs extended, stiff, and seemingly de- 
void of life, and suffering itself to be handled without 
manifesting any signs of animation. In time, finding 
no harm ensues, it resumes its former state. If our 
conjectures be correct, that the object of this stratagem 
is to preserve its life, it is difficult to comprehend how 
far it can be successful. Several birds feed on it, as 
we observed ; and that others do so likewise is evident 
from their castings. Of these, the owl and the nightjar 
catch it when on the wing ; and the crows, rooks, mag- 
pies, &c., seem to have no hesitation in picking it to 
pieces, as well as all the other beetles, that put on the 
semblance of death, in whatever state they find them. 
One or two beasts, it is said, when captured, feign death. 
With these exceptions, we remember none of the other 
orders of creation, that have recourse to such an expe- 
dient upon any emergency ; but with insects it is by no 
means an uncommon procedure, most probably resorted 
to by them for a motive we are not fully acquainted 
with, and which is in all likelihood attended with the 
success it was designed to effect. 
The perfect cleanliness of these creatures is a very 
