1950] 
Brues — Filipino Insect Toy 
27 
its other end to the third stick by a fibre which allows it to 
move freely back and forth next to the vertical stick. The tin 
is placed near this vertical stick where it will be tapped bv the 
horizontal stick as the latter swings on its longitudinal axis. 
Finally, the beetle is tied toward one side of the horizontal fibre 
by still another fibre which is short enough to keep the beetle 
off' the ground. The base of the hind femora next to the coxae 
form a secure point to tie the beetle at the end of its abaca 
tether. 
Fig. 1. The salagubong gong. The oil can which acts as a resonator is 
shown at the left. The first pair of bamboo sticks mentioned in the text are 
at the right, connected by the thread from which the beetle is suspended. 
After a little teasing and manipulation, the beetle gets into 
action and attempts to fly away. As the abaca fibre grows taut, 
the path of motion assumes a circular orbit and the transverse 
fibre sways violently back and forth as the beetle circles unwill- 
ingly on its flying trapeze. The tin may now be shifted till it 
receives a staccato tap from the end of the stick at each revolu- 
tion of the beetle. These taps strike the gong at the rate of two 
or three per second, dependent upon the muscular tonus of the 
