io6 
STRANGE DWELLINGS. 
larger than those which compose the abdomen, and the head 
itself is small, but armed with a pair of jaws that remind the 
observer of wire nippers, so sharp are their edges, and so stout ; 
is their make. Old posts and rails are favourite localities with 
this beetle, and the grubs can almost always be obtained where , 
timber has been left for any length of time in the open air. 
Another well-known boring-beetle, is the large and beautiful 
insect which is popularly called the Musk Beetle ( Cerambyx 
moschatus). Nearly an inch in length, with long and gracefully- 
curved antennae, and slender and elegant in shape, it would 
always command attention, even if it were not possessed of two 
remarkable characteristics, colour and perfume. 
To the naked eye, and in an ordinary light, the colour of this 
beetle is simply green, very much like that of the malachite. 
But, when the sun shines upon its elytra, some indications of its 
true beauty present themselves, not to be fully realised without 
the aid of the microscope and careful illumination. If a part 
of an elytron be taken from a Musk Beetle, placed under a half- 
inch object glass, and viewed through a good binocular micro- 
scope, by means of concentrated light, the true glories of this 
magnificent insect become visible. The general colour is green, 
but few can describe the countless shades of green, gold, and 
azure, that are brought out by the microscope, and no pencil 
can hope to give more than a faint and dull idea of the wonderful 
object. Neither do its beauties end with its colours, for the 
whole structure of the insect is full of wonders, and from the 
compound eyes to the brush-soled feet, it affords a series of 
objects to the microscopist, which will keep him employed for 
many an hour. 
The odour which it exudes is extremely powerful ; so strong, 
indeed, that I have often been attracted by the well-known 
perfume as I walked along a tree-fringed wood, and, after a 
little search, discovered the insect. It is no easy matter to find 
the Musk Beetle, even when it is close at hand, for its slender 
body lies so neatly along the twigs, and its green colour harmo- 
nizes so well with the leaves, that a novice will seldom distin- 
