THE TICKLER. 
105 
tained in them, as well as to promote a more vigorous 
growth. Much evil might be prevented by employing chil- 
dren to collect the beetles while in the act of providing for 
the continuation of their kind. A common black bottle, con- 
taining a little water, would be a suitable vessel to receive 
the beetles as fast as they were gathered, and should be 
emptied into the fire in order to destroy the insects. The 
gathering should be begun as soon as the beetles first appear, 
and should be continued as long as any are found on the 
trees, and furthermore should be made a general business 
for several years in succession. I have no doubt, should this 
be done, that, by devoting one hour every day to this object, 
we may, in the course of a few years, rid ourselves of this 
destructive insect. 
The largest Capricorn-beetle, of the Cerambycian family, 
found in New England, is the Lamia ( Monohammm titillator) 
of Fabricius (Fig. 50), or the tickler, so named probably on 
t'ig. 50. 
account of the habit which it has, in common with most of 
the Capricorn-beetles, of gently touching now and then the 
surface on which it walks with the tips of its long anten- 
nas. Three or four of these beetles may sometimes be seen 
14 
