Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 033.djvu/173

 As to what the ingenious Mr. Derham of Upminter has oberv'd, that the Beatings are a ort of Prelude for Copulation, I could not dicover that this Beetle had any other of the ame Species near it; and therefore I am inclin'd to think, that it beat for the Preparation of it Food, at this time, at leat, whatoever it might do at other times, for Pleaure. The Decription Mr. Allen gives of the Inect, as referr'd to above, foramuch as I can find by this (which I took from the Chair where I found it, into a Box) is very true: 'Tis about a Quarter of an Inch in length, of a dark, dirty Colour, having a broad Galea, or Helmet, over its Head; under which, when quiet, it draws up its Head; o that this Galea is, when this Inect rets, a very notable and providential Defence againt uch Falls, as are frequent in rotten and decay'd Places, in which, it hould eem, this Inect is very much converant. The econd Day after I took it, I open'd the Box wherein it was, and et it in the Sun: The Inect was oon very brisk, and crept backwards and forwards along the Pieces of Sedge, and rotten Wood, that I had put with it into the Box, till at length getting to the End of one of the Pieces, it immediately truck out its Wings, and was jut going to take its Farewell; but having the Lid of the Box ready in my Hand, I haded it over, and it oon drew its Wings, and was very quiet. I could not before perceive, though I had the Ue of a tolerable good Glas, any the leat Sign of a Fiure upon its Back; and, for that Reaon, did greatly quetion, whether it had any Wings or not, till I et it, as above, in the Sun. The Head of the Inect appears to be of a very fine Contexture, as it is een, when it creeps about, and tretcheth it forward; but when 'tis drawn up under its Galea, it eems to be cover'd with a Membrane thick et with fine Hairs. Rh