(161)
As to what the ingenious Mr. Derham of Upminſter has obſerv'd, that the Beatings are a ſort of Prelude for Copulation, I could not diſcover that this Beetle had any other of the ſame Species near it; and therefore I am inclin'd to think, that it beat for the Preparation of it Food, at this time, at leaſt, whatſoever it might do at other times, for Pleaſure. The Deſcription Mr. Allen gives of the Inſect, as referr'd to above, foraſmuch 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; ſo that this Galea is, when this Inſect reſts, a very notable and providential Defence againſt ſuch Falls, as are frequent in rotten and decay'd Places, in which, it ſhould ſeem, this Inſect is very much converſant. The ſecond Day after I took it, I open'd the Box wherein it was, and ſet it in the Sun: The Inſect was ſoon 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 ſtruck out its Wings, and was juſt going to take its Farewell; but having the Lid of the Box ready in my Hand, I ſhaded it over, and it ſoon drew its Wings, and was very quiet. I could not before perceive, though I had the Uſe of a tolerable good Glaſs, any the leaſt Sign of a Fiſſure upon its Back; and, for that Reaſon, did greatly queſtion, whether it had any Wings or not, till I ſet it, as above, in the Sun. The Head of the Inſect appears to be of a very fine Contexture, as it is ſeen, when it creeps about, and ſtretcheth it forward; but when 'tis drawn up under its Galea, it ſeems to be cover'd with a Membrane thick ſet with fine Hairs.
