File:Sketches of the natural history of Ceylon - with narratives and anecdotes illustrative of the habits and instincts of the mammalia, birds, reptiles, fishes, insects, &c. - including a monograph of the (14746550881).jpg

Identifier: sketchesofnatura00tenn (find matches)
Title: Sketches of the natural history of Ceylon : with narratives and anecdotes illustrative of the habits and instincts of the mammalia, birds, reptiles, fishes, insects, &c. : including a monograph of the elephant and a description of the modes of capturing and training it with engravings from original drawings
Year: 1868 (1860s)
Authors: Tennent, James Emerson, Sir, 1804-1869 Metcalf Collection (North Carolina State University). NCRS
Subjects: Zoology Elephants
Publisher: London : Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts
Contributing Library: NCSU Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: NCSU Libraries

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
s, severing it into lumps proportionate to theirstrength, and rolling it along in search of some placesufficiently soft in which to bury it, after having de-posited their eggs in the centre. I had frequent op-portunities, especially in traversing the sandy jungles inthe level plains to the north of the island, of observingthe unfailing appearance of these creatures instantly onthe dropping of horse dung, or any other substance * Eepublished in the Ann. Nat. and figured by Mr. West^vood in Hist. liis Cabinet of Oriental Entomology, 2 Sternoccra Chrysis; S. sterni- pi. 35, f, 1). In the same \\-ork is cornis. figured another species of large ^ Of the family of Elateridce, one size, also from Ceylon, this is the of the finest is a Singhalese species, Alans sordidus.—Westwood, L e. the Caiupsosternus Templetonii, of pi. 35, f. 9. an exquisite golden green colour, * Ateuchus saeer; Copris sagaj:; with blue reflections (described C. capudntcs, &c. &c. D D 3 406 IXSECTS. (Chap. XU.
Text Appearing After Image:
LONGICOEN BEETLE (.BATOCERA BDBUS). suitable for their pur-pose ; although notone was visible buta moment before.Their approach onthe wing is announcedby a loud and joyousbooming sound, asthey dash in rapidcircles in search ofthe desired object,led by their sense ofsmell, and evidentlylittle assisted by theeye in shaping theircourse towards it. Inthese excursions theyexhibit a strength ofwing and sustainedpower of flight, suchas is possessed by noother class of beetleswith which I am ac-quainted, but whichis obviously indis- Chap. XH.) THE COCO-XUT BEETLE. 407 pensable for the due performance of the useful func-tions they discharge. The Coco-nut Beetle.—In the luxuriant forests of Ceylonthe extensive family of Longicorns ^ and Passalidcelive in destructive abundance. To the coco-nut plan-ters the ravages committed by beetles are painfullyfamiliar.^ The larva of one species of Dynastidce,the Oryctes rhinoceros, called by the Singhalese Gas-cooroominiya,^^ makes its way into the young

Note About Images