Punch (73.1877)

18 PUNCH, OK THE LONDON CHAEIVAEL [July 21, 1877.

NATURAL INDIGNATION.

Materfamilvas (whose pretty Daughters have not got Partners). "Just look at those horrid Married Women dancing away! They

ought to be AsH a.med of themselves ! "

THE COMING BEETLE.

A crowded Meeting1 of Members of the Entomological Depart-
ments of the Irish Animal Kingdom was held last night at the " Hole
in the Wall," Dublin, to consider the expected arrival from the
United States and Canada of the Colorado Beetle {Doryphora
decemlineatci). The assembly chiefly consisted of the Coleoptera,
but representatives of the Aphaniptera, Hemiptera, Diptera,
Homoptera, and Orthoptera were also present. The Chair was
taken by—

The Stag Beetle {Lucanus cervus), who, in a few words, stated
that the advent to this down-trodden island of the Colorado or Potato
Beetle, already found on the Continent of Europe, was now merely
a matter of time. He should, for his own part, receive him as
a brother—with open horns.

The Rosechaf er (Cetonia aurata) was of opinion that they should
prepare to give tbe distinguished immigrant a warm reception.

The Bleeding-nose Beetle {Timarcha Icevigata) said that had been
done by the people at Cologne, where they had. covered a field in
which their American cousin had been detected, with sawdust and
petroleum, and set it on fire. (" Shame ! ") But, for all that, the
Colorado Beetle "had been seen on the wing," and, plase the
potatoes or not, would soon be among them. (" Hear ! ")

The Cockchafer {Melolontha vulgaris) was a Beetle to whom
nothing came amiss. In his larva state he, like the Doryphora
decemlineata and the Irish population, rejoiced in potatoes. But the
world was quite wide enough for both him and the Potato Beetle. They
had both the same interests, and the same enemies. Man would be
down on the Potato Beetle's larvae with poison. Boy would be down
upon him, too, with foot and finger. He would probably have to
beware of the Goatsucker, or Nightjar {Caprimulgus Europceus),
and also of the Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus); but the former was
only a bird of passage, and gamekeepers were fast exterminating
the latter, which fed chiefly on mice and insects, by shooting it
down. (" Hear .' hear ! ") It was a particular foe of his kind, and
he hated it, as he did the whole brood of Saxon destroyers, of which
this was one of the worst. {Cheers.)

The Devil's Coach-horse (Staphylinus (Ocypus) Olens) supposed
that himself and the Potato Beetle would perhaps be considered to
belong to the same stud. But he (the D. C.) was a carnivorous
Beetle, and feared he hardly deserved his name; for whatever he
looked like, as he consumed carrion, and ate destructive insects, he
did mankind service, though he cocked his tail at them, but at none
so high as the base, bloody, and stupid Saxon.

The Shard-born Beetle (Geotrupes stercorarius) made an observa-
tion inaudible on account of his drowsy hum.

The Turnip Flea {Haltica nemorum) hoped their Colorado friend
would do for potatoes as he (the Turnip Flea) did for turnips and
swedes, but that care would be taken that the value of the crops
destroyed should be deducted from the rint, so that the loss might
fall on the landlords.

The Domestic Flea (Pulex irritans) would hail the arrival of
another annoyance to the inhuman race, he meant, of course, the
Saxon oppressor.

The Norfolk Howard [Cimex lectularius) cordially cried "ditto "
to the last speaker.

The Plant Fly {Aphis vastator) could, as his technical name might
seem to imply, help to devastate 'taturs, but he could not destroy
everything off the face of the earth, even with the aid of the most
patriotic motives. He expected to find the Colorado Beetle an
efficient ally.

The Meat Fly {Musca vomitoria) had to do chiefly with meat. He
should be glad to see a new-comer attack potatoes ; and as for gar-
deners and farmers or St. Patrick himself trying to stamp him out
in this favoured island—they be blowed !

The Praying Mantis {Mantis religiosa) was not himself a vegetable
feeder. Yet he sympathised with their Potato brother. He did not
look upon him in the light of an enemy to Man. No ; he regarded
him rather as a beneficent dispensation—a bountiful provision for
the limitation, if not the extirpation, of a tuber possibly working,
unsuspected, evil amongst men. Who knew ? The Potato Beetle
might have been sent to supplement the Potato Famine, and still
further reduce the population of this beautiful but mis-ruled island.
If so, he would still prove a friend to the National cause, as the