From Donovan's "Natural History of British Insects" (plate by Donovan,volume circa 1806). This version with matching text. Greater crucifix beetle,Panagaeus cruxmajor,on a grass stem and in foreground. This rare European ground beetle was a prize for any 19th century collector. In a letter to his old friend Leonard Jenyns (17 Oct 1846) Darwin recounted an incident as an Undergraduate at Cambridge University where he saw "the sacred Panagaeus crux major" Having collected a carabid beetle in each hand already he was forced to free a hand by placing one of the beetles between his teeth. Unfortunately the beetle was able to squirt a highly acrid afluid,and in spitting it out he lost all three | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / Stewart, Paul D. |
Taille de l’image : | 3744 px × 5175 px |
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