From Donovan's "Natural History of British Insects" (plate by Donovan,volume circa 1806). Greater crucifix beetle,Panagaeus cruxmajor. 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 | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / Stewart, Paul D. |
Bildgröße: | 3915 px × 4464 px |
Modell-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Eigentums-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Restrictions: | - |