These are the Nights that Beetles love－1
From Eminence remote
Drives ponderous perpendicular
His figure intimate
The terror of the Children 5
The merriment of men
Depositing his Thunder
He hoists abroad again－
A Bomb upon the Ceiling 9
Is an improving thing－
It keeps the nerves progressive
Conjecture flourishing－
Too dear the Summer evening 13
Without discreet alarm－
Supplied by Entomology
With its remaining charm－
From Eminence remote
Drives ponderous perpendicular
His figure intimate
The terror of the Children 5
The merriment of men
Depositing his Thunder
He hoists abroad again－
A Bomb upon the Ceiling 9
Is an improving thing－
It keeps the nerves progressive
Conjecture flourishing－
Too dear the Summer evening 13
Without discreet alarm－
Supplied by Entomology
With its remaining charm－
(F.1150/J.1128)
[1, 9] Beetles, Bomb:: a hint on the bombardier beetle
[6] merriment:: the disturbance will cause the beetle to attack.
[7] his Thunder:: the beetle can discharge fluid and a popping sound.
The celebrated Bombardier Beetle . . . When this beetle is handled, a sharpish explosion is heard, and on looking at the creature, a tiny wreath of bluish vapour is seen to issue from the body. This vapour has a very pungent odour, and when discharged against the skin, leaves a yellow mark like that produced by nitric acid. Originally, it is a liquid, secreted by certain glands, but as soon as it come in contact with the atmosphere it becomes suddenly volatilized, thereby producing the explosion and causing the smoke-like vapour to arise. The insect can fire oft its miniature artillery seven or eight times in succession. ─ The Illustrated Natural History (1863)