Gen. Count Dejean, aide-de-camp to Napoleon, was a most enthusiastic collector of beetles; and it is even said of him that he would march his army out of its way to pass through a good collecting locality. At all times during the campaigns which he helped to render famous, his attention was not taken from his favorite occupation; and his military cap was invariably conspicuous from the gorgeous beetles that were there immolated. Every one in the army, from the emperor down to his men, was aware of what was termed his weakness; and the latter were constantly on the lookout for specimens for their commander. At the battle of Wagram, 1809, the general went into the combat with his hat as usual ornamented with beetles, which he had received that morning; and, while standing near the emperor, a shot from the enemy struck him upon the head, knocking him senseless, and destroying his collection,--the hat being completely torn in pieces. The emperor, thinking him fatally wounded, hastened to his side, asking if he was still alive; upon which the general gasped out, “I am not dead; but, alas, my insects are all gone!” The beetles are among the most interesting of all insects; and a study of them, though casual, will well repay my young readers, who cannot fail to be interested in their peculiarities, their habits, methods of protection and defence, their intelligence in caring for their young, and the wondrous light-emitting power of some species. In my walks about the San Gabriel Valley, I generally meet a peculiar beetle,--a large, black fellow, who lumbers along in a clumsy manner. If touched, he cannonades me with a fluid of iodine color, which has a most disagreeable odor; so much so, that upon one occasion, my nostrils being in range, I was made temporarily faint by it. The fluid stained my hands like iodine, and caused not a little irritation to the skin. The beetle, then, is a living cannon; the fluid, which is contained in certain glands, being its defence. It can be ejected or thrown two inches, so that it affords quite a protection, and probably would be effective with birds. Many insects have a curious odor which serves several purposes,--one, in rendering them nauseous to birds and various enemies; and, again, as a means of communication among themselves. Thus, if a community of deaf and dumb persons should decide to identify themselves by certain odors, we would see a practical application of this. One family would carry musk, and be recognized some distance off by it; and so with other perfumes or odors. This is just how some beetles call each other; and in the one referred to both male and female possess the same odor.