NOAH'S MITRAILLEUSE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5440, 22 July 1879, Page 3

NOAH'S MITRAILLEUSE.

A Paris contemporary makes the rather startling announcement that the mitrailleuse is far from being a modern invention, and that Noah, in his forty days' cruide, was provided with a pair of Gatlings. The mitrailleuse has, according to that journal, existed ever since the creation in the person of a

coleopterous insect {Brachinus cvepiians, or the bombardier beetle), which has the power of discharging corrosive projectiles of the most deadly description. The Frenchman relates how he took a colonel to witness the operation of these insects, and the pair were fortunate enough to come in for a regular engagement, which is thus described : — A brick, lying in a strawberry bed, having been removed, a colony of Brachini was laid bare. Hardly had this been done than a powerful carnivorous beetle, encased in armor like a knight of the Middle Ages, made its appearance, and, with open jaws, rushed on a small female insect. Suddenly there was a ping ! baug ! and a cloud of smoke enveloped the Carabida, who was stunned by the discharge. Warned of their danger, the other Brachini hastened to take up a formidable position on the top of a mound, where a block-house and loop-holes were speedily improvised. Through these loop-holes the Brachini pointed their breechloaders, though turning their backs to the foe, prepared to give a warm reception. The colonel, who felt quite at home in regarding this miniature field of battle was enchanted. The Carabida, who appeared to have been irritated, and rendered more voracious by his first check, dashed upon the enemy's position, but he was received by so well sustained an artillery fire that he fairly rolled over and bit the dust, and for a moment all seemed over. However, he rubbed his big eyes with his antennse, and managed to pick himself together again. He appeared ashamed of his defeat, and determined to carry tho work in front of him at no matter what cost. With gallantry he mounted once more to the breach where his eighteen enemies in a circle— heads in the centre and rear exposed — awaited the attack. He was met as before with a welldirected fire, from the deadly effects of ■which his elytra and corsele were unable to protect him. The Carabida fell this time to rise no more — half-paralysed, burned, and blinded. He was incapable of longer defending himself against his minute enemies, who now assumed the offensive, and set to work to devour the writhing Colossus.