BEETLES. 159 



BEETLES, OR COLEOPTERS. 



Beetles are insects whose forward or upper wings are 

 hard and horn-like, and meet in a straight line along 

 the top of the back ; and there is generally a little tri- 

 angular piece between the bases of the wings, called the 

 scutellum. The hind, or under wings, are thin, and 

 when the insect is not flying are folded and concealed 

 by the horn-like upper wings. The colors of beetles 

 are -often exceedingly beautiful and brilliant, rivalling 

 even those of precious stones and the plumage of birds. 



Beetles have two pairs of jaws, which move sidewise, 

 by means of which they bite their food, which in some 

 cases consists of other insects, in others of leaves or 

 other parts of plants. In the larva state beetles are 

 called grubs. The kinds are very numerous, probably 

 not less than a hundred thousand in all. 



TIGER BEETLES. 



These are very common in warm sandy places, and 

 may be seen in the roads in the country every pleas- 



Fig. 293. Tiger 



Beetle, larva. 



V Fig. 294. Hairy-necked 



Fig. 292. - Common Ti B fl 



Tiger Beetle. 



ant day. They are, very beautifully and often splen- 

 didly colored, and have a large head and large eyes, 



