THE WATER BEETLES. 375 



A VERY large and important family of Beetles, the Carabidse, now comes before us, which 

 is represented by very many species, the common Ground Beetles being familiar examples. 

 The accompanying illustration represents the celebrated BOMBAR- 

 DIER BEETLE (Brachinus crepitans), which belongs to this family. 

 This little beetle is plentifully found in many places. When this 

 beetle is handled, a sharpish explosion is heard, and on looking at 

 the creature, a tiny wreath of bluish vapor is seen to issue from the 

 body. This vapor has a very pungent odor, and when discharged 

 against the skin, leaves a yellow mark like that produced by nitric 

 acid. Originally, it is a liquid, secreted by a certain gland, but as 

 soon as it comes in contact with the atmosphere it becomes suddenly volatilized, thereby pro- 

 ducing the explosion and causing the smoke-like vapor to arise. The insect can fire off its 

 miniature artillery seven or eight times in succession. Even after the death of the insect, the 

 explosion can be produced by pressure. 



One species of this genus, Lebia crux-minor, is given in the former illustration. It is 

 notable for the cross-like mark from which it derives its name. The largest species belonging 

 to this family are to be found in the exotic genus Anthia, an example of which is given in 

 the same illustration. The males are remarkable for the enormous size of the mandibles, 

 and the thorax, or chest, seems to be divided into two parts. Most of the species are found in 

 Southern Africa. AntTiia sulcata is a native of Senegal. 



It may be here remarked that the very largest of the Carabidse is a Javanese beetle, 



named MORMOLYCE, which is mostly found under the 

 branches of trees. Mr. Westwood mentions that one 

 of these insects in his possession has attained the 

 extraordinary length of three inches and a half. As 

 may be seen from the engraving, it is a very odd- 

 looking insect, iiardly recognizable as a beetle, and 

 more resembling the mantis than the beetles. It will 

 be noticed that this creature has a very long neck, a 

 very flat body, elytra wide and flattened like those of 

 the leaf-insect, and a thorax also flat and deeply 



MORMOLYCE. Mormotyce pkyllodes. , -. , , 



toothed at the edges. 



The CardbidcB are represented in North America by numerous species, one of the most 

 familiar of which is the one prettily shaped, black, and with gold spots, Calosoma calidum, 

 very common in fields. Its habits are somewhat voracious, the Junebug sometimes being 

 assailed by it, and torn to pieces. A species of AnopMhalmus is found in the Mammoth Cave, 

 in Kentucky, which is blind, no eyes being visible. 



PASSING by the group of Carabidse known as the Scaritidse, a sub-family of beetles which 

 are mostly found under stones or in holes near the sea-shore, we come to the Harpalides, of 

 which the Harpalus caspicus is our present example. They are mostly rather small, and 

 seldom bright colored, with the exception of a few species, such as the well-known SUN 

 BEETLES, which are so familiar to us as they run actively over gravel walks or roads as if 

 enjoying the blazing sunbeams. 



WE now come to the large group of WATER BEETLES, which are divided into several 

 families. The fresh waters of many rivers, ponds, and lakes are very populous with the 

 Water Beetles, which may be seen by thousands on a summer day, swimming, diving, rising 

 to the surface, and evidently enjoying life to the utmost. 



In order to enable them to perform the various movements which are necessary for their 

 aquatic existence, their hind legs are developed into oars with flattened blades and stiff hairy 

 fringe, and the mode of respiration is slightly altered in order to accommodate itself to the 

 surrounding conditions. It has been already mentioned that in all insects the respiration is 

 conducted through a series of apertures set along the sides, and technically called spiracles. 



