CHAPTER XVII. 

 THE BEETLES, OR SHEATH- WINGED INSECTS. 



ALL beetles are called Coleoptera, the word meaning 

 sheath-winged. Fig. 112 represents a beetle in the act of 



FIG. 112. A Carabus beetle in the act of walking: or running. Three legs (L,, 

 Ry, L 3 ) are directed forward, while the others (R t , 2 . 7? 3 ), which are directed 

 backward toward the tail, have ended their activity, a b, c d, and ef are 

 curves described by the end of the tibiae and passing back to the end of the 

 body; 6 h, d i, and fg ; are curves described by the same legs during the 

 passive change of position. 



