AT THE MICROSCOPE. 47 



thought," attained a clear conclusion as to the specimens now 

 before us, and being enabled to say that it is a " Wireworm," the 

 larva of one of the larger "Click-Beetles" (see Fig. 5, PI. VIL). 

 Jumpers we used to call them when I was at school. We put 

 them on our hands, back downwards, and with a sharp click and 

 a spring they would fall on their legs, and then proceed to run 

 away — a provision, we are informed, for enabling them to recover 

 their balance when they fall in a wrong position (which they are 

 very much given to, feigning death on the slightest disturbance). 



It would not be difficult to surmise how the three earth-lovers 

 came into the sewer (see p. 52); they evidently lived well there. 

 The mode of their removal to daylight is truly a very curious 

 part of the story. The termination of the last segment furnishes 

 a character whereby the actual species may be determined. 



Haltica fuscipes (PL VIIL, Fig. i). — Many thanks to J. Car- 

 penter (p. 50) for illustrating his subject so carefully. This is the 

 right way to do. Every member, on enclosing his slide, should 

 submit a drawing of it, with careful notes, the best in his power to 

 obtain. The main difference, by-the-bye, between our Society 

 and those longer established, and meeting at stated times in 

 definite localities, will be that, owing to the variety of mind, 

 acquirements, and occupations in our body, we shall learn much 

 faster ; have vastly greater opportunities of acquiring specimens 

 and information of all kinds. 



It needs for me here to say little. But as J. C. has not 

 marked the mouth-organs I will indicate them in an appended 

 outline (PL VII., Fig. 8), for we shall have to make ourselves 

 thoroughly familiar with them in all their modifications. 



I have further added a sketch of the hind tibia of H. conctnna 

 for contrast with the present example of the genus Haltica, in 

 which it will be seen that these peculiar spikes are entirely absent. 

 The most remarkable part about Haltica concin?ia to myself is the 

 structure of the legs, the enormously incrassated posterior thighs 

 for leaping, the dilated tarsal joints, the penultimate having 

 numerous curved hairs, serially arranged, and expanded at their 

 extremities to form suckers, after the manner of those in the 

 common fly, etc. It is curious to watch the mode of progression 

 in ordinary walking of these beetles, which may be readily seen in 

 the live-box. The feet of the posterior pair are brought forwards, 

 so as to be right under the centre of the body ; the advantage of 

 this in connection with the powerful spring may be readily con- 

 ceived. The curious array of spines terminating the tibiae I take 

 to be principally for enabling a firm grasp to be obtained on 

 alighting after the leap on the polished stems, leaves, etc., it 



