64 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Mr. Bethune says (Rep. Ent. Soc, 1873) that he has caught it in numbers 

 in April, and on one occasion as early as the 17th March, before the snow 

 was gone. 



The Six-spotted Tiger Beetle (C. scx-guttata Fabr.), fig. 12, is a most 

 beautiful insect of a most brilliant metallic green, flecked with three small 

 white spots on each wing cover ; Packard calls these markings "golden 

 dots." 



The Hairy-necked Tiger Beetle ( C. hirticollis Say), fig. 13, is a com- 

 mon species closely resembling, though smaller than, C. vulgaris ; it is 

 distinguishable by having whitish hairs on its neck. 



C. generosa Dej., fig. 14, is more strongly marked than the species 

 already mentioned, and is considerably larger. 



C. 12-guttata Dej. is smaller than vulgaris, brownish, and decorated 

 with twelve smaller reddish spots. 



C. punctulata Fab. is about the size of C. 12-guttata, and has a row 

 of smaller dots along the inner margin of the wing covers, and a couple 

 of irregular lines on each wing cover. 



The Tiger Beetle may well be called a Beneficial Insect, and is a 

 valuable and should be a valued friend of man, although some of the 

 species living at the sea-shore feed upon small shrimps, to the loss of 

 humanity. Although it does not, like that brilliant murderess, the Dragon- 

 fly (to quote again the gushing Michelet) clear the atmosphere of the 

 gnats and flies that torment mankind, still with its crossed daggers, which 

 serve it for jaws, it accomplishes a swift and almost incredible havoc 

 among the smaller insects. We should take care of it and respect it. It 

 is an efficacious auxiliary to the agriculturist. The farmer by killing Tiger 

 Beetles becomes the friend of those insect hosts that fatten on his labors 

 — the preserver and protector of those little enemies which devour his 

 substance. The ferocity of these insects is remarkable. They quickly 

 tear off the wings and legs of their victim, and suck out the contents of 

 its abdomen. Often, when they are disturbed in this agreeable occupa- 

 tion, not wishing to leave it, they fly away with their prey ; but they can- 

 not carry a heavy burden to any great distance. 



They are true children of earth. The eggs are laid in the earth, and 

 in the earth the grubs are hatched, and in the earth they spend their days, 

 and in the earth they prepare their shrouds, and enwrapped therein sleep 

 their pupa sleep through the long winter, and with the returning warmth 



