ORDER I. rOLEOPTERA. 57 



domen. When laid on its back, the insect raises and sustains itself on 

 the anterior part of the head anil the extremity of the body, by which 

 means the spine is removed from the groove where it is lodged when in 

 its natural position; then suddenly bending its body, the spine is struck 

 with force across a small ridge or elevation, into the cavity from whence 

 it was withdrawn, by which shock, the parts of the body before sus- 

 tained in the air are so forcibly beat against whatever the insect is 

 laid on, as to cause it to spring or rebomid to a consideral)le distance. 

 The antenna; ai'e lodged in a cavity scooped out of the under side of 

 the head and thorax, probably to preser\-e them from injury when 

 the insect falls, after its singular leap. The larvae reside in decayed 

 wood. 



Sp. 1. ElfiL sanguineus. Black; thorax smooth and shining: elytra of 



a blood red colour. {PL 3. Jig. 0.) 

 Inhabits decayed oaks, and has been found in abundance under t?ic 



bark of trees in June, in the New Forest of Hampshire, which is 



a most excellent and fertile county for insects. 

 Sp. 2. E/nt. ci/aueus. Blue, varying from a purple to a greenish hue : 



elytra striated and hnely punctured. (PL S.Jig. 7.) 

 Inhabits gravel-pits in the months of May and June, under stones, 



clods of earth and conglomerated masses, by turning up of which 



the entomologist will frequently find other insects equally rare. 



Genus 29. Cicixdela. 

 Antenna setaceous : pulpi six, filiform ; the posterior ones hairy : 7)icm- 



<//Wt's projecting with many dents: eyes prominent : thorux rounded 



and marginatcd. 



This is in general a very beautiful tribe of insects ; they are found 

 in dry sandy places, and prey with the most ravenous ferocity upon 

 all weaker insects v.hich come in their way. The larva is soft and 

 white, with six feet, and two tubercles on its back which assist it in 

 retreating with its prey; the head is brown and scaly, and armed with 

 a pair of large jaws. It lurks in a round perpendicular hole in the 

 groimd, with its head at the entrance, to dra\v in. and devour whatever 

 insects may come near or fall into it. 



Sp. 1. Ciciud. campestris. Green; the elytra with five white dots. 

 Inhabits sand-pits and other hot and dry places from April to July. 

 Sp. 2. Cidnd.syloatica. {PL 5. fig. H.) 



Genus 30. Btprestis. 

 Antennae filiform, serrated; the length of the thorax: palpi fi>ur, fili- 

 form; the last articulation obtuse and truncated: head pari ly re- 

 tracted within the thorax. {PL 3. Jig. 9.) 



Few of this numerous genus are natives of Britain. Many of the ex- 

 otic species are remarkable for their rich metallic colours, having frc- 



