THE EIGIIT-SFOT TIGER BEETLE. 



19 



Two pieces of information are tluis given. The first is, tliat 

 the bold tootfi on the inner edge of the jaw njost eftectually 

 prevents the escape of any insect that may be seized. Let the 

 reader imagine a pair of siclvles, each having a sliarp tooth some 

 three inches long on the inner edge and about four inches from 

 the base. Suppose tlie liandles of the sickles to be joined at their 

 ends by a rivet on which tliey can play, and we shall have a 

 very tolerable imitation of the Tiger Beetle's jaws. The reader 

 will at once see that if the sickles are closed so as ^o bring the 

 handles together, the points will cross each other, and tlvji if tl'e 

 leg or arm of a man be clasped in them the two teeth will give 

 an additional hold, and, being nearer the base, will have a more 

 povv^erful leverage than coukl be given to the points alone, how- 

 ever sharp they may be. A familiar illustration 0/ this princdple 

 is afforded by the schoolboy in cracking a nut. He does not 

 place it between his front teetli, but as far back as he can, so as 

 to add as much as possible to the leverage. 



The second piece of information is^ that the insect was not 

 killed as soon as caught, but was placed alive in coniinement 

 with others of its own kind. After the habits of such insects, 

 the fellow-piisoners set to lighting, and this particular specimen 

 succeeded in wrenching off the leg of its antagonist. The force 

 required for sucli an act is wonderfully great. There are many 

 insects that .shed their limbs without seeming any the worse for 

 it, but the Tiger Beetle is not one of them. It is [)redacious, and 

 v.ants its legs for the purpose of chasing its prey. Consequently, 

 these linihs are ilrmly ,.. ^ _ 



jointed to the body, --.">- X, -*^-._ -, - - 



and the insect must ***,.' v 



have exerted very 

 great strength to tear 

 away the entire limb 

 as it has done. 



-^^idi 



Fia. 4— Eight-spot Ti^'er Beetle. (C 

 (Dlue-gveen and yolh 



iiiilc'a uctoHutata.) 

 V.) 



Another lovely 

 species is the Eight- 

 spot of India (Clcln- 

 dcla octoRotafa), which is shown in the accompanying illustration. 

 The colours of this most beautiful insect are much the same as 

 those of the Chinese species, but their arrangement is more 

 c 2 



