BLACK, AND ITS CAPABILITIES OF CONTllAST. 



59 



dimensions, and to chase and destroy those insects and other 

 living creatures on which it feeds. 



Its speed of foot is implied by the name Catadromus, which 

 is formed from two Greek words signifying "running about," 

 while the specific name of fcnebrioides refers to its resemblance 

 in point of general form to the well-known Meal Beetle {Tenebrio 

 molitor), which is so prevalent in corn stores, and is the parent 

 of the common meal-worm on which nightingales and other 

 delicate cage-birds are feil. There is a variety of this insect in 



Fig. 23. — Catadromu.s tenebrioiilcs. 

 (Black, green eilge.) 



which the colour, instead of being black, is reddish brown, the 

 only sign of the splendid green margin being a very slight tinge 

 of purple on the edges of the thorax. 



A SECOND example of this tribe is found in the insect which 

 is called Homalosoma Vigorsii, an insect which looks as if it 

 were made especially to show what wonderful contrasts can be 

 got out of the deepest black. The insect is wholly black, and 

 yet it looks quite lively, contrasting favourably with many 

 insects that even possess positive colouring. The head and 

 thorax are shining as if made of polished jet. The elytra are 

 also black, traversed by bold parallel ridges of shining black 

 like that of the thorax. The spaces between the ridges or ribs, 



