CH. IX.] COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 149 



dilated, convex beneath, and serve as a sucker; 

 while all the feet of the female are similar to one 

 another, and the wing-cases are deeply impressed 

 with a series of longitudinal furrows. 



On mint, and other verticillated plants, we some- 

 j times find a very singularly formed larva of the tor- 

 toise beetle, Cassida viridis, which is yellowish 

 [; brown in colour, and of an oval shape, and has the 

 I; sides of the body edged with a fringe of projecting 

 fibres ; the two terminal ones are longer than the 

 rest, and generally carried over the body towards 

 the head, while the animal is in motion. On these 



t filaments, it is said, the animal collects its own ex- 

 crement, and thus forms itself a canopy of it over 

 its back, probably for the purpose of defending it- 

 self from the attacks of its enemies. When it ar- 

 rives at maturity, it fastens itself to a leaf, casts its 

 skin, and commences the pupa state, which is also 



of a very remarkable shape, and is peculiar for the 

 breadth or dilatation of the forepart ; from the 

 chrysalis, in the space of three weeks, proceeds the 

 insect in its complete state, when its length is 

 nearly a quarter of an inch ; its body is of an oval 

 shape, and its colour bright green above, with the 

 under part black. 



N2 



