III. 



OUR BRITISH BEETLES: NOTES ON THEIR CLASSIFICATION 



AND COLLECTION. 



By Aethttk Cottam, F.E.A.S. 



Head at JFatford I8th November, 1879. 



Beetles are so retiring in their habits, that to casual observers 

 very few are known. To make a collection of our butterflies and 

 moths is a common thing, and in consequence nearly every one (of 

 the ICacro-lepidoptera at all events) has an English name. The 

 beetles that have English names can almost be counted on the 

 fingers, in itself a proof how few are commonly known ; yet there 

 are over 3,000 species inhabiting Great Britain, half as many again 

 as the species of moths. 



The common idea that beetles are ugly and offensive creatures is 

 probably one reason why they are so little studied and collected ; 

 but this idea is veiy far from being generally true. There are 

 some that may perhaps be called ugly, and a few have the power 

 of exuding ofiensive odours or juices in self-defence, but by far the 

 larger number will be found to be more or less beautiful, and 

 many, even in our temperate climate, are really splendid. 



The notion — I am sorry to say, a very cominon one indeed — that 

 the cockroach, a very oifensive creature in every way, is a typical 

 specimen of a beetle, has, I fear, something to do with the pre- 

 judice against collecting or studying them. But a cockroach is 

 not a beetle at all. It belongs to an entirely distinct order of 

 insects — the Orthoptera — of which the grasshoppers and crickets 

 are other equally well-known examples. 



Most of you will no doubt recollect a clever sketch that appeared 

 in ' Punch ' a year or two ago, of a child and her governess. The 

 child remarked upon the number of " blackbectles " in the kitchen. 

 The governess reproved her for calling them "blackbectles," and 

 told her to call them "cockroaches," giving as the reason why 

 they should not be called "blackbectles," that they are not 

 beetles, and they are not black. The child's reply was, " Certainly 

 I will call them cockroaches if you wish it, though they are not 

 roaches and they are not cocks." The child's reply was as true as 

 the governess's reproof ; both names are inappropriate, but the 

 remark of the governess was a scientific truth that ought to be 

 generally known and remembered. 



The Coleoptera, or beetles, are almost universally admitted to 

 take precedence of all other orders of insects, on account of their 

 complete metamorphosis, their highly-developed organs, and the 

 great number of their species. 



The name Coleoptera means " sheath-winged." In all insects 

 the nonnal number of wings is four. In the beetles two of these 

 become horny or leathery wing-cases or elytra, which cover the 



