THE CARABUS. 3OI 



leaves off the attack ; and, finally, it rolls over on its back and 

 becomes an easy prey. 



In the engraving a May bug is seen on its back, and a Carabus 

 tearing away at it. Behind the beetle a larva is just pouncing on 

 an ant ; and above the May bug a larva is under the shade of a 

 stone, upon which another beetle is about to attack an insect. 



The larvae of Carabus are of a shining black colour, and 

 do not come out in the daytime ; they hide themselves up under 

 stones, in holes, or under clods of earth. They chase their prey 

 like the adults. There are nearly two hundred species of this 

 genus, and they have the wing-cases more or less soldered 

 together ; for as the beetles run in search of their prey, their 

 wings are not always required, and, therefore, are imperfect. 



The Calosoma sycopJianta, which we have already noticed in 

 treating of the Lepidoptera, belongs to this family, and is, perhaps, 

 the most beautiful beetle in Europe. It has wings, although it 

 runs quickly and well ; and it has a large body, which is of a 

 deep violet colour, the elytra, which are striated and punctuated, 

 being of a green and gold tint. Its decorations are superb, and 

 its habits are most attractive ; and it runs about the trunks of 

 large oaks with incredible rapidity. It attacks by preference the 

 processional caterpillars ; and the adult insect and the larva are 

 often seen destroying them together, caring little for the webs, 

 or the dangerous hairs. If the engraving of the metamorphosis 

 of Bombyx processionea is examined (Plate facing p. 1 14), a 

 Calosoma beetle will be seen on the trunk of the tree, about 

 to attack the leader of the caterpillars ; and low down on the 

 trunk a Calosoma larva is evidently choosing a fat caterpillar 

 from a nest. In the ground at the base of the tree the nymph 

 of Calosoma may be noticed. The larva resembles those of the 

 genus Carabus, and is larger than they are. When full grown, 

 it grubs into the earth, makes a sort of cell, and is transformed 

 into the nymph, which is decorated with small tufts of hairs, 

 that are very prettily arranged. There are some beetles be- 

 longing to this great family whose habits are very different 

 to those of the species just mentioned. The Calosoma and 

 the Carabus enjoy the full sunshine, and pursue their prey like 

 hunters, and scramble over the trunks of trees, and do not like 



