MOTIONS OF INSECTS. 317 



insects, especially in the Coleoptera order — the majority 

 of those that have five joints in their tarsi being of this 

 description. The predaceous tribes, particularly the 

 numerous and prowling ground-beetles {Eutrech\na\ 

 often thus ascend the plants and trees after their prey. 

 Thus one of them, the beautiful but ferocious Calosoma 

 Sycojphanta, mounts the trunk and branches of the oak 

 to commit fearful ravages amongst the hordes of cater- 

 pillars that inhabit it *. By these the less savage but 

 equally destructive tree-chafers (Melolonthce), and those 

 enemies of vegetable beauty the rose-chafers {Cetonia 

 aurata)f are enabled to maintain their station on the 

 trees and shrubs that they lay waste. And by these 

 also the water-beetles {Dj/tiscus, Hi/dropMlus, &c.) climb 

 the aquatic plants. — But it is unnecessary further to en- 

 large upon this head; I shall only observe, that in most 

 of the insects here enumerated, the claws appear to be 

 aided by stiff hairs or bristles. 



Other climbers ascend by means of fooUcushioiis 

 [pulvilli) composed of hairs, as thickly set as in plush or 

 velvet, with which the underside of the joints of their tarsi 

 — the claw-joint, which is always naked, excepted — are 

 covered. These cushions are particularly conspicuous 

 in the beautiful tribe of plant-beetles {Chry&omelidce). 

 A common insect of this kind, before mentioned, called 

 the bloody-nose beetle ( Timarcha tcnebricosa)^ by the aid 

 of these is enabled to adhere to the trailing plants, the 

 various species of bedstraw [Galium), on which it feeds; 

 and by these will support itself against gravity ; for both 

 this and Chrysomela goettingensis will walk upon the 

 hand with their back downwards, and it then requires a 

 ^ Reaum ii. 457. 



