1NT1;01)L'(T1()X. 



the insect l)i'eatlie«. The base ul' the alxloiueii is closely 

 attached to the metathorax ; the central portion of the base 

 of the first ventral segment is often produced between the 

 posterior coxae, forming the intereoxal process. The last 

 dorsal segment of the abdomen is the pijgidinm, and the 

 penultimate segment the propygidium. 



Beetles have no single brain ; their nervous system 

 consists in a series of knots or ganglia dispersed through 

 the body and united by double nervous cords. Digestion 

 is carried on by means of a single tube or canal, com- 

 mencing at the mouth and ending at the anal orifice ; 

 distinct parts of this tube serve the purpose of a gizzard, 

 stomach, and intestines, and opening into it are a number 

 of smaller tubes for the supply of secretions. The blood is 

 cold, clear, and nearly colourless ; it has been shewn to 

 circulate. 



The sexes are separate, and the eggs are always carefully 

 placed by the female in the locality most lilcely to ensure 

 a good supply of food for the larva. 



As the arrangement of specimens in a collection must 

 necessarily be preceded by their capture, it is needful in 

 this place to say a few words respecting the time and place 

 in which beetles should be looked for ; the time is always, 

 and the place is cveryiuhcrc. In the spring a reversed 

 umbrella or large net should be held beneath hedges or 

 trees while they are beaten with a stick ; in the summer 

 a canvas or strong linen net should lie swept over 

 long grass, flowers, etc. ; in the autumn fungi pulled to 

 pieces over a sheet of brown paper yield a good crop, 

 while in the winter, moss, dead leaves, etc., can be shaken 

 into a bag and the contents investigated at leisure. The 

 most productive times are the spring, early summer, and 

 autumn, while as regards place, a clay soil is considered 

 unfavourable, but chalk or sand are accounted very good. 

 In sand-pits with straight cut sides many good species often 

 occur ; rough, undisturl jed ground is always better than 

 cultivated, and mountains and the seashore are inhabited 

 by many peculiar species. Dead animals, ants' nests, the 



