FAMILY CICINDEUDiE. 33 



As the cicindelae subsist solely upon other insects, or, in other words, arc carnivorous, 

 they cannot he regarded as injurious to the farmer : tliey are rather lieneficial than de- 

 trimental to his interests. Their markings, together with their predacious habits, have 

 given them the name of tiger beetles. It is evident, from the prominence and size of their 

 eyes, that they are well provided with one essential jwwer to enable them to pursue suc- 

 cessfully the means of subsistence, namely, keenness of vision. So too their jaws <jr man- 

 dibles are powerful : their legs, however, are long and slender, and are adapted rather lor 

 quick movem»'nts than Ibr the performance of feats of strength. 



The larvue of the cirindehc are no less predacious than tlie i)erfect animal. They are 

 represented by Westwood and others as having a large head aimed with powerful jaws, 

 and capable of burrowing in the earth to the depth of a foot. At the mouth of this burrow 

 they lie in wait for their prey, which they seize and drag to the bottom to devour at their 

 leisure. To aid in ascending and descending these burrows, they are provided with two 

 hooks on the back : some observers, however, suppose these hooks may assist in holding 

 their prey, when bent in a suitable manner ; for, on entering the mouth of the burrow with 

 their prey, they suddenly slide to the bottom. 



These insects, then, in all their stages, are predacious ; and inasmuch as their numbers 

 are less than thoseof many allied families, and their instincts are such as require a higher 

 development of locomotive apparatus, they may well be regarded as occupying the highest 

 rank in the articulated class. 



The CiciNDELio.E ai*e in general easily distinguished : their colors are usually green or 

 gray combined with a brassy or bronzed tint, with whitish spots for ornament in combina- 

 tion with brindle spots or angulated lines, which give them all a pleasing and indeed an 

 elegant appearance. From their powers of flight, the cicindeliT- have sometimes received 

 the name of Eupterinea. 



The family Cicinuelid.i-: has been divided by Mr. II.vrris into the following groups : 



1. Laliruin with three teeth ; thorax contracted behind. 



2. Labruiii 1-tootlicJ ; thorax quadrangular, flattened above and dilated behind. 



3. Labrum one toothed ; thorax nearly cylindrical. 



1. Labrum provided with three teeth; thorax contracted behi7id. 



CICINDELA. 



The genus CiriM)ELA,as defined by Westwood, is described as follows : The males have 



their anterior tarsi elongated and dilated. The elytra are oblong-ovate and depressed. 



Thorax subquadrate. Internal maxillary palpi with joints nearly equal in length ; the two 



ba-sal joints of the labial jwlpi short, the third is elongate and ciliate, and the fourth 



clavate and naked. Antennse are inserted into the anterior mju-gin of the eyes. The head 



[ AoRicDLTUE.tL Report — Vol. v.] 6 



