268 



Marvels of Insect Life. 



caterpillars feeding upon the wild cabbage of our sea-cliffs. It was then, probably, 

 that the word butterfly originated, the male brimstone being the fly that is the 

 colour of butter. 



Occasionally the orange colour of the central spot spreads more or less generally 

 over the fore-wings, and the individual then becomes very like a form common 

 in the south of Europe, which is usually considered as a distinct species,^ but which 

 some regard as a variety merely. In America, from Mexico to the extreme South, 

 there is a brimstone of a larger size,- and of a different genus. It lacks the sharp 

 angles to the wings which arc a conspicuous feature of our species. 



Snail-eating Beetles. 



The energetic gardener who makes a point of destroying all Insects that come 

 in his way, in the belief that they are inimical to success in horticulture, makes many 

 grievous mistakes. Many of them are his good friends ; but as a rule he does not 

 stop to consider how they get their living, and slaughters almost indiscriminately. 

 It is not our intention to attempt to compile a list of these benevolent Insects, 

 but to call attention to a few beetles whose whole mission in life is to destroy snails. 

 In many districts snails are exceedingly destructive in gardens, and it is possible that 

 under more enlightened rule something could be done to mitigate the pest by 

 introducing and taking care of snail-eating beetles. 



The glow-worm,^ so-called, is the best known of these beetles. Its principal 

 habitat is the hedge-bank where snails abound, which glide into adjacent gardens 

 at night and do damage which is too often put down to Insects. For this reason 

 small species of snails may be quite plentiful in gardens where their presence is 



not even suspected. 



:ilow - Nvorm will 



too, where 



are snails to be 



and sufiicient 



for the Insects 



there are snail- 



also among 



black 



The 



come, 



there 



had, 



cover 



But 



eaters 



t h e polished 



ground -beetles, 



are seen mostly 



the gardener is 



i n g up thc> 



One of these in 



ticular, the 



that 

 when 

 turn- 

 earth. 

 IKir- 

 littlc 



PItoto by] [f-:. Step, F.L.S. 



Ked-barred Sulphur-Butterfly. 



A fine American brimstone, which inhabits Ce-ntral and South America. U is of a beautiful 

 clear sulphur colour, with a patch of orange on the fore-wings and the outer margin of the liiml- 

 wings suffused with the same tint. Natural size. 



^ Cioncptery.x cleopatra ^ Catopsilia philca. 



cychrus,* of which Wf 

 give a portrait, is so 

 addicted to the snail- 

 eating habit, that 

 nature has specially 

 modified his structure 



^ Laminris noctiliica. * Cychrus rostratiis. 



