' MOTIONS OF INSECTS. 321 



The first order of climbers — those that climb by 

 means of their clems — includes a large proportion of in- 

 sects, especially in the Coleopiera 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 (Carabidce), 

 often thus ascend the plants and trees after their prey. 

 Thus one of them, the beautiful but ferocious Calosoma 

 Si/cophanta, mounts the trunk and branches of the oak 

 to commit fearful ravages amongst the hordes of cater- 

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

 equally destructive tree-chafers (ilie/o/ow^^ce), and those 

 enemies of vegetable beauty the rose-chafers (Cetonia 

 attrata)^ are enabled to maintain their station on the 

 trees and shrubs that they lay waste. And by these 

 also* the water-beetles {Di/tisciis, HydropMlus^ &c.) 

 climb the aquatic plants. — But it is unnecessary further 

 to enlarge upon this head ; I shall only observe, that 

 in most of the insects here enumerated, the claws ap- 

 pear to be aided by stiff hairs or bristles. 



Other climbers ascend by means ofeushions (puhilli) 

 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 {ChrysomelOj F.). 

 A common insect of this kind, before mentioned, called 

 the bloody-nose beetle (C fenebricosa), by the aid of 

 these is enabled to adhere to the trailing plants, the 

 various species of bed-straw (Galium), on which it 

 feeds; and by these will support itself against gravity; 



* Reaum. ii. 457. 

 VOL. II. Y 



