CARABUa 33 



the spring time this insect may oe taKen m decaying willow- 

 trees. 



Another species of this genus, CaraOus intricatus, may he 

 seen on Plate II. Fig. 2, where it is represented as ascending the 

 trunk of an oak-tree in search of prey. If any of my readers 

 should happen to see the insect itself, he will be the envy 

 of all brother entomologists, inasmuch as it is not only a 

 singularly handsome but a very scarce insect. It is the largest 

 British Carabus yet knoAvn, and is finely marked and coloured. 

 The head is black, with a violet gloss, and has a deep impres- 

 sion on either side. The thorax is of the deepest violet or 

 green, becoming black on the margin, and is wrinkled over iis 

 entire surface. The elytra are very deep and shining-violet, 

 and on each elytron there are three rows of elevated tubercles 

 of an olive-green, the remainder of the surface being wi-inkled. 

 The under surface of the body is black, glossed with violet. 



At Fig. 6, in the left-hand lower corner of the same plate, is 

 seen the larva of a Carabus. These larvae are, like the perfect 

 insects, carnivorous. They are armed with powerful jaws, having 

 A strong tooth near the base. The antennse and maxillary 

 palpi have each four joints, and there are six ocelli, or simple 

 eyes, on each side. At the end of the tail are two horny spines, 

 each armed with a sort of spui. 



The last species which will be described is the Carahu\ 

 violaceus, one of the commoi est arid largest of the species. 

 It sometimes exceeds an inch in length. Its colour is rather 

 remarkable. At first sight it appears to be a black insect, bat 

 a more careful examination shows that the supposed black is 

 in reality the deepest violet, which on the margins of the 

 elytra and thorax becomes of a rich burnished golden-violet, 

 like as of polished metal, "^'he whole of the upper surface is 

 granulated, the elytra more deeply than the thorax, along the 

 centre of which there is a slightly elevated line. Below, it is 

 black, with a slight green or blue reflection. Altogether there 

 are thirteen British Carabi. 



These Beetles afford good practice in setting. They are 

 large enough to bear handling, and yet small enough to require 

 care. Their legs are long, and look well when set out, and 

 the parts of the mouth are sutficiently large to show whetnef 

 the operator has been careful about his work. Their oniy 



D 



