138 INSECTS AT HOME. 



bodied as are these Beetles, they are among the most quarrel' 

 some of insects, and fight to the death on the least provoca- 

 tion. Indeed, it has long been the custom for boys to catcli 

 these Beetles, and set them fighting with each other. There 

 is not the least difficulty in this, inasmuch as the Beetle is as 

 ready for battle as a game-cock, and, not content with fighting 

 to the death, eats its vanquished antagonist after killing it. 

 The popular idea among boys used to be, that a soldier and a 

 sailor must be pitted against each other ; but this is not the 

 case, for these Beetles will fight and devour each other without 

 the least reference to species or even to sex, so that a soldier 

 male and female will fight as fiercely as if they were two males 

 of different species. 



They are not active insects, and though they can fly well, 

 and use their wings freely, are slow of progress, and can be 

 taken by hand while in the air. The larva of the Telephorus 

 is represented on Woodcut XIV. Fig. /. Like the perfect 

 insect, it is carnivorous, feeding generally upon earth-worms, 

 but having no scruple in devoui-ing its own kind. These 

 larvae may be found among grass and moss during the earlier 

 montlis of the year, after the severe frosts have ceased. They 

 pass the whole of the winter in the larval state, and assume the 

 pupal condition about April or May, according to the warmth 

 of the season. Twenty-two species of Telephorus are indigenous 

 to England. 



The family of the Cleridse are mostly beautiful insects, and, 

 although they are not large, some of them may rank among 

 our prettiest Beetles. The body is oblong, hard, and covered 

 with down, and the head and thorax are not as wide as the 

 elytra. The genus Clerus is known by several points of struc- 

 ture. The basal joint of the tarsus is very minute, the last 

 joint of the labial palpi is hatchet-shaped, and the last joint 

 of the antennse is large, rounded, and furnished with a curious 

 projecting point directed inwards. 



In their larval state these Beetles are carnivorous and para- 

 sitic on other insects. We shall take two examples of this 

 pretty genus, the first of which is Clerus formicarius, which is 

 shown on Woodcut XIV. Fig. 3. The head of this insect is 

 black, and the thorax brick-red, the front margin being black. 



