214 INSECTS AT HOIME. 



Beetles. There is no possibility of mistaking these Beetles, 

 which are flat-bodied, rounded, and have the head completely 

 hidden under the wide thorax, which overlaps the base of the 

 elytra. As the insects sit upon leaves, the whole of the head 

 and limbs are completely hidden by the thorax and elytra, just 

 as are those of a tortoise by its shell. Most of the species are 

 green, though some of them are adorned with spots and stripes 

 of red and gold. All these colours are exceedingly fugitive, 

 and vanish soon after the death of the insect. Glycerine 

 has been tried with some of these insects, as mentioned on 

 page 206. 



A very common species, Cassida viridis, is shown on Wood- 

 cut XXIII. Fig. 4. It is of a rather dull-green colour, the 

 base of the elytra taking a slightly reddish hue. It may be 

 found plentifully on thistles. 



At Fig. b of the same illustration is shown the extraordinary 

 larva of the Tortoise Beetle. It is very flat, and has the sides 

 covered with flattened spines. But the most curious portion 

 of its structure is the forked apparatus that proceeds from its 

 tail and passes over its back. This fork serves a very curious 

 purpose. Like the larva of Crioceris merdigera, which has 

 been described on p. 206, this creature is sheltered by a sort of 

 umbrella formed of the same materials as those of Crioceris. 

 But, instead of lying directly on the back, the umbrella is 

 supported on the fork at some little distance from the body, 

 and, when it becomes too weighty, it can be shaken off and a 

 new one gradually produced. The pupa is scarcely less curious 

 in appearance, and is drawn at Fig. c. Woodcut XXIII. The 

 maxilla of the perfect insect is shown at c?, and the labium 

 at e. 



There is only one British genus of this family, and it con- 

 tains about thirteen species. One of the variegated species is 

 shown on Plate VI. Fig. 11. Its name is Cassida murrcea, and 

 its colour is sometimes red and sometimes green, blotched with 

 black near the suture and spotted with the same colour on the 

 disc. 



