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as ihcir name im[)lies, in the sun's rays. The first fine hot day in 

 spring brings them from their winter quarters, and you ma}' see 

 them almost everywhere, from tlie centre of our city — say the Cross 

 steps— to the quietest country footpath you could find. Their 

 principal colours are brilliant green and bronze of various hues, 

 and the size runs from about half-an-inch downwards. In child- 

 hood we remember we had a legend connected with this beetle, 

 that to kill one was quite sufficient to spoil the fine weather and 

 bring on rain. 



Passing by the Water Beetle section ( Hydradephaga), of 

 which we might have something to say some future time, we shall 

 go on to the Brachelytra, or Rore Beetles, perhaps better known 

 as 'cocktail' beetles. Of this large section of our coleoptera — and 

 there are about seven hundred species recognized at the present 

 time — we shall only take two common beetles to represent them. 

 The variation in size of the Brachelytra is something wonderful, 

 some of them taking a powerful lens to tell what they are, while 

 others are above an inch in length. The name Brachelytra is given 

 from the wings being packed under very short v;ing cases, thus 

 exposing a good deal of the abdomen. Some of my hearers will 

 have had a closer acquaintance with the Rore Beetles than they may 

 have liked ; for fully two thirds of the so called flies that get into 

 the eye in summer time, and cause such acute pain, are cocktail 

 beedes ; and it is the very act of turning up their tails, and the 

 discharge of an acrid fluid, that cause the severe pain. The first 

 of these beetles I have to draw your attention to is Creopliilus 

 maxillosus. It has no common name, though rather a common 

 insect. But the scientific name, when translated, is very applicable, 

 meaning the large jawed fiesh-eater. And certainly it deserves it. 

 One we kept in confinement for some time, could eat a piece of 

 cooked meat rather larger than itself in a day ; so the large jaws 

 are not there for nothing. AVe were very thankful after having 

 watched that beetle for some time, that we were not gifted with an 

 appetite in proportion, or, we are afraid, there would soon be 

 a scarcity of beef Tiiis beetle may be taken by laying traps of 

 oflal, meat, etc., under stones and rubbish about a garden. 



