2 BEETLES. 



neath the horny wing-covers. To enable the beetle to fold such 

 large organs beneath the very much smaller elytra they are not 

 only folded lengthwise like a fan, but also crosswise, which is 

 made possible by a sort of hinge or joint beyond their middle. The 

 structure of both elvtra and true wings can be best studied by 



Fig. 1. — Upper surface of Necropborus americanus: a, mandible; b, maxillary 

 palpus; c, labruni; t/, clypeus; e. anteiinje; f, front: g, vertex; h, occiput; /. neck; 

 k, eye; /, pronotuni (usually called prothoraxi; m, elytron; n, hind wing; 

 o, scutellum of mcso-thorax; p, tnetanotum (or dorsal surface of meta thorax); 

 q, femur or thigh; r, r, r, tergites of the abdomen; s, s~, s3, spiracles or stigmata; 

 t, t', t", tibia, V, tibial spurs; w, tarsi. After Leconte. 



dissecting some common large beetle. Fig. i shows both an 

 elytron (m), and a true wing (n) ; Fig. 3 shows the same organs 

 in a Tiger-beetle (Cicindela). 



There are a number of beetles that do not fly, apd, accord- 

 ing to the natural law that organs not used become in time 

 rudimentary, the lower or true wings have dwindled to almost 



