50 MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



Desmarets {Bull Soc. Phil, 1 801 — 1 805, No.] 90.), Ratzeburg {Forst. 

 Ins. 1837. pi. 1.), Latreille {Nouv. Diet. cVHist. Nat. 2d ed., &c.), and 

 Messrs. Kirby and Spence {LitrocL, vol. iii. pi. 17. f. 13.), have given 

 accounts and figures of these larvae; and in the Annates des Seienees 

 Naturelles for March 1 831, in a Memoir by myself, containing a detailed 

 account of the habits of the insects of this family, both in the pre- 

 paratory and perfect states, I have minutely described the structure of 

 these larvae, which in Cicindela campestris are long, subcylindriC;, and 

 of a whitish colour and of a fleshy consistence {fig. 1. 7.); the head 

 {fig. 1. 8. head and prothorax seen beneath) is very large, obscurely 

 coloured, horny and hollow above, with a pair of large and powerful, 

 sickle-shaped jaws, two short 4-jointed antennae, and, as it appeared 

 to me, six small simple eyes. The maxilla and labium are re- 

 presented at fig. 1. 9. The first segment of the body is also 

 horny, flat, and of a semilunar form, being, as is also each of the two 

 following segments, furnished with a pair of strong articulated legs. 

 The eighth segment of the body is the largest, and is armed with a 

 pair of bent hooks placed upon a fleshy retractile tubercle. The four 

 remaining segments are narrowed and terminated by a conical anal 

 process. These larvae burrow cylindric retreats in the earth to the 

 depth of a foot or more, employing their legs and jaws in loosening 

 the particles of sand and earth which they carry to the surface upon 

 their broad saucer-like head, ascending by the assistance of the two 

 hooks upon the back, somewhat after the flishion of a sweep going up 

 a chimney. Having completed this burrow, they station themselves 

 by means of their legs and dorsal hooks, at its mouth, their large flat- 

 tened head and first segment fitting the hole ; here they lay in wait 

 for such insects as may be crawling about, seizing them with their 

 jaws, by suddenly throwing the head backwards and then dragging 

 them to the bottom of the burrow where they may generally be found 

 in the position represented m fig 1.7. At the least approach of 

 danger they also immediately slide down to the bottom of their 

 retreats. When ready to assume the pupa state, it Is stated that they 

 close the aperture of the cells. Mr. Curtis {Brit. Ent. No. 1. 2d ed.) 

 has suggested that the hooks on the back of the larva " may, by being 

 brought into contact with the head, enable it to hold its prey." This, 

 however, I conceive can scarcely be correct, since, at the period when 

 the larva seizes its prey, its hooks are employed like anchors, to sup- 

 port it at the mouth of the burrow. Moreover, in the larvae which I 



