COLEOPTERA. — cicindelid.t:. 53 



exotic, with the exception of Cicindela, which is the only British, 

 and, indeed, European, genus, the discussion of these arrangements 

 may be here dispensed witli. 



The species of the G. Cicindela are generally of a green or bronzed 

 colour, ornamented with white spots and streaks upon the elytra. * 

 The typical species C.campestris Linn, the common green tyger-beetle 

 {^fig, 1. 1.) is by far the most abundant species in this country, being 

 generally distributed throughout England. It is rather mor^ than half 

 an inch long, of a deadened green colour, with several white spots on 

 the elytra, varying in number from three to six ; the upper lip also is 

 white ; the female has also two additional spots, but of a dusky colour, 

 near the base of the elytra. I have found this species as early as the 

 middle of February at Coombe Wood, and have noticed, that when 

 handled, it exhales a pleasing scent, something like that of roses. 

 Messrs. Kirby and Spence have observed, respecting another British 

 species (Cic. sylvatica Linn.^, that it flies with a considerable hum- 

 ming noise. 



Another species of this genus, which has only recently been ascer- 

 tained to be indigenous, is the true Cicindela hybrida of Linnaeus, 

 respecting which great confusion exists in modern entomological 

 works. See Stephens (U/usL Brit. Ent. vol. i. pp. 8. 18. 175. and 

 vol. V. p. 366.); Curtis (Brit. Etit. No. 1. second edition); Au- 

 douin and Brulle {Hist. Nat. Ins. Coleopt. 1. livr. 1.). Laporte (Sil- 

 berm. Rev. Ent. No. 7. and Hist. Nat. An. Artie.) ; Klug. [la/ir- 

 bueher, 1834); Erichson (Kafer Mark Brandb.'). I am therefore 

 happy in being able to clear up the doubts which have been raised, 

 by giving a figure from the specimen of this species, preserved in the 

 Collection of Linnaeus, now in the possession of the Linnaean Society. 

 The insect attached to the label of Cie. hybrida, in the handwriting 

 of Linnaeus himself, is that to which the French entomologists have 

 assigned (but doubtingly) that name, and which Mr. Stephens has de- 

 scribed under the name of Riparia. Moreover the Linnaean Cabinet 

 does not contain a specimen of the species which Mr. Sowcrby figured 



* 'S\. Audouin has taken occasion, in describing a beautiful species of Cicindela 

 from the East Indies, ornamented with golden yellow spots, to make some observ- 

 ations upon the general uniformity and prevalence of particular colours in particular 

 groups of animals, giving the Cicindcke as an example ; the species under descrip- 

 tion of course forming an exception to their prevailing hue. — Guerin, Mag. ZooJ. 

 Ins. pi. 18. 



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