THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 59 



sprangliiig. In another genus also (Physonota) to which belongs the 

 Five-dotted Tortoise-beetle (Ph. quinquepunctata, Walsh <fe Riley, 

 Fig. 30, Z>), and which is intermediate in form be- 

 tween the last named genus (Chelymorpha) and 

 those with the body greatly flattened (Cassbla, 

 Coptocycla, Delay al a) the prickles of the larva are 

 also smooth and only 20 in number, i. e., 10 on each 

 1 side, as may be seen by referring to Figure 30, «• 

 Mr. Walsh found this insect in Northern Illinois, 

 and though we do not know upon what particular plant it feeds, yet 

 from analogy we may infer that it subsists on some Composite flower, 

 as other species belonging to the same genus are known to do. 



Almost all the larvre of the beetles belonging to the great Ciily- 

 somela family, of which the Colorado Potato Bug may serve as an ex- 

 ample, have, besides the six legs at the anterior end of the body, an 

 additional proleg, or protuberance which serves as such, at the pos- 

 terior end ; but the larvae of our Tortoise-beetles have nd such proleg, 

 and the six anterior legs are short, thick and fleshy, and with the re- 

 tractile head, give these larvas, from a side view, as great a resem- 

 blance to a turtle as have the beetles. 



Though lacking an anal proleg, however, they are characterized 

 by having a movable forked tail, in the shape of two long prong-like 

 horny filaments which both spring from a broad neck situated imme- 

 diately above the anus. The anus projects and curves over the back 

 at the will of the insect, and by the aid of this fork and of some of 

 the lateral spines, it forms the parasol of dung which so nicely pro- 

 tects it. 



When we read of those Hottentots who cover different portions 

 of their bodies with the uncleaned intestines of sheep and oxen, we 

 feel shocked at such barbarism, and can scarcely comprehend how 

 human beings can defile themselves with the like disgusting materials. 

 Such men must be pitiable indeed, for they can have no other object 

 than the gratification of their filthy and beastly pleasures. There is 

 nothing so repulsive about our insect Hottentots, for the dung parasol 

 of our Tortoise-beetles has neither offensive odor or appearance, and 

 its true character is generally sufficiently disguised by being inter- 

 mixed with the cast-off skin and prickly spines; and though those 

 species, first referred to, which directly cover their backs, often look 

 sufficiently unclean, we know that they thus act at Nature's bidding 

 and for a useful purpose. 



All the Tortoise-beetle larvas which I have bred to the perfect 

 beetle state, have come to their growth in about three weeks after 

 hatching. They cast their skins at three successive periods, and these 

 skins are slipped on to the fork, where in most instances they remain. 

 On carefully detaching from a full grown larva the dung with which 

 these skins are mixed, these three successive skins are easily recog- 

 nised, the smallest being at the extremity and the largest at the base 



