[ 488 J 68 



Order of COLEOPTERA. 



The Coleoptera, (a term composed of two Greek worcls, xoAeo? a sheath, 

 and 7:T£pa icings,) commonly called beetles, are ilie most numerous divi- 

 sion of the mandibulate or gnawing' insects. They are distinguished 

 from all other insects h} the hard texture of their bodies, and by their 

 horny wing-covers, called elytra, which represent the upper pair of wings 

 of other insects. The elytra are not moved in flight, but only raised so 

 as to permit the free motion of the lower or true wings, and a few of the 

 chafers ( Cetoniw) do not even raise them during flight. They are generally 

 hard, horny and inflexible, but in the lightning-beetles {Lampyrklw) and 

 a few others, they are comparatively thin and flexible, but never mem- 

 branous like the lower wings. The inferior or true wings difier from those 

 of 'almost all other insects in being folded crosswise, as well as length- 

 wise, when at rest under their cases. The Buprestidae and a few others 

 form exceptions to this rule. A few kinds which live under stones and 

 in other dark places , and which have no occasion to fly, have no wings 

 under their elytra. 



Giving to the perfect development and the hard texture of the crust 

 or integument of the Coleoptera, and also to the circumstance that it is 

 not usually much obscured by hair, this part is made more use of in 

 classification than it is in any of the other orders. The upper side ex- 

 hibits the three divisions of the insect's body : the head; the thorax; and 

 the abdomen, covered by the elytra. Between the elytra, at their base, 

 or where they join the thorax, is almost always a small triangular piece 

 called the scutellum. On the under side, each of the principal parts is 

 seen to be composed of a considerable number of pieces usually soldered 

 together and distinguished only by fine impressed lines, called sutures. 

 These subdivisions and their names will be sufficiently understood, with- 

 out the necessity of a detailed description, by the annexed figure of one 

 of the ground-beetles {Earpalus caligmosics) and the accompanying ex- 

 planation, taken in connection with the general description in the be- 

 ginning of this work. 



EXPLANATION OF THE FOLLOWING FIGURE. 



The oblong narrow piece in the middle of the mouth, marked l, is the 

 Ugula or tongue. At the extremity of the ligula are two little wings or 

 side pieces marked ^j?; these are the paraglossce. The other parts of 

 the mouth are named in the figure, and have been described in the in- 

 troductory part of this work. The under side of the head, behind the 

 mentum or chin, is called the gula or throat. 



The under side of the thorax is divided into a considerable number 

 of pieces more or less distinct, and separated from each other by im- 

 pressed lines called sutures. The middle portion is called the sternum 



