38 THE ORDER OF COLEOPTERA. 



subsist chiefly upon the larvtB of other insects, aud are therefore useful 

 in helping to maiutaiu a proper balance of insect life. As their name 

 implies, they are found mostly on the ground. They run with great ra- 

 jjidity, and never attempt to seek safety by feigning death, as is the 

 habit with many of the leaf and fruit-eating beetles. 



The tribe contains two families, distinguished as follows : 

 A. Head large and vertical, wider than the thorax ;* antenna; inserted 

 on the front; eyes large and prominent; mandibles strongly 

 toothed ; wing covers usually marked with yellow : 



ClCINDELIDiE. 



A A. Head horizontal or a little inclined, usually narrower than the 

 thorax; antennne inserted under the sides of the front; eyes 

 moderate; mandibles simple or slightly toothed; color usually 

 black; sometimes blue, green or brown; very rarely spotted : 



Carabidje. 



Family I. CICINDELID^E, (Tiger-beetles.) 



The Cicindelidaj are readily distinguished from all other pentamerous 

 beetles, by their large vertical heads ; that is, their heads are so set 

 [Fig. 5.] upon the thorax that when viewed from above, only 



the vertex or crown is distinctly seen, the face looking 

 directly forwards. In a few large species which vary 

 from the family type the head is not quite vertical, but 

 yet strongly inclined downwards. 



The common English name of Tiger-beetles express- 

 es \^ery well the character of these insects, and they 

 may be said to rei)resent in the insect tribes the tiger 



CiCINDELA :— 1, beetle; "^ ° 



2, larva— from Pack- amougst quadrupcds, and the hawk and eagle amongst 

 aid's Guide. birds. They are the most highly organized and per- 



fect of all coleopterous insects, and run aud fly with equal facility. They 

 are often seen running in hot dusty roads. When pursued they fly 

 quickly, but usually alight again a rod or two in advance. About sev- 

 enty species have been described as inhabiting the United States, in- 

 cluding those found on the Pacific side of the continent. 



* That part of the body of a beetle which, wlieii viewed from above, lies between the head and tlie 

 base of the elytra, commonly called the thorax, is found upon dissection to be only the anterior section 

 or pro-thorax, which is here greatly developed ; all of the meso-thorax, except the little triaugiilar 

 piece called the scutellum, and the whole of the meta-tliorax, being concealed under the basal portion 

 of the elytra. Many recent writers have, therefore, adopted forthis part the name oi i^ro-thornx, which 

 thus has the advantage of greater anatomical precision. The term thorax, on the other hand, has the 

 claim of brevity and of long established usage, and this brief explanation will relievo it of any ambi- 

 guity that might otherwise be attached to it. 



