*ATC1UL HISTOftY OF 



raal*.* On many, taking her rule and compasses, 

 she draws with precision mathematical figures; 

 points, lines, angles, triangles,! squares, and circles, 1 ' 

 Some extensive groups are characterized by the pre- 

 valence of certain hues, bestowed on them probably 

 as a* means of concealment from enemies, by assi- 

 milating them to the objects by which they are us- 

 ually surrounded, or hi subserviency to some par- 

 ticular purpose in their economy. The prevailing 

 colour among beetles of obscure haunts such as 

 burrow in the earth, or pass the greater part of t 

 lives under stones (the Geod^pl^fji of some modern 

 systematic writers), as well as those destined to fa- 

 cilitate the decomposition and dispersion of pu? 

 cent and excreraentitious substances is black or 

 brown. The water-beetles (DytiscvJ' most 



uniformly brownish black, inclining to olive, and 

 frequently variegated with streaks and spots of dull 



y (; ; . , v . T M; r o -, t r at f ; d h ( < t \ ( - . o r v, c < ; . i K ( C/,< rc-u- 

 /^), present some of the most highly adorned 

 examples of insect life; and in them also a curious 

 instance is observable of change in colour ace 

 panying dissimilarity of habit* Numerous kinds of 

 these insects occur among loose earth and sand, or 

 under stones, and these are almost y of 



sombre hues, and destitute of on 

 sive division of the sa roes and 



snrubs, and they are remark 



* J'tmu* imperially Linn. delta, Fab. 



