COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 145 



Beetle, it may be considered the most bulky of our 

 indigenous Coleoptera. It is common in the south- 

 ern parts of England, but becomes rare in the north, 

 and has not been observed in any part of Scotland. 

 In its perfect state it is by no means so rapacious as 

 the Dytisci, sometimes even feeding on vegetable 

 substances ; but the larva is of such destructive and 

 blood-thirsty propensities that it is known in France 

 by the name of ver-assassin. In that early condition 

 it resembles a large soft worm, of a somewhat coni- 

 cal form, provided with six feet, and having its large 

 scaly head armed with two formidable jaws. The 

 head moves with such freedom in all directions, 

 that it can readily seize small shell-fish and other 

 molluscae floating on the surface, without altering the 

 horizontal position of the body maintained in swim- 

 ming ; and it is even bent backwards, and devours 

 its prey more conveniently by using the back as a 

 kind of support. These larvae swim with facility, and 

 have two fleshy appendages at the tail, by means of 

 which they suspend themselves at the surface with 

 their head downwards when they have occasion to 

 respire.* The female beetle spins a silken bag for 

 the reception of her eggs, similar to that which may 

 at any time be seen attached to a dark-coloured spi- 

 der (Lycosa saccata\ of common occurrence under 

 stones, and interesting for the maternal solicitude 

 she shows in protecting her embryo progeny. IF 



* Cuvier, Regne Animal, rw 523. 

 K 



