THE MALACODERMI. 141 



at the sides, flexible, liable to distortion, and rarely en- 

 tirely covering the abdomen ; the palpi slender ; and the 

 fourth joint of the tarsi bilobed. 



Although their integuments, compared with those of 

 the families of the preceding section, are as different as 

 the canvas of a sculler's -boat from the plates of an iron- 

 clad, these insects are "Warriors" a Voutrance; and are 

 living disproofs of Scott's well-known lines (Rokeby) : 



" Man only mars kind nature's plan, 

 And turns the fell pursuit on man :" 



seeing that they not only prey on other beetles, but also 

 ruthlessly attack those of their own species. Conse- 

 quently the collector must remember to put them in a 

 bottle containing laurel-leaves, or they will infallibly 

 maim their fellow-captives. 



Their larvse, equally carnivorous, feeding upon earth- 

 worms, etc., live underground ; but are sometimes found 

 on the surface in great numbers, even upon snow. They 

 are elongate, somewhat parallel, black in colour, with 

 white or reddish spots ; and resemble those of the Lampy- 

 ridae in having a single eye on each side of the head, no 

 labrum, and the clypeus confused with the head : they 

 are, however, softer, and clothed with a fine velvety 

 down; and have the head exposed, and the abdominal 

 segments rounded. Mr. G. R. Waterhouse has de- 

 scribed and figured the larvse of Telephorus rufus in the 

 Transact, of the Ent. Soc. i. p. 31, pi. 3. 



The perfect insects, which fly readily in the hot sun- 

 shine, and have long loosely-articulated legs, which they 

 use with great effect, are mostly found on flowers (chiefly 

 Umbelliferae) , and by sweeping in damp places : it is not 

 easy to obtain a series in good preservation, owing to 



