THE BEETLE. 



141 



FIG. 76. 



the joints are modified to form a proboscis, either long 

 and coiled in a spiral, as in the butterfly, or short and 

 straight, as in the fly. 



We have said that the thorax carries the legs. The 

 beetle has six. The existence of these three pair of legs 

 is a general and 

 distinguishing fea- 

 ture of the order 

 of insects. Each 

 leg is composed of 

 several joints ar- 

 ticulated together, 

 which are named, 

 starting from the 

 end next the body, 

 the thigh, the leg, 

 and the tarsus, 

 which terminates 

 in hooks, claws, 

 or other processes, 

 according to the 

 habits of the par- 

 ticular species. 

 Each of these 

 joints is a sort of 

 horny tube, in the 

 interior of which 

 are arranged the 

 motor muscles. The legs of the beetle end in sharp 

 hooks ; besides, they are furnished with piercing-points 

 or spines, and this explains why it is difficult to remove 

 a beetle from leaves or stuff to which it is clinging. The 

 formation of the feet enables the insect to maintain itself 



DISARTICULATED BEETLE. A, the head; F, the 

 abdomen ; between A and F, the three rings of 

 the thorax ; a, maxillary palps ; b, labial palps ; 

 c, mandibles ; d, antennae ; B, prothorax, with 

 first pair of legs ; C, wing-covers or elytra ; D, 

 functional wings ; H and I, two posterior pair 

 of legs ; E, coxa of leg, with projecting trochan- 

 ter ; e, femur ; /, tibia ; g, tarsal joints. 



