246 NATURAL HISTORY, 



inches in length. The Beetles, when not flying, appear 

 to have no wings. The elytra, 398, are horny, and fit 

 closely together on the back. These are sometimes very 

 beautiful, even splendid, having various colors, golden, 

 green, blue, etc. I have seen them in some cases with 

 depressions in them spotted with gold, exactly as if real 

 gold-leaf were inserted by powerful pressure. The wings, 

 which are commonly twice as large as the elytra in length 

 as well as in breadth, are folded up under these covers 

 very curiously when the insect is not on the wing. There 

 are only a few exceptions in the whole order to this 

 mode of arrangement. 



421. The metamorphosis in this order is complete. 

 The larvae are worm-like, having soft bodies, but they 

 commonly have horny heads. Those which lead a re- 

 tired, still life, as those which are in nuts, have no legs, 

 for they need none. Those larvae which are carnivorous 

 have the strongest legs. In some of the herbivorous 

 species, besides the true legs, there are fleshy tubercles, 

 which are called pro-legs. Previously to entering the 

 pupa state the larva often forms a case for itself of bits 

 of earth, or of chips, which it unites together by silken 

 threads or with a gluey substance. The pupa? of some 

 Beetles are inactive for years. 



422. Beetles, as suggested by Professor Jaeger, are 

 of three kinds : 1 . Carnivorous Beetles : they devour 

 living insects, and are the beasts of prey of the insect 

 world. 2. Scavenger Beetles, which live on putrid mat- 

 ter, carrion, and decaying vegetable substances. 3. Her 

 bivorous Beetles, which feed on living plants and fruits. 

 The first two kinds are of great use to man, but the last 

 are injurious. I will notice a few of each kind. 



423. Of the Carnivorous Beetles, the Lady-birds, so 

 called, are known to almost every one. They look like 

 little colored and spotted turtles. The larva? of these 

 Beetles are of great service to man, for they prey upon 

 the plant-lice which are so destructive to many plants, 



