250 NATURAL HISTORY. 



431. The Herbivorous Beetles live on vegetable food 

 both in their larva and imago state. Some eat fruits, 

 some grain, some leaves, and some even wood. Science 

 has been of great service in pointing out the Insects that 

 inflict these various injuries, and also in indicating the 

 means of prevention by discovering the habits of these 

 animals. 



432. To this class belong the Spring Beetles, some 

 times called Skippers or Snapping Bugs. They are so 

 constructed that when they are laid on the back they 

 can throw themselves upward, and coming down alight 

 on their feet. This performance, which is a great amuse- 

 ment to children, is done by a spring which the animal 

 has in its body for this purpose. The largest and hand- 

 somest of these Beetles in the United States is the Vel- 

 vet-spotted Spring Beetle. Another species of the same 

 genus is the Lightning Spring Beetle, Fig. 196. This In- 

 sect, which is nearly an inch and 

 a half long, has two yellow cone- 

 like projections on the sides of 

 the thorax, which emit light, and 

 appear, while the animal is alive, 

 like two shining emeralds. It 

 also emits light from the under 

 surface of the segments of the 

 abdomen. In Cuba ladies fasten 

 these Beetles in their hair as or- 



Fig. 196. The Lightning spring naments at evening parties. The 



Beetle? 



light of our common Fireflies is 



emitted from two or three segments of the abdomen, as 

 you may see by catching one, and holding it in your 

 hand turned over on its back. 



433. The Capricorn Beetles are so named from the re- 

 semblance of their long antennae to the horns of the 

 Mountain Goat. These Beetles are very beautiful, al- 

 though their grubs are ugly. The Painted Capricorn 

 appears with us in the autumn, and may be seen in the 



