88 INSECTS. 



she was in the act of collecting food, and then the food 

 itself. This at least is what is now believed to be the 

 case, but the observations made are not as yet perfected, 

 and the history presents some difficulties. 



Another beetle of rather remarkable appearance in this 

 division is the (Edemera cserulea, a beautiful greenish 

 blue, or bluish-green beetle, far more elegant in form than 

 the Ripiphorus, but with narrow gaping wing-cases. The 

 thighs of this insect are so thick and swollen as to sug- 

 gest the idea of great leaping power, which, however, it 

 does not possess. The larva lives under the bark of 

 trees. 



In the family SalpingidaB are to be found some beetles, 

 with long snouted heads, much resembling the long-nosed 

 tetramerous beetles ; but from these they are to be known 

 by the tarsi. 



The ATRACHELIA, or neekless beetles, have the elytra 

 of a harder consistence than those last described ; they are 

 duller in colouring and less active, sometimes inhabiting 

 flowers, but more frequently dark and damp places, and 

 feeding upon decayed wood, fungi, &c. The antennaB 

 in this division vary, being serrate, clavate, or perfoliate. 

 The " Churchyard Beetle" and the beetle of the meal- 

 worm are two common species of this division. 



The third Section of beetles is TETRAMERA (or Pseudo- 

 tetramera), in which the tarsi are apparently composed 

 of only four joints. 



The beetles of this Section are nearly all diurnal in 

 their habits. 



It is divided into 



1 . EHYNCOPHORA, long-nosed beetles. 



2. LONGICORNES, long-horned beetles* 



3. PHYTOPHAGA, plant eaters. 



