178 THE WOODLANDS. 



oblong-oval form, about one-sixth of an inch in length. 

 It is found during winter months in great profusion 

 under the loose bark of willows in damp localities. 

 Its eggs are deposited on the young leaves, and, when 

 hatched, the larvae form little associations, feeding 

 together in regular rows, the heads of the second row 

 touching the tails of the first. In this manner they 

 proceed from the base to the extremity of the leaf, 

 which they soon strip of its parenchyma. They then 

 attack the next leaf, and so on, until they are full- 

 grown, when they descend into the ground and as- 

 sume the pupa state. After remaining a short time 

 in this condition, they finally emerge in their full and 

 perfect state. Some foreign species of this group are 

 handsome bright-coloured little insects, which are 

 strung as beads, or used in other ways for personal 

 adornment by the ladies in the countries where they 

 abound. 



The Rove Beetles are very different from these last, 

 and have long slender bodies, with very short wing- 

 cases, so that the tail portion of the body is exposed, 

 an unusual circumstance with beetles. When a Rove 

 Beetle is assaulted, or even at the approach of any 

 one, this little creature's anger and courage are 

 instantly manifested ; he assumes a most formidable 

 attitude, and is ready to defy even man himself: 

 with his broad head erected and his terrific jaws 

 widely expanded, his six legs spread out, and his tail 

 curled up, he becomes at once an object of terror to 

 the young and ignorant, and, indeed, to those who 

 have unhappily neglected to make themselves ac- 

 quainted with the habits of the insect world. How- 



