SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



113 



I'ig. 6. 



when tlicy may be seen, even before the snow has entirely 

 disappeared, running and Hying with astonishing activity ; they 

 generally prefer, however, the middle of the day, and the 

 warmest places. 



Ciciiidcia ii^enerosa of Dcjean, or the generosa 

 tiger-beetle, (figure 6,) so called, from its size 

 and beauty (the Latin generosa signifying noble, 

 or of the first class,) is the largest of this group 

 found in Massachusetts. The head is of a cop- 

 pery tint in front and above with a few blue or 

 green shining spots, and a bunch of short wliite' 

 hairs, thinly set and spreading to each side, 

 between the eyes ; behind and below the eyes 

 blue ; ' the lahrum or upper lip is whitish with 

 tbree black teeth on the front margin ; the mandibles or jaws 

 black at the tips and white at the base ; the antennce are dull 

 blackish, except the four basal joints which are green or shining 

 greenish blue ; the thorax coppery, with two transverse, 

 impressed lines of a greenish color, the portion between these 

 lines elevated, and almost divided longitudinally into two lobes ; 

 both he^d and thorax beneath, violet blended with coppery and 

 covered with short whitish hairs ; abdomen green and hairy ; 

 elytra dark purple, almost black, a fine line of the same color 

 margining them and becoming green at the tips ; three whitish 

 lunules on each elytron, as seen in the engraving ; feet dark 

 green, coppery above, and somewhat hairy. Length rather 

 below .70 ; breadth, .20 to .25. It may readily be distinguished 

 from any other Massachusetts species, by its superior size and 

 the greater breadth of its markings. 



Cicindela vulgdris of Say, or the " common 

 tiger-beetle " (figure 7,) may be found in almost 

 every part of the State ; it is somewhat smaller •> 

 than the preceding, measuring from .52 to .60 in 

 length, and from .20 to .25 in breadth. The colors 

 aliove are similar to but much duller than those 

 of the preceding, the lunules are more slender, 

 and angular and do not spread into a broad, white 

 margin at the sid<3s like those of the " generosa ^'s- 7. 



tiger-beetle." Beneath, the body is not so hairy, and the 



prevailing 

 coppery. 



color more of a metallic blue, mingled with 



