THE SCHOOL GARDEN. 



303 



Beetles. Various beetles will be found in the soil. Of 

 these we can note only the so-called ground beetles (Card- 

 bus). See Fig. 162. These 

 beetles are active nocturnal 

 creatures, hiding under stones, 

 etc., during the day and hunt- 

 ing in the night. They mostly 

 attack other insects and small 

 animals, a,nd are on the whole 

 of service to man. When inter- 

 fered with they squirt a dis- 

 agreeable smelling fluid from 

 the hind body. The rove 

 beetles, of which both large 

 and small ones may be found, 

 are interesting. In these the 

 wing covers are short and leave 

 the hind body exposed. They 

 may also be readily recognised 

 by their habits of rearing their 



tails (compare earwigs) when alarmed. A well known 

 large form is the Devil's Coach Horse (Ocypus olens), 

 which also discharges an offensive-smelling fluid when 

 excited. 



Fig. 162. A Ground Beetle 

 (Cardbus). 



Bees. An interesting type which should be looked for 

 is the burrowing bee ( Andraena) . In the spring or early 

 summer these bees attract attention by their activity upon 

 the ground. When watched they are seen tunnelling into 

 the soil, where they deposit their eggs along with pollen, 

 on which the young bees feed when hatched. (For an 

 admirable account of these and other wild bees see House, 

 Garden and Field, by L. C. Miall.) 



f 



Wood-lice or Slaters. In damp mouldy places, amongst 

 stones, decaying wood and rubbish, these creatures also 

 abound. They are sure indicators of untidiness, although 

 they cannot be regarded as harmful. They belong to the 

 Crustacea, the vast majority of which are aquatic animals. 



