1 8 COMMON BRITISH INSECTS. 



associated in one large group called Adephaga, the 

 word being a Greek one, and signifying greedy or 

 gluttonous. 



BEGINNING with the Geodephaga, we take the first 

 family of the group, the Cicindelidae, or Tiger Beetles. 

 In all these Beetles there is a little movable hook at 

 the end of the maxillae, and the ligula is very short, 

 and not appearing beyond the mentum. There is only 

 one genus of these Beetles inhabiting England, and 

 this is the typical genus Cicindela. The members of 

 this genus vary but little in size, being about half an 

 inch in length, having slender legs and antennae, 

 powerful and curved jaws, and very rounded and 

 prominent eyes. They are all prettily coloured, and 

 some are absolutely magnificent when viewed with the 

 aid of a magnifying glass. 



Never was a popular name more appropriate than 

 the title of Tiger Beetles, which has been given to this 

 genus. If we can imagine tigers who, in addition to 

 active limbs, their teeth, and their talons, are furnished 

 with large and powerful wings, we can form some idea 

 of the part which these creatures play in the world of 

 insects. 



We will take as our typical example the common 

 Green Tiger Beetle or Sparkler {Cicindela campes- 

 tris). 



The colour of this beautiful beetle is gold-green 

 above, and shining copper-green below; and there 

 are several yellowish spots on the elytra, varying 

 much in shape, number, and hue. Sometimes there 

 are only three, but in many specimens there are six. 



