40 COMMON BRITISH INSECTS. 



WE now come to one of the largest and most 

 interesting insects of this family, though assuredly it 

 is not a beautiful one. This is Broscus cephalotes, 

 an insect which has been called the giant of its 

 family. This name it well deserves, as it rivals the 

 Carabi themselves in size, sometimes reaching nearly 

 an inch in length. Being a predacious Beetle, it is 

 gifted with very powerful jaws, which are attached 

 to a head of more than ordinary size. The specific 

 name cepJialotes signifies large-headed, and is appro- 

 priately given to this Beetle. The generic name 

 Broscus signifies a devourer, and is equally appropriate. 



This insect can at once be known by the very 

 large head, and the shape of the thorax, which is 

 much narrowed towards its base. A deep furrow 

 runs along its centre, and its base has a deep pit on 

 either side. The elytra are rounded at the shoulder, 

 and striated ; some small punctures being scantily 

 visible on the striae. The colour of the insect is 

 black. 



In this Beetle we see one of the fiercest and most 

 voracious of the whole insect race. It lives on the 

 sea-shore, generally hiding itself beneath decaying 

 sea-weed or stones, and making burrows under such 

 points of vantage. From this burrow it issues in 

 search of prey, and successfully pursues all kinds of 

 insects, its own kind included. So voracious is it, 

 and so many insects does it kill, that if it reside for a 

 day or two in one burrow, it can be detected by the 

 rejected elytra, limbs, and other parts of insects which 

 it has caught and eaten. It is the only British ex- 

 ample of its genus. 



