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CHAPTER V. 



BRACHELYTRA. 



THE group of Beetles which comes next in order is 

 equally conspicuous with the Hydradephaga, but 

 utterly unlike it or any of the groups which have 

 been described. These Beetles are long-bodied, 

 agile, and seem to play the same part among Cole- 

 optera as the weasel tribe among the Mammalia. 

 Most, though not all of them, are predatorial, and 

 some of them, especially the larger species, are ex- 

 ceedingly fierce as well as voracious, and will fight 

 any foe, no matter how much they may be over- 

 matched. 



The name Brachelytra is a very appropriate one, 

 signifying short elytra. These insects have the elytra 

 very short and squared, so short indeed that six or 

 seven segments of the abdomen generally protrude 

 beyond them. Although the elytra are so small, the 

 wings are very large ; and, though they must neces- 

 sarily be folded in a most complicated manner before 

 they can be packed under the elytra, these insects can 

 take the air with more readiness than any other 

 Beetles, except, perhaps, the Tiger Beetles, whose 

 manner of flight has been before described. In fold- 



