BLOODY-NOSE BEETLE. 159 



a habit of ejecting a large drop of red fluid from its 

 mouth when it is handled. There are only two 

 British species belonging to this genus, and they are 

 by far the largest English representatives of the 

 Chrysomelidae. The present species sometimes nearly 

 reaches a length of three-quarters of an inch, and, as 

 the body is very stout and globular, it may take rank 

 among the larger British Beetles. 



At the first glance, this insect appears to be black, 

 but a careful examination with a magnifying glass, 

 aided by a strong light, shows that the real colour is 

 the deepest indigo-purple, sometimes with a gloss of 

 green. The whole of the upper surface is thickly 

 covered with small punctures, which impart to it a 

 sort of velvety gloss. The tarsi are very broad, and 

 furnished beneath with thick, greyish-yellow pads. 

 There is a very broad impression on the forehead. 

 The second species, Timarcha coriacea, much resembles 

 the present insect. It is not, however, so large, and 

 is rather blacker above. The chief distinction, how- 

 ever, is to be found in the punctures of the elytra, 

 which are deep, and have a tendency to run together, 

 so as to form irregular lines. This formation cannot 

 be seen without the use of a magnifying glass. 



The larva of this Bloody-Nose Beetle is wonder- 

 fully like the perfect insect. It is large, heavy, soft- 

 bodied, and covered with a shining blue or green skin, 

 a yellowish patch appearing at the apex of the body. 

 It is very common in the ditches under hedgerows, 

 especially if the hedge be allowed to flourish in the 

 luxuriant and picturesque manner which is so fascinat- 

 ing to an artistic eye, and so hateful to the agricultural 



