THE INSECTS OF EARLY SPRING. 



191 



the beetle ; and Fig. 219, C. scrutator) ascends trees to feed on 

 caterpillars, such as the Canker worm. When about to trans- 

 form to the pupa state, it forms a rude cocoon in the earth. 

 The beetle lies in wait for its prey in shallow pits excavated in 

 pastures. We once saw it fiercely 

 attack a May beetle (Lachnosterna 

 fusca) nearly twice its size ; it tore 

 open the hard sides of its clumsy 

 and helpless victim with tiger-like 

 ferocity. Carabus (Fig. 221, C. 

 serratus Say, and pupa of Carabus 

 auronitens of Europe, after West- 

 wood) is a closely allied form, with 

 very similar habits. 



A much smaller form is the curi- 

 ous Bombardier beetle, Brachinus 

 (Fig. 222, B. fumans), with its nar- 221< Carabus and Pupa, 

 row head and heart-shaped prothorax. It is remarkable for 

 discharging wih quite an explosion from the end of its body 

 a pungent fluid, probably as a protection against its enemies. 

 An allied genus is Casnonia (Fig. 223, C. Pensylvanica), which 



has a long neck and spotted wing covers. Figure 224, Pangus 

 caliginosus, and figure 225, Agonum cupripenne, represent two 

 common forms. The former is black, while the latter is a pretty 

 insect, greenish, with purplish-red wing-covers, and black legs. 



