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THE GROUND AND WATER BEETLES. 



comes before us, which is represented in England by very many species, 

 the common Ground Beetles being familiar examples. 



Of the typical genus of this family we take the Violet Ground Beetle 

 (Carabus violaceus) as an example. 



This fine Beetle is plentiful in this country, and may be found in 

 gardens, gravel-pits, and similar localities. It is said to be especially 

 common in the midland counties. 



The elytra are rather convex and narrowed at the shoulder, and are 

 fiuely granulated — i. e., covered with minute rounded projections. They 

 are black, but the margins are edged with a band of coppery or golden 

 violet, sometimes warming into purple. The body is black beneath. 

 The disc of the thorax is black and the margins are violet, and the 

 head is black. The length of the beetle is about an inch. 



The members of this genus are almost wholly inhabitants of tem- 



The Water Beetle {Dyticus dimklUUas). 

 perate climates, and it has been stated that scarcely any species are to 

 be found within thirty degrees from the equator on either side. 



We now come to the large group of Water Beetles, which are di- 

 vided mto several families. 



