PILL-BEETLES. 



321 



tapered point. The antennae are jointed in their whole length, 

 but are destitute at their extremities of foliated knobs. 



There is another set of little leaping beetles, called His- 

 teridce also spring visitants whose exterior is really much 

 more prepossessing than their resorts and practices would lead 

 one to expect. Some of these present us with exceedingly 

 pretty specimens of nature's sculpture ; and, from their habit 

 of contracting the legs and antennae immediately upon being 

 alarmed or touched, resemble, when thus indrawn, a carved 

 seed (usually black, or black and red) rather than a carved 

 insect. Hence derived are their familiar names of " Pill " and 

 " Horse-bean beetles/' 1 



Flies are usually the next agents of consumption, followed 

 by a host of other beetles. 



1 Histerida. 



^ lii 





. mi umixosev of fifth fit niiftlVm 

 at' iM timm ait- ut *rslnp. 



