TREES AND SHRUBS 



and thorax dull red, and the elytra blue. It is about \ in. long, and is 

 found under stones in the vicinity of river-banks or the seashore. If 

 alarmed or molested it discharges a slightly acid fluid, which immediately 

 volatilises into smoke, each discharge being accompanied by a slight ex- 

 plosion. Like the first species it is carnivorous in its habits. 



The Violet Ground Heetle {Carabus violaceus) is one of the commonest 

 and largest of its genus, and is frequently found in gardens, hiding under 

 stones or clods of earth. It sometimes exceeds an inch in length, and is 

 deep violet in colour, with the margins of the elytra and thorax a rich 

 burnished golden-violet. In common with the rest of its genus it has 

 only rudimentary wings, the elytra being soldered together, and not used 

 for flying. It runs swiftly over the ground, preying on other insects, 

 and is a voracious creature both as a larva and a perfect beetle. When 

 handled it emits from its mouth a blackish fluid which stains the fingers, 

 and has a disagreeable odour. 



The Devil's Coach-horse, or Fetid Rove Beetle (Ocypus olem) belongs to 



the group of beetles known as Cocktails, so named from their habit of bending 



their bodies upwards when alarmed. This species is dull, dead black in 



colour, with very small elytra, and a long abdomen; two yellow tubercles at 



the end of the tail exude a secretion with a very objectionable odour. The 



beetle is an inch or more in length and very ferocious in aspect. It is 



common in gardens, and sometimes finds its way into houses. It will feed 



on carrion if procurable, but will attack and kill any insect which may come 



in its way, thus doing much good in gardens, and for this reason should 



never be destroyed. It is predacious both in the larval and perfect stages. 



Its eggs are r \, in. in length, being larger than those of any other British 



insect. It may be found throughout the year, except in May, when it 



pupates, but is most common in autumn. It flies with great rapidity, and 



runs swiftly over the ground ; hence its generic name (Gr. okus, swift, potis, 



a foot) ; its specific name referring to its evil-smelling secretion (L. olens, 



stinking). 



The Glow-worm (Lampyris noctiluca) belongs to the group of Soft-skinned 



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