860 



INSECTA. 



this division, the Cicindeli&e, are extremely 

 voracious, and most of them feed upon dead 

 animal substances, although some of the Har- 

 pulid<E are known to be vegetable feeders. 

 The second sub-tribe, Hydradephaga, includes 

 the predaceous water-beetles, and the third, 

 Philhydrida, a variety of families allied to 

 each other by similarity in general structure, 

 by inhabiting water or damp situations, and by 

 subsisting upon decaying animal and vegetable 

 substances, fungi, &c. Amongst the aquatic 

 species is one of the largest British beetles, 

 Hydrous piceus (Jig. 330). 



Fig. 330. 



Hydrous piceus, ( Great water-beetle, male.) 



All the water-beetles are characterized by their 

 four posterior legs being formed peculiarly for 

 swimming ; they are ciliated along the tarsal 

 joints, the last of which is furnished with a 

 very minute claw. The insects of the third 

 sub-tribe, the predaceous water-beetles, Dyti- 

 cid<z, are distinguished from those of the second 

 by the latter having long and slender instead 

 of clavated antennae, and by their possessing 

 six instead of only four palpi. The males of 

 both sub-tribes have one or more joints of their 

 anterior tarsi (jig. 330, A.) very much dilated, 

 by means of which they attach themselves 

 strongly to the females. Their larvae are active 



Fig. 331. 



and voracious. The fourth sub-tribe, Necro- 

 phaga, includes the carrion and burying-beetles 

 (Jig. 331), so called from their habit of bury- 

 ing small dead animals in the ground, by 

 digging away the earth from beneath them, 

 and thus allowing them to sink down, and 

 then depositing their eggs in the bodies. The 

 genera of this division differ considerably from 

 each other, but may be characterized as in 

 general possessing abruptly clavated antennae, 

 an oval or oblong body, with the elytra often 

 truncated, and the legs strong and formed for 

 running. 



The second section is also divided into four 

 tribes, which include insects of different habits 

 and conformation. 



In the first tribe, Helocerti, the insects are 

 of an oval shape, and have the antennae geni- 

 culated, and terminated by an oval club. 

 Their legs are flattened, broad, and formed for 

 burrowing, and are terminated by very minute 

 tarsi. Their bodies are exceedingly hard ; they 

 feed upon decaying animal matter, and when 

 touched simulate the appearance of death. 



The second tribe, Lamellicornes, are a very 

 natural group. They are distinguished by the 

 club of the antennae being divided into plates 

 or lamellae. Their legs are thick, strong, and 

 deeply notched, and the tarsi of the anterior 

 pair in some families are very minute. They 

 are either stercoraceous or vegetable feeders, 

 subsisting, like the common dung-beetle, Geo- 

 trupes stercorarius* (Jig. 332), upon decom- 



Fig. 332. 



Necrophorus vespillo, ( Burying-beetle}. 



Geotrupes stercorarius, (Dung-beetle). 



posing vegetable substances, or like the chaffer- 

 beetles, Melolonthida, upon the foliage of 

 shrubs or trees, or like the Dynastid<s^ 



* This drawing is of a specimen captured by the 

 writer of the present article in the summer of 1829, 

 and affords a curious instance of malformation of 

 the anterior extremities with the tibiae lunated and 

 acuminated, without dentations, the tarsi entirely 

 wanting. It is now in the cabinet of the Rev. F. 

 W. Hope. 



t It is asserted that the Dynastes Hercules grasps 



