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ORDER V. COLEOPTERA * BEETLES. 



THIS is by far the most numerous of all the Insect 

 Orders, the species already known being probably 

 not much less than fifty thousand. The character 

 which at once distinguishes it is, that the first pair of 

 the four wings are of a leathery or crustaceous tex- 

 ture, and form, in a state of rest, two shields, meet- 

 ing in the middle with a straight edge through their 

 whole length, beneath which the hind wings are con- 

 cealed. The former pair, though commonly called, 

 for distinction, wing-cases, (elytra,^ and though so 

 peculiar in form and texture, are nevertheless true 

 wings in structure and position. The hinder wings, 

 which are much larger than the elytra, are more or 

 less folded upon themselves, when at rest. In a few 

 species, they are wanting, and then the elytra are, as 

 it were, soldered together. The head is furnished 

 with two compound eyes, but no simple ones ; two 

 mandibles, strong and horny, each like a sharp hooked 

 tooth, and two jaws beneath them, more membra- 

 nous : these last bear either one or two pairs of 

 feelers, (palpi,) and another pair proceeds from the 

 under lip. From the neighbourhood of the eyes 

 arise the jointed antennae, one on each side, the use of 

 which is not known: these assume various forms. 



* KaA.oj, koleos, a shield, and vnpbv, pteron, a wing. 

 t "E^ur^av, elytron, a case. 



