COS BIOLOGY. 



Their habitation, mode of living and subsistence is ex- 

 ceedingly complex, and therein also they combine again 

 all the families of this class, and it might be said, all the 

 preceding classes. 



The Beetles are also much more numerous than any 

 other order, and could in this point of view even hold 

 good for an entire class, especially, if they represented 

 a special organic system, but which is not the case. 



They live upon vegetable saps, and matters, blossoms, 

 leaves, and wood, living animals, putrid flesh, dung, and 

 such like. 



They dwell mostly indeed in concealed situations, but 

 also in those that are freely exposed, while many live in 

 water, and are so subjected to its influence that their 

 larvae actually respire this element through branchiae. 



The larvae are white and have three pairs of horny 

 thoracic feet. They live concealed. 



The pupae are invested by a transparent tegument, 

 which tears in an irregular manner. 



The Beetles divide distinctly into three divisions, 

 which correspond to the three cohorts of this class, or 

 repeat the three cohorts of their circle. 



The Beetles have been pretty generally divided ac- 

 cording to the number of tarsal joints into those having 

 three, four, five, or an unequal set of these " articuli," 

 whereby, however, the greatest disorder has originated. 

 I have therefore divided them in my c Naturgeschichte' 

 according to their mode of living into PAyfopAapa, 

 Sarcophaga, and Eypo- or Copropliaga, which gradually 

 seems to meet with approval. At least a much more 

 natural arrangement comes to light by using these means. 



I have also declared the Rhyncophora to be the lowest 

 and the Lamellicornes the uppermost in rank, a view, 

 which at present appears to be generally adopted. 



By these means I obtained two firm points, whereby 

 the division or classification of the intermediate members 

 is uncommonly facilitated, although many may still stand 

 in the wrong place. But who can point out a single 

 system in which Insects range correctly, or, what 



