24 



leave the bird, or other animal, soon after it is 

 dead. 



Order 3. COLEOPTERA, or Beetles [PL II, 

 fig. 3] are easily distinguished, by having, for 

 the most part, two wings covered by two elytra 

 or wing-cases, meeting by a straight suture down 

 the back: are furnished with two antennae, two 

 mandibles, two maxillae, and either four or six 

 palpi : by the modification of these parts the cha- 

 racters of the genera are determined. Beetles 

 are extremely numerous, and are found in almost 

 every situation, as in sandy places, on the sea 

 shore, and the muddy banks of ponds and rivers, 

 running about in the sun ; others will be seen in 

 the above places, but secreted under stones, 

 fragments of rocks, chalk, &c. seeking their 

 food early in the morning or late in the evening. 

 The aquatic species may be taken in ponds, 

 ditches, rivers, and running streams ; and some 

 few will be found buried in the sand or secreted 

 amongst the pebbles of shallow brooks. The 

 method of taking the water beetles is by the 

 aquatic net, which should be attached to a strong 

 stick, and plunged among weeds, rushes, &c., 

 and, when withdrawn, it should be carefully 

 examined ; as most of these animals are ex- 



