CLASS I. INSECTA: ORDER l. COLEOPTERA. 



545 



DYTICUS MAEGINALIS. 



A, larva; B, perfect insect. 



DYTICUS MAKtilNALlS, FEMALE 



large size. An amusing French writer remarks that, if the common European species — there 

 being several kinds — may be considered as provided with muskets, these seem, comparatively, 

 to possess cannon. 



THE HYDRADELPHAGA. 



This term is from the Greek hudor, water, and adelphagos, voracious ; the animals which it 



characterizes are pre-eminently carnivorous and rapa- 

 cious in their habits. They have a somewhat flat- 

 tened oval body, and the legs, especially the hinder 

 pair, compressed and fringed with bristles, so as to 

 become powerful paddles. Many of these insects are 

 of considerable size, the Dyticus marr/inalis, a Euro- 

 pean species very common in ponds, attaining a length 

 of more than an inch ; while other species are much 

 larger. The larva is of an elongated form, tapering 

 toward the tail, which bears a pair of tubular ciliated 

 appendages, which the creature applies to the surface of the water to obtain a supply of air for 



its respiration. It is as predaceous as its parent, 

 seizing upon other aquatic larvae with its long- 

 curved mandibles, and quickly sucking the juices 

 out of the body of its victim. When about to 

 change to the pupa state, the larva burrows into 

 the bank of its native pond, and there undergoes its 

 transformations. 



Harris's Dytice, D. JIarrisii, one inch long, 

 is common in ponds with a clear, sandy bottom, in 

 this country. 

 The well-known Gyrini^ or Whirligigs— MitXa black beetles, Avhich may be seen describing 

 circles upon the surface of any piece of smooth water — are also placed in this tribe, although their 

 claim to such position is rather doubtful. The European species, Gyrinus natator, is one fourth 

 of an inch long, oval-shaped, of a blackish-brown color; this may serve as an example of the 

 family. 



THE BRACHELYTRA. 



This term is from the Greek brachus, short, and elytron, a case, and refers to the shortness of 



the elytra, which leave a considerable portion of 

 the abdomen of these insects uncovered. The 

 wings, however, are usually ample, and the crea- 

 tures fly well. They are generally of an elongated 

 ^=3=^ja^^sf-*^,-::!^^fc*=53=-— ^wypji^;;^- V /^ form, and the abdomen, which is hoi'ny on both 



surfaces, possesses great mobility. It assists in 

 ^i^ yiywtffflF^ — "^W -<«<gS?k-X-4^tvVBSvWiK^ tucking the wings under the elytra after flight, 



and the insects generally raise it when alarmed or 

 angry. This attitude has obtained for one Euro- 

 pean species, the Goerius olens, the appropriate 

 COCKTAILS. name of Cocktails. The derivation of their other 



vulgar denomination. Devil's Coach-Horses, is not 

 so clear. The larvae are very similar to the perfect insects, both in appearance and habits. 

 Many of them feed in carrion ; others in rotten wood and other decaying vegetable matter. The 

 number of joints in the tarsi varies greatly, but five is the prevalent number. 



THE PHILHYDRIDA. 



This term is from the Greek j^hUeo, to love, and hudor, water, and is applied to this small tribe 

 from their generally aquatic habits. Most of them live constantly in tlie water, and their legs 

 are generally more or less flattened, to render them eflacient as natatory organs. One of the 



Vol. II.— 69 



