COLEOPTERA. 117 



multitude, they are divided into four sections, accord- 

 ing to the number of joints or articulations entering 

 into the composition of their feet (tarsi). The sections 

 so formed are as follows : 



1. The Pentamerans,* in which the tarsi of all the 

 legs are composed of five joints. 



2. The Heteromerans,t in which the tarsi have/ow 

 joints on the two front pairs of legs, and jive on the 

 others. 



3. The Tetramerans,J in which the tarsi of all the 

 legs have four articulations. 



4. The Trimerans, in which all the tarsi have 

 only three joints. 



SECTION OF PENTAMEKANS. 



The first division of Coleoptera, having five joints 

 in all their tarsi, are the most active and highly gifted 

 of the race, and may be considered as the lions and 

 tigers of the insect world ; they constitute the family 

 of Carnivora, || and are distinguished by having two 

 palpi on each maxilla. 



These beetles in their perfect state pursue and 

 devour other insects ; their larvae also have similar 

 habits. Among them we find 



The Tiger Beetles (Cicindela^), which are excellent re- 

 presentatives of the quadruped whose name they bear ; 

 conspicuously the most rapacious and bloodthirsty of the 

 race ; equally remarkable for the beauty of their colours, 

 their extreme activity, and savage propensities. They 

 run with considerable swiftness, and take wing the mo- 

 ment they are approached; but they alight again at a 

 short distance. They are commonly met with in the 

 neat of summer upon heaths, and in other dry sunny 

 situations. Their larvae excavate cylindrical burrows in 



* Ti-^Te, pente, five ; p-epos, meros, a joint. 

 t crepos, eteros, various ; jue'pos, meros, a joint. 

 | rerpas, tetras, four ; and ^ue'pos, meros, a joint. 

 rpeis, treis, three ; and pepos, meros, a joint. 

 II Caro, carnis, flesh ; voro, I eat. 

 <| Cicindela, a shining insect. 



