118 COLEOPTEEA. 



the ground, which are, many of them, upwards of a foot 

 in depth : in the construction of these dens they exhibit 

 extraordinary ingenuity, loosening the 

 earth by means of their powerful jaws, 

 and carrying it to the surface upon 

 their broad heads. They have hooks 

 upon their backs, which assist them 

 FIG. 78. LARVA ov TIGER in climbing to the top of their exca- 

 vation, much in the same way as a 

 chimney-sweep climbs a chimney. Their hole being 

 completed, they station themselves just within its entrance, 

 where they lie in wait for any poor passing insect tra- 

 veller, which is instantly seized and dragged to the bottom 

 of the cave, there to be devoured. 



The Ground Beetles (Cardbus)* are scarcely less active 

 than the foregoing, or less carnivorous in their habits; 

 many of them are constantly employed in prowling about 

 upon the surface of the ground in search of insect prey, 

 lurking in the day time under stones and other similar 

 places of concealment, and carrying on an unrelenting 

 warfare against innumerable noxious insects, the de- 

 structiveness of which they materially assist in diminish- 

 ing. Among these marauding beetles the most remark- 

 able are 



The Bombardiers (Brachinus), as they are not inappositely named, 

 several species being provided with a means of defence unparalleled 

 among the lower animals. Of all the inventions which mankind 

 seems fairly entitled to claim as being exclusively of human con- 

 trivance, perhaps, that of guns and gunpowder might be deemed the 

 most original, yet even in this, strange to say, be has been fore- 

 stalled. The little bombardier beetles possessed an artillery of their 

 own long before the fields of Crecy first trembled at the unaccus- 

 tomed roar of human cannon, as any one will confess who may 

 inadvertently lay hold of one of these living batteries. It is quite 

 true that neither powder nor ball is needed by the insect cannonier ; 

 but there is the flash, the smoke, and the report, and although 



" The far-hissing globe of death " 



be wanting, its place is most efficiently supplied by a burning drop, 

 so caustic in its nature as to be only comparable to nitric acid in its 

 corrosive effects. 



Sternly and unremittingly is the work of de- 

 struction, intrusted to these carnivorous beetles, 

 carried on by night and by day without remorse or 



* Kapafios, carabos, a beetle. 



