260 



NATURAL ARRANGEMENT OF INSECTS. 



into the recesses of its cave, and devours it at leisure* 

 Although it possesses long legs, it rarely uses these for 

 the purposes of transportation; and, we believe, never, 

 unless inconvenienced in its abode : whereas the larvae 

 of the CaraMdos roam about in search of their food, with 

 the exception, only, of a very few genera, which, also 

 form burrows, although they occupy them only as re- 

 treats, and not as domiciles. The series of insects con- 

 tained in the family of the Cicindelidce are evidently very 

 numerous, and of course exhibit very great varieties of 

 form, which has led to their being subdivided into 

 smaller families or sub-families,, named in allusion to 

 the preeminent genus, around which some few others are 

 collocated; but we here regard them as a body, and 

 cannot, in the small space we are enabled to devote to 

 them, go into these minute particulars. The majority are 

 not large insects, although some few are very conspicu- 

 ous, and comparatively large ; but not so when placed 

 parallel to the Carabidce. Many are apterous ; which is 

 the case with Manticora, a second species of which has 

 been recently described by Mr. Waterhouse ; andPlatychile, 

 which is so rare, that we believe a half a dozen specimens 

 are not known in Europe. Both of these are from South 

 Africa. Dromica is also another apterous African genus. 

 The Brazilian Ctenostomce are remarkable for assuming 

 the girdled figure of hymenopterous insects, whence 

 some of them derive their specific names ; and Colliurus 

 is distinguished for its elongated and slender form. 

 Therates has a very large labrum, and occasionally 

 spined elytra. The large Omus appears to be the North 

 American representative of the South AfricanManticora, 

 which insects are the largest in their family. Upon the 

 habits of Megacephala, M. Lacordaire, who observed 

 them in Cayenne., thus speaks: " They are frequently 

 observed running on sandy spots in woods; they rarely 

 make use of their wings." Of the M. Chalybea he 

 says, " Upon endeavouring to catch them, they retreat 

 beneath dry dung, into the large deep holes made by the 

 Phancei and Coprides^nd. they try to defend the entrance 



