THE LEBIAD^. . 19 



Beetles, which only cease from eating during the short period 

 of their pupal existence. In localities which these insects 

 prefer, such as sand-banks which are totally sheltered from the 

 wind, they may be seen busily engaged in chasing their prey. 

 They are more active in the air than any other Beetle, having 

 a way of spreading and folding their beautiful wings so instan- 

 taneously that they look more like flies than Beetles. Most 

 Heetles are very deliberate in preparing for flight and alighting 

 after it, but the Tiger. Beetles are quite exceptional in this 

 respect, and dash about as easily as if their wings had not to be 

 unfolded and repacked under the elytra. 



One exception to the general rule is found in the Cicinclela 

 germanica. 



This is the smallest of the British Cicindelidse, beins: onlv 

 five lines in length. Its body is rather cylindrical, and its 

 colour is much like that of the first-mentioned species, the 

 elytra being of a similar dull, but rich green. The elytra have 

 a cream-white spot on the shoulder, one near the middle of the 

 lateral margin, and a crescent-shaped mark at the apex. It is 

 blue-green below, glossed with a copper tinge. 



Contrary to the habits of the other Tiger Beetles, this 

 species prefers wet to dry places, and has a liking for brackish 

 marshes. It does not take to wing as do its congeners, but it 

 is a very rapid runner, and traverses the wet surface of the 

 ground with great speed. It appeax-s to be one of those species 

 which are at once intermittent and local in their appearance ; 

 being found plentifully in one season in some favoured locality, 

 and then disappearing for years. Black Grang Chine, in the Isle 

 of Wight, is said to be the place most frequented by this insect. 



Another species, Ciclndela maritima, is shown on Plate I. 

 Fig. 2. It is purplish or coppery-chocolate above, the coppery 

 hue being plainest along the suture ; and the elytra have a 

 cream-white mark at the base and apex, and a wavy band in 

 the middle. It prefers the sand of the sea-shore, and may be 

 found on many of our sandy coasts. 



We now come to the next family of British Beetles, tho 

 Lebiadae. All the Beetles of this family may be known by the 



c z 



