20. INSECTS AT HOME. 



appearance nf the elytra, which do not extend to the end of the 

 abdomen, and are abruptly squared, looking almost as if they 

 had been cut off. If their first pair of legs be examined, the 

 tibiae will be seen notched on the inner side. They are all 

 rather small Beetles, and some are very prettily coloured. 

 They are tolerably active when they choose to take the trouble 

 of moving ; but they are much given to hiding themselves in 

 all kinds of crevices, so that some trouble is requisite in order 

 to procure them. 



The young entomologist must always bear in mind that the 

 most unpromising localities will often prove to be singularly 

 rich in insects, and that Beetles especially may be found in 

 any spot where there is a crack or a hole. Large stones are 

 nearly sure to shelter a Beetle or two beneath them ; moss is 

 generally full of them ; and a heap of decaying grass or leaver 

 is a hotbed which seems as well fitted to produce Beetles as to 

 force plants. The loose bark of trees always has Beetles under 

 it ; and small Beetles creep into the burrows which largei' 

 Beetles have made in the decaying wood of the tree. When a 

 quantity of long moss is to be seen, it is a good plan to fill a 

 bag with it — a paper bag will do in lieu of anything better— 

 and 'to bring it home, when it can be carefully examined by 

 ^ shaking it bit by bit over a large sheet of white paper. Grass- 

 tufts can be treated in a similar manner, and mostly with great 

 success. Lumps of dry earth can also be brought home, where 

 they can be broken up and leisurely searched. 



The typical example of this family is shown on Plate II. 

 Fig. 1. Its name is Lebia crux-minor. The insects belono-iug 

 to this genus have hard- and somewhat flattened bodies, and 

 the antennae rather thickened towards the tip. The second 

 joint is the shortest, and the third the longest, the others 

 being of about eqvial length. One of the maxillary palpi is 

 drawn on Woodcut II. Fig. /. 



The colour of this species is very decided. The head i& 

 black and ' punctated,' i.e. covered with minute holes or punc- 

 tures, and the thorax and elytra are rust-red, the latter being 

 marked with a bold black cross. No one can mistake this 

 pretty Beetle who has once seen it ; but, unfortunately, to see it 

 txcept in cabinets is a very rare event, and any entomologis' 



