CARABUa 33 



the spring Lime this insect may oe taKen in decaying -vvillow- 

 trees. 



Another species of this genus, CaraOus intricatus, may be 

 seen on Plate II. Fig. 2, where it is represented as ascending the 

 trmik of an oak-tree in search of prey. If any of my readers 

 shoukl happen to see the insect itself, he will be tlie envy 

 of all brother entomologists, inasmuch as it is not only a 

 singularly handsome but a very scarce insect. It is the largest 

 British Carabus yet known, and is finely marked and coloured. 

 The head is black, with a violet gloss, and has a deep impres- 

 sion on either side. The thorax is of the deepest violet or 

 green, becoming black on the margin, and is wrinkled over its 

 entire surface. The elytra are very deep and shining-violet, 

 and on each elytron there are three rows of elevated tubercles 

 of an olive-green, the remainder of the surface being wrinkled. 

 The under surface of the body is black, glossed with violet. 



At Fig. 6, in the left-hand lower corner of the same plate, is 

 seen the larva of a Carabus. These larvae are, like the perfect 

 insects, carnivorous. They are armed with powerful jaws, having 

 A strong tooth near the base. The antennae and maxillary 

 palpi have each four joints, and there are six ocelli, or simple 

 eyes, on each side. At the end of the tail are two horny spines, 

 each armed with a sort of spuj. 



The last species which will be described is the CarahuK 

 violaceus, one of the commoi est arfd largest of the species. 

 It sometimes exceeds an inch in length. Its colour is rather 

 remarkable. At first sight it appears to be a black insect, but 

 a more careful examination shows that the supposed black is 

 in realit}^ the deepest violet, which on the margins of the 

 elytra and thorax becomes of a rich burnished golden-violet, 

 like as of polished metal, "^'he whole of the upper surface is 

 granulated, the elytra more deeply than the thorax, along the 

 centre of which there is a slightly elevated line. Below, it is 

 black, with a slight green o-r blue reflection. Altogether there 

 are thirteen British Carabi. 



These Beetles afford good practice in setting. They are 

 large enough to bear handling, and yet small enough to require 

 care. Their legs are long, and look well when set out, and 

 the parts of the mouth are sufficiently large to show whetnef 

 the operator has been careful about his work. Their on»y 



D 



