34 INSECTS AT HOME. 



drawback is the lack of wino-s, but it is more than comjjeniated 

 by the other advantages. Tliese Beetles, b}' the way, are very 

 tenacious of life, and, though they can be at least rendered 

 insensible and harmless bv the laurel-bottle, it v/ill be as well 

 to dip them into boiling water before passing the pin tln-ough 

 them, so as to avoid the sight of an impaled Beetle trying to 

 release itself, or walking about the cabinet drawer with a pin 

 through its body. 



I have always had a great liking for these Beetles, from the 

 time when I was accustomed to harness them into fairy chariots, 

 to that in which I first learned from them the wonders of 

 an insect's organisation, and traced in them the early rudi- 

 ments of those structures which find their fullest development 

 in man. 



Next on our list comes the genus Notiophilus, which, being 

 translated, signifies wet-lover, and is a very appropriate title 

 All these Beetles are very small, none of them exceeding u 

 quarter of an inch in length. They may be found on thf 

 banks of ponds and streams, running over the wet soil witli 

 great activity in search of prey. In consequence of thei» 

 fondness for water they were for a long time classed among the 

 Hydradephaga, or the voracious Beetles of the water, but have 

 now been placed in their right position among the Carabidse. 



On Woodcut No. II. Fig. 5, is a magnified figure of a 

 common species of this genus, called Notiophilus biguttatus. 

 It is a very small Beetle, sometimes only one-sixth of an incli 

 in length, and seldom, if ever, exceeding a quarter of an inch. 

 It is a pretty little creature, with a highly polished surface, as 

 if made of bronze in which the copper predominated. Five 

 species of this genus are known to inhabit England, and they 

 may be found hidden under stones or at the roots of trees in 

 damp places. Willow-trees on the borders of streams are good 

 localities for these pretty little Beetles. They do not, however, 

 confine themselves to wet places, although they px-efer such 

 places as a residence. They may be seen running about in the 

 hottest weather over places a mile at least from water. 



The maxillary palpi of this genus have the last joint rather 

 egg-shaned, and sharply cut off at liic end, as niay be seen by 

 refeience to Woodcut II. I*ig. e, which represents the left labia) 



