252 NATURAL HISTORY. 



ratus for boring holes in the grains and fruits, as you see 

 in the Palm Weevil, Fig. 197. " Its larvae," says Jaeger, 

 " are known in the tropics of 

 America under the name of Palm- 

 worms, and they live in large 

 numbers in the trunks of several 

 palm-trees, but principally in the 

 cabbage -palm, which grows in 

 abundance in the mountainous 

 parts of St. Domingo. When 

 fully grown they are about three 

 inches long and one inch in cir- 

 cumference, of a dirty yellow 

 color, with a black head, looking 

 like a piece of fat enveloped in a 

 transparent skin. These disgust- 

 ing-looking animals are roasted 

 Fig. 197. Paim weeva. upon a wooden spit, or broiled 

 and eaten with dry and pulverized bread, seasoned with 

 salt and pepper, and considered by many epicures as the 

 ne plus ultra of delicacies." 



437. The Leaf-eaters, which live mostly on leaves and 

 flowers, are very small Beetles, very richly colored. 

 Among the most brilliant is the Gilded Dandy, Fig. 198, 

 found abundantly on the dog-bane in July 

 and August. The larvae or grubs of the 

 Leaf-eaters have six legs, as they must 

 crawl about in getting their food, instead 

 of remaining in one spot as the fruit-eating 

 grubs of the Weevils do. 



Questions. Name the orders of Insects, and give the chief charac- 

 teristics of each. What is the extent of the order Coleoptera ? What 

 is said of the size of the insects belonging to it? What is said of the 

 elytra? What is said of the larva} of Beetles? 'What are the three 

 kinds of Beetles ? What is said of the Lady-bird ? What of the Ti- 

 ger Beetles ? What of the Caterpillar-hunters ? What of the Scav- 

 enger Beetles ? Of the Pellet Beetles ? Of the Carrion Beetles ? 



