92 THE STUDY OF ANIMAL LIFE 



largest Beetles, may be seen on Summer evenings 

 whirring along in a straight line, unable at times to 

 steer clear of objects in its line of flight, sometimes 

 bumping against one's face. 



Among Beetles we also have the pretty little 

 Ladybird with its scarlet, black-spotted wing- 

 cases. They are deadly enemies of the Aphis or 

 Green Fly, and the scarcity of the one may in a 

 great measure account for the plentifulness of the 

 other. 



As the Beetle family spend most of their time 

 grovelling in or on the earth, the wings are very 

 carefully kept in their wing-case wardrobe and 

 only brought out on special occasions, and im- 

 mediately on the insect alighting, the first act is 

 a careful folding up and packing away of its 

 wings. 



A few of the best known insects have now been 

 selected, and brief reference made to their mode 

 of flight. There are, of course, many thousands of 

 different insects all very wonderful and interest- 

 ing, not only in their modes of getting through 

 their short periods of existence, but in the 

 examination of the beautiful colours, the complex 

 muscular and nervous system, and in many other 

 ways. The complicated arrangements in the 

 insect world are as wonderful as in some of our 

 higher organisms. 



Poets and writers of prose often refer to the 



