NATURAL HISTORY. 



485 



Family, Carabidse. (Gr. Kapa/3of a Beetle.) 

 CAEABUS. 



Cancellatus (Lat. chequered], tJie Ground-beetle, 



The GROUND-BEETLE is one of our largest and most beautiful 

 beetles. Its general colour is a coppery green, and its wing- 

 cases are ornamented with several rows of oblong raised spots. 

 Its length is about an inch. 



Family, Silphidse. (Gr. "Zil.Qij, a Bury ing-beetle.) 

 NECROPHAGUS. (Gr. Ne/cpo^, a dead bod}- ; <aye>, to eat) 



Vespillo (Lat. a bearer of the dead,) the Bury ing-beetle. 



This curious beetle derives its name from its habit of bury- 

 ing any small dead animal left on the surface* of the ground. 

 "With such rapidity does it work, that two beetles have been 

 known to cover up a sparrow within a few hours ; and so un- 



