178 HALF-HOURS IN THE GREEN LANES. 



tiger beetles, but without the few spots that occur 

 on the wing-cases of the latter. These you may 

 see running rapidly about on the gravelly path as 

 you walk along. Beetles belong to the order 

 Coleopiera (wing-sheathed), signifying that they 

 are adapted for burrowing purposes. Their front 

 wings, instead of being transparent, have some of 

 the same material deposited in them as that \\hich 

 makes the body so crisp and hard. This material is 

 termed chitine, and by its deposition in the front 

 wings, they form admirable protective covers to the 

 hind- wings, which remain membranaceous, especially 

 when burrowing in manure and other garbage, as is 

 the habit of the majority of beetles. The larval 

 stages of beetles pass through metamorphoses very 

 similar to those of the butterflies and moths. The 

 grub, however, is perhaps of a lower specialised 

 character, sometimes being quite footless, and re- 

 sembling a worm. In Fig. 127 is given a sketch of 

 the larva of the Gdosoma, together with the adult 

 insect. This is a species rare with us, although 

 very common on the continent. It is of a greenish 

 colour, and elegant shape, and noted for the manner 

 in which it preys upon the caterpillars of a 

 certain moth which, from their mode of marching 

 two and two as if in a procession, have obtained the 

 name of " processionary moths." The nervous 

 system of a beetle is most interesting, in the way 

 that the smaller nerves are given off by the knots 

 or "gaDglia" to the organs requiring stimulation. 



