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THE GROUND BEETLES. 



THESE insects are very active and voracious., 

 -devouring the larva? of the other tribes, and in- 

 deed all the smaller animals they can overcome. 

 Their larva? are found under ground, or in decayed 

 wood. 



The antenna? are thread-shaped ; and the feelers 

 mostly six, the last joint of each of which is obtuse. 

 The thorax is flat, and both this and the shells are 

 margined. 



THE BOMBARDIER *. 



This insect keeps itself concealed among stones, 

 and seems to make little use of its wings. When it 

 moves it is by a sort of jump; and, when it is 

 touched, we are surprised with a noise resembling 

 the discharge of a musket in miniature, during 

 which a blue smoke may be perceived to proceed 

 from its extremity. The insect may at any time be 

 made to play off its artillery by scratching its back 

 with a needle. If we may believe Rolander, who 

 first made these observations, it can give twenty 

 discharges successively. A bladder, placed near 

 its posterior extremity, is the arsenal that contains 

 its store. This is its chief defence against its 

 enemies; and the vapour or liquid that proceeds 

 from it is of so pungent a nature that, if it happens 

 to be discharged into the eyes, it makes them smart 



Carabbus crepitans. Linu, 

 S 2 



