246 NATURAL HISTORY. 
inches in length. The Beetles, when not flying, appear 
to have no wings. The elytra, § 398, are horny, and fit 
closely together on the back. These are sometimes very 
beautiful, even splendid, having various colors, golden, 
green, blue, etc. I have seen them in some cases with 
depressions in them spotted with gold, exactly as if real 
gold-leaf were inserted by powerful pressure. The wings, 
which are commonly twice as large as the elytra in length 
as well as in breadth, are folded up under these covers 
very curiously when the insect is not on the wing. There 
are only a few exceptions in the whole order to this 
mode of arrangement. 
421. The metamorphosis in this order is complete. 
The larve are worm-like, having soft bodies, but they 
commonly have horny heads. Those which lead a re- 
tired, still life, as those which are in nuts, have no legs, 
for they need none. Those larve which are carnivorous 
have the strongest legs. In some of the herbivorous 
species, besides the true legs, there are fleshy tubercles, 
which are called pro-legs. Previously to entering the 
pupa state the larva often forms a case for itself of bits 
of earth, or of chips, which it unites together by silken 
threads or with a gluey substance. The pupz of some 
Beetles are inactive for years. 
422. Beetles, as suggested by Professor Jaeger, are 
of three kinds: 1. Carnivorous Beetles: they devour 
living insects, and are the beasts of prey of the insect 
world. 2. Scavenger Beetles, which live on putrid mat- 
ter, carrion, and decaying vegetable substances. 3. Her- 
bivorous Beetles, which feed on living plants and fruits. 
The first two kinds are of great use to man, but the last 
are injurious. I will notice a few of each kind. 
423. Of the Carnivorous Beetles, the Lady-birds, so 
called, are known to almost every one. They look like. 
little colored and spotted turtles. The larve of these 
Beetles are of great service to man, for they prey upon 
the plant-lice which are so destructive to many plants, 
