252 NATURAL HISTORY. 
ratus for boring holes in the grains and fruits, as you see 
in the Palm Weevil, Fig.197. “Its larve,” says Jaeger, 
“are known in the tropics of 
America under the name of Palm- 
worms, and they live in large 
numbers in the. trunks of several 
palm-trees, but principally in the 
cabbage-palm, which grows in 
abundance in the mountainous 
parts of St. Domingo. When 
fully grown they are about three 
inches long and one inch in cir- 
cumference, of a dirty yellow 
color, with a black head, looking 
like a piece of fat enveloped in a 
transparent skin. These disgust- 
wy A ing-looking animals are roasted 
Fig. 197.—Palm Weevil. upon a wooden spit, or broiled 
and eaten with dry and pulverized bread, seasoned with 
salt and pepper, and considered by many epicures as the 
ne plus ultra of delicacies.” 
437. The Leaf-eaters, which live mostly on leaves and 
flowers, are very small Beetles, very richly colored. 
Among the most brilliant is the Gilded Dandy, Fig. 198, 
found abundantly on the dog-bane in July 
and August. The larve or grubs of the 
Leaf-eaters have six legs, as they must 
crawl about in getting their food, instead 
" _™ of remaining in one spot as the fruit-eating 
Fig. 198.—Gilded ~ . ° 
Dandy. grubs of the Weevils do. 
Se 
Questions.—Name the orders of Insects, and give the chief charac- 
teristics of each. What is the extent of the order Coleoptera? What 
is said of the size of the insects belonging to it? What is said of the 
elytra? What is said of the larve of Beetles? What are the three 
kinds of Beetles? What is said of the Lady-bird? What of the Ti- 
ger Beetles? What of the Caterpillar-hunters? What of the Scay- 
enger Beetles? Of the Pellet Beetles? Of the Carrion Beetles? 
