this kind — either side being white with 

 alkali — until one day late in the summer 

 I found a specimen. The greater num- 

 ber, however, are found on high sunny 

 roads where alkali does not appear. 



The habits of the Tiger Beetles in gen- 

 eral are described as follows: 



"These Beetles dig sloping burrows 

 in the earth into which they retreat in 

 stormy or cold weather. 



"The larvae oi the Tiger Beetle live in 

 vertical burrows, which can be easily 

 recognized after one has learned their 

 characteristic appearance. These bur- 

 rows abound in sandy places, in beaten 

 paths, and in plowed fields that have 

 become dry and hard. The larger ones, 

 those occupied by full-grown larvae, 

 measure about one-sixth inch in diame- 

 ter, and often extend a foot or more in 

 depth. The sides are smooth; the en- 

 trance to each is very regular in outline, 

 and without any loose dirt on the sur- 

 face of the ground near it, as is usually 

 the case with somewhat similar bur- 

 rows made by ants. 



"When watching for its prey, the 

 larva rests perfectly still at the mouth 



of the burrow. Its dirt-colored head is 

 bent at right angles to its lighter colored 

 body and makes a neat plug to the 

 opening of the hole. Its rapacious jaws 

 extend upward, wide open, readv to 

 seize the first unwary insect that walks 

 over this living trap. On the fifth seg- 

 ment of the abdomen there is a hump, 

 and on this hump are two hooks curved 

 forward. This is an arrangement by 

 which the little rascal can hold back and 

 keep from being jerked out of its hole 

 when it gets some large insect by the 

 leg, and by which it can drag its strug- 

 ghng prey down into its lair, where 

 it may eat it at its leisure. 



"The holes of the Tiger Beetle larvae 

 are always open when found, the larvae 

 being frightened away by the approach 

 of the observer. But sit down near 

 them, and watch quietly, and soon they 

 will be plugged by dirt-colored heads. 

 Each passer-by will cause the cautious 

 larvae to retreat; but they will return in 

 a few minutes to their position of patient 

 watchfulness, and here they wait like a 

 still fisherman on a log." 



Alvin M. Hendee. 



THE BIRDS WILL LIVE. 



Should Nature's blithsome song-birds be withdrawn 

 From jolly earth and those whose listening ears 



Drink every carol sung from early dawn. 

 Life would be cold or on the verge of tears. 



But no ! when birds are fled, earth has no green ; 



Her flowers are fathoms deeply covered o'er; 

 Her sun has slunk behind some dungeon screen ; 



Her human lives and souls are then no more. 



Sweet liquid warblers of the swaying bough. 

 There is no loss of thee while man may hear ; 



Thy song will soothing be to many a brow 

 In God's long centuries of hope and cheer. 



— Willis Edwin Hurd. 



