TRACHEATA 357 



either free-living, somewhat Myriapod-like grubs, with three 

 pairs of well-developed legs, or are soft, white, almost legless 

 larvae, which live in the earth or burrow in timber, etc. 



The pupae have their limbs and wing-cases projecting — 

 pwpa, l-ibera. They may be free, or enclosed in rough cocoons 

 of earth or wood-chips. 



The very numerous families of the Coleoptera may be 

 arranged in four groups, corresponding with the number of 

 joints in the tarsus. These divisions have but a slight scien- 

 tific value, but are useful in dealing with such an enormous 

 number of species as are found in the Coleoptera : 



(i.) The Pentameea, with five joints in the tarsus. 



(ii.) The Heteeomera, with. five tarsal joints on the two 

 anterior pairs of legs, and four on the posterior. 



(iii.) The Pseudoteteamera, with one joint of the five- 

 jointed tarsus very small and inconspicuous. 



(iv.) The PsEUDOTEiMERA, with one joint of the four-jointed 

 tarsus very small and inconspicuous. 



Under each of these subdivisions a few families may be 

 mentioned. 



Sub-order 1. Pentamera. 



Family Cicindelidab. — Tiger-beetles ; these have very 

 large heads, broader than the thorax, with prominent eyes, 

 long curved mandibles, and slender legs. They are usually of 

 a brown or green colour with a metallic sheen, and are often 

 ornamented with spots or patches. They frequent sunny 

 places, such as the sandy margins of streams, and their larvae 

 are found in tubular passages in the soil. These larvae are 

 provided with two tubercles ending in hooks, which are 

 outgrowths of the ninth segment, and which serve to hold 

 them to their tubular dwellings ; the anterior portion of their 

 body projects from the surface of the ground, in order to seize 

 any prey which comes within their reach. 



Family Carabidae. — A very large family, whose limits are 

 difficult to define. They are predaceous insects, with running 

 legs, and their hind wings are not infrequently absent. They are 



