BRIGHT AND SHINING ONES. 
ROBABLY more than ninety thousand different species 
of beetles exist in the world, first and foremost among 
them standing the Cicindelide, or Tiger Beetles. From 
their high position in the coleopterous world they may well 
demand our attention, but they have other claims upon our 
consideration. They are beautiful, courageous little creat- 
ures, and accomplish a vast amount of good to man. The 
name Cicindela, by which they are known to scientific people, 
tells us that they are the “bright and shining ones;” while 
the cognomen of Tiger Beetle reveals to all English-speak- 
ing nations the story of the incessant warfare which they 
wage upon their fellows. 
The Cicindele love the merry sunshine. On any bright 
summer day they may be found running and flying about 
sunny banks, or revelling in sandy places where the day-god 
smilingly rejoices. They mostly avoid vegetation, as it 
checks their easy rapid movements, although some kinds 
affect grassy spots among the trees. They are the most 
predaceous of the coleoptera, and behave like the tigers 
among mammals, the hawks among birds, the crocodiles 
among reptiles and the sharks among fishes. In the tropics 
some few genera seek their food on the leaves of trees, but 
in temperate and sub-tropical regions, where the species are 
more abundant, they are terrestrial in habits. 
Let us now take our instruments of capture and go in 
quest of some of the dozen or more species that have their 
home with us. The day is auspicious. Here is a likely 
spot. See there upon the ground are some specimens of our 
