5l6 THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



In the Typical Coleoptera the mouth-parts are of the 

 ordinary type ; the head is not prolonged into a snout ; the 

 gula is present, there being two gular sutures, at least, 

 before and behind (Fig. 601, b) ; and the epimera of the 

 prothorax are not prolonged so as to meet on the middle 

 line of the body behind the prosternum (Fig. 612). 



Family ClCINDELIUiE (Cic-in-del'i-dae). 



The Tiger-beetles. 



The graceful forms and beautiful colors of the greater 

 number of the tiger-beetles have made this family one of 

 the favorites of students of Coleoptera. To this family 

 belong the most agile of all beetles ; and they are not 

 merely swift of foot, but are also able to fly well. They 

 are found on bright, hot days in dusty roads, in beaten 

 paths, and on the shores of streams. They remain abso- 

 lutely still until we can see them well but are still out of 

 reach ; then like a flash they fly up and away, alighting 

 several rods ahead of us. Before alighting they always turn 

 so that they face us, and can thus watch our movements. 



Their popular name is suggestive of their predaceous 

 habits, and of the spots with which many are marked. 

 They are usually a metallic green or bronze, banded or 

 spotted with yellow. Some are black ; and some that live 

 on white sand are grayish white, being exactly like the sand 

 in color. 



A useful character for distinguishing the members of 

 this family is the fact that the terminal hook 

 of the maxilla (the digitus) is united to this 

 organ by a movable joint (Fig. 618, h). 



The sexes of the tiger-beetles can be dis- 

 tinguished, except in Amblychila, by the sixth 

 abdominal segment of the males being notched 



Fig. 618. ,. . ... 



so as to expose a small seventh segment ; while 

 in the females only six segments are visible. In the 



