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NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY: 553 
number of species is very great, and they have been carefully studied, 
as they have ever been the favorites of entomologists. 
hey are usually of some shade of green, with metallic and purplish 
reflections, and marked with light-colored dots and short curved 
lines. The Tiger-beetle abounds in sunny paths, and breeds on the 
sandy shores of rivers, ponds, and the ocean, over which they nag 
fly, and run in chase of their prey. The larva (Fig. 1) is Fig.l 
hideous in aspect. It has an enormous ad i Ww vith immense 
jaws armed with teeth on the inside, while a large swelling 
on the ninth segment of the curved body, which ends in a 
horny, movable hook, gives it a grotesque and ugly appear- 
ance. This hook aids it in climbing up its deep hole, near ~ 
the entrance of which it lies in wait for weaker insects. These holes 
are sunk perpendicularly in the sand, and have no waste dirt abou 
the mouth, like ant or worm holes. Their occupants may be either 
i Fig. 3. 
Fig. 4. 
~ dug out, or on thrusting in a straw, will fiercely seize the intruding 
Object with their hooked jaws, and, in the blindness of their rage, suf- 
er themselves to be drawn out from their retreat. 
hile all our native species are ground beetles, a! are pipi in 
the tropics which live, in the beetle state, 
largest of our New England species. The 
most common form is the Cicindela vulgaris 
found flying about sunny walks; while the 
hairy-necked eaaa tO. — Say, Fig. 5), is 
smaller species than the foregoing. t beautiful form is the 
a Tiger-beetle (C. pas Fi aides Fig. 6), which is of 
a bright green color, ornamented with six spots on the wing-covers 
(elytra). It is often found in ser places not frequented by other 
AMERICAN NAT., VOL. I. 
CEA Dl SOE SES ORO et T E ee a E 
SES eee ee fee i 
EP A 
