MOTIONS OF INSECTS. 321 
to climb by means of some substance which they have 
the power of secreting. 
_ The first order of climbers—those that climb by means 
of their claws—includes a large proportion of insects, 
especially in the Coleoptera order—the majority of those 
that have five joints in their tarsi being of this description. 
The predaceous tribes, particularly the numerous and 
prowling ground-beetles (Carabide), often thus ascend 
the plants and trees after their prey. Thus one of them, 
the beautiful but ferocious Calosoma Sycophanta, mounts 
the trunk and branches of the oak to commit fearful ra- 
vages amongst the hordes of caterpillars that inhabit it?. 
By these the less savage but equally destructive tree-cha- 
fers (Melolonthe), and those enemies of vegetable beauty 
the rose-chafers (Cetonia aurata), are enabled to main- 
tain their station on the-trees and shrubs that they lay 
waste. And by these also the water-beetles (Dytiscus, 
HAydrophilus, &c.) climb the aquatic plants.—But it is 
unnecessary further to enlarge upon this head; I shall 
only observe, that in most of the insects here enumerated, 
the claws appear to be aided by stiff hairs or bristles. 
Other climbers ascend by means of cushions (pulvilli) 
composed of hairs, as thickly set as in plush or velvet, 
with which the underside of the joints of their tarsi—the 
claw-joint, which is always naked, excepted—are covered. 
These cushions are particularly conspicuous in the beau- 
tiful tribe of plant-beetles (Chrysomela, ¥.). A common 
insect of this kind, before mentioned, called the bloody- 
nose beetle (C. tenebricosa), by the aid of these is enabled 
to adhere to the trailing plants, the various species of bed- 
a Reaum. ii, 457. 
VOL. HI. Y 
