COLEOPTERA — BEETLES. 249 



are generally equally abundant, though not always ; 

 and it would not be logical to infer that such 

 arrangements are direct providential interferences 

 to prevent the undue preponderance of a particular 

 class of creatures, seeing that we are not in posses- 

 sion of a sufficient number of facts to grasp all the 

 bearings of questions of that class, the most favourite 

 of our hypotheses being sadly interfered with by 

 such facts as the vegetation of half a continent 

 being devastated by innumerable swarms of locusts 

 whilst no counteracting influence can be detected. 



The Lady-bird is very tenacious of life, and will 

 live a considerable time when plunged in ardent 

 spirits. It is said that the entomological studies 

 of the Rev. William Kirby commenced with the 

 interest excited by a Lady -bird which he had placed 

 in spirits of wine, and which after twenty-four 

 hours' immersion flew away upon being taken out 

 of the spirit. 



Among the prettiest kinds may be noted the 

 Twenty -two-spotted ( Vigintiduo-jmnctata) and the 

 Eleven-spotted, having eleven spots, on a ground of 

 yellow, on each wing. This last is a very elegant 

 species. 



Before quitting the subject of Beetles suited 

 to the Vivarium, I must not omit to recommend 



