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The Bionomics of the Tiger-beetle. 5 
somewhat protected by a high wall at about three yards distant from the 
breeding-cage. The whole of the south side of the cage can be opened as 
a hinged door, but food was always put in, and refuse taken out, through a 
sliding-panel formed by the glass part of the roof. The cage was set on a 
prepared sandy soil which with a few peats formed its floor. 
BEHAVIOUR OF BEETLES PREMATURELY TAKEN FROM THE PUPAL CHAMBERS. 
The beetles ran about actively on sunny days, making also little flights, 
eating blue-bottles that were given them, or morsels of raw meat. Towards 
sunset they sought holes in the ground which they improved to their liking, 
using the mandibles to excavate, while holding on to the earth behind them 
with their long hind legs. When a hole was satisfactorily prepared the 
beetle would retreat into it backwards, its eyes and jaws remaining for some 
time visible from the outside. On dull days the beetles would so remain, 
usually quite hidden. They showed no inclination to pair. 
As the autumn days became shorter and colder the beetles became more 
retiring, though on fine days they would still come out and eat. As flies 
became scarce they were fed mainly on raw meat, given in small pieces. 
They would suck these white. They also relished blow-fly maggots which 
were bred specially for them. A beetle would seize one of these by one end, 
and run about with it sticking cigar-like from its mouth. But a blue-bottle 
was always the favourite food. The lucky possessor would scurry off to seek 
a quiet corner where to enjoy the prize in peace, but generally two or three 
covetous comrades would give chase, and there would ensue a tug of war, 
resulting in the partition of the fly. In the beginning of October 1914 the 
beetles ceased to come out of their holes. 
The first beetle to re-appear after hibernation was noticed on 6th March 
1915. It moved about but little, refused food, and in the early afternoon 
retired again. It behaved thus every day for a week, and then disappeared 
completely for another week; but by the end of April 1915 five of the six - 
beetles artificially removed from their pupal chambers in autumn had 
re-appeared, and were running about in the breeding-cage. 
BEHAVIOUR OF BEETLES ALLOWED TO EMERGE NATURALLY FROM THEIR 
PuPpAL CHAMBERS. 
At this time also (April 1915) adults were emerging from the six burrows 
that, having been left undisturbed, had never been opened up since closed by 
their inhabitants for pupation at the beginning of May 1914. These six 
burrows, I may recall, had been closed by their larvee for hibernation by 
7th September 1913. By 20th April 1914 they had been opened again by 
