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ever linger in grassy spots among scattered trees. They are among the most predaceous 

 of the Coleoptera ; " they act like the tigers among mammalia, the hawks among birds, 

 the crocodiles among reptiles, or the sharks among fishes." In some of them activity, 

 as well as brilliancy of colouring, is carried to the greatest perfection. In the tropics some 

 few genera are found which alight only on the leaves of trees, but further north they are 

 all terrestrial. The species are more numerous in the temperate and sub-tropical regions, 

 and gradually disappear from view as we journey towards the north pole, until in the 

 latitude of Manitoba (as we are told) but two or three are to be found. 



Let us take our instrumenta belli and go in quest of some of the dozen species we 

 have in Canada (in North America there are about one hundred). Let us hurry before 

 yonder cloud obscures the sun, for then — like chickens in an eclipse — they will retire to 

 their homes. Here is a likely spot, and there are some specimens of our commonest 

 species ( C. vulgaris ). Go for that one ! He sees us as quickly as as we spy him, and is 

 off, flying rapidly for a few yards and then coming suddenly to the ground with his head 

 towards the enemy. Again and again we start him ; at length he tires of the chase and 

 takes a longer flight than usual ; we know his little plan, and hurry back to where we 

 first saw him in time to see him alight all unsuspectingly, and we easily take him captive 

 in our toils. Let us examine him. He savagely moves his mandibles and tries to pinch, 

 but his bite is inoffensive and not very painful. Some of them give forth a rather strong 

 scent. This one is a little over an inch long, but barely a quarter of one broad ; his head 

 is very large, for he has brains ; his jaws are very strong, for he has an appetite, and long 

 and curved — a couple of scimitars, in fact, by which he cuts and carves the quivering 

 carcasses of his prey. His eleven-jointed antennae are graceful, long and slender. 'Tis 

 true that his back is of rather a dull purple colour, but beneath he is resplendent in a beau- 

 tiful bright brassy green. Each wing cover is adorned with three whitish irregular 

 stripes. His legs are long and slender, just the things on which to hunt the active insects 

 which he feeds upon. 



Michelet speaks of the beauty of one of the next of kin of the captive in our fingers 

 thus glowingly : " The rich and living aliment of the unfortunate insect victim apparently 

 communicates to the Cicindela its glowing colours. Its entire body is embellished with 

 them ; on the wings a changeful besprinkling of peacock's eyes ; on the fore parts numer- 

 ous meanders, diversely and softly shaded, are trailed over a dark ground. Abdomen and 

 legs are glazed with such rich hues that no enamel can sustain a comparison with them ; 

 the eye can scarcely endure their vivacity. The singular thing is, that besides these enamels 

 you find the dead tones of flowers and the butterfly's wing. To all these various elements 

 add some singularities, which you would suppose to be the work of human art, in the 



Fig. 4. Fig. 5. Fig. 6. 



Oriental styles, Persian and Turkish, or as in the Indian shawl, where the colours, slightly 

 subdued, have found an admirable basis, time having gradually lent a grave tone to their 

 sweet harmony." 



When we have let go our common Cicindela, Cicindela vulgaris (fig. 4), let us look at 

 the pictures of his — not sisters — but of his cousins and his aunts. 



The purple tiger beetle ( C. purpurea Biv.) is figured as No. 5. It is nearly the 

 same size as vulgaris, and is often to be found in its company. Its general colour is a 



