468 DESCRIPTION OF THE MUSEUM. 



sects of this family, and is provided as well as 

 the cicindela with strong jaws. Amongst the 

 species of this last genus, which are almost all 

 spotted or striped with white on a coppery red 

 or green ground, we will mention the c. cam- 

 pestris, Lin. (n° 21), which is equally wonderful 

 for its habits and for the form of the larva. 

 A perpendicular and rounded hole, excavated in 

 a sandy soil, and exposed to the sun, forms the 

 solitary abode of this larva. The strength of its 

 mandibles enables it to dig, and to separate the 

 particles of earth ; an enormous head, the supe- 

 perior part of which is formed like a basket, 

 answers the purpose of a hod, which it empties 

 by the help of two hooked processes situated 

 on its back, and which assist it to climb to the 

 mouth of the hole, where it empties its load. Its 

 habitation being thus prepared, it stands in am- 

 buscade near the entrance, which it closes with 

 its head. When its prey gets within reach it 

 darts forth, seizes it with its mandibles, and pre- 

 cipitates it to the bottom of the cell. In the 

 same cell, after having closed the entrance, it 

 undergoes its last metamorphosis. 



A greater length of body, very short wing- 

 sheaths, and the habit of keeping recurved the 

 two last rings of the abdomen in th*e act of 

 walking, signalize the genera staphjlinus, Lin. 



