58 
FAUNA -OF THE SOUTH. 
6. Vein-winged insects {Rymenoptem)] 1. Two-winged 
insects [Diptera). 
A brief notice of some of the more prominent of these 
orders is all that we can attempt in a work of this kind. 
Order 1. Beetles. — A practical classification arranges 
beetles in three families. 1. Carnivorous beetles, which 
prey upon living insects. 2, Scavenger beetles, which 
live on putrid matter, decayed wood, and plants. 3. Her- 
bivorous beetles, which feed on plants and fruits. 
The first two are useful, but the third are noxious, de- 
structive to vegetation, injuring the planter, reducing his 
profits, and exerting a decided influence on the commerce 
of the world and the comfort of the human family. 
Among the carnivorous beetles we may mention two or 
three species of tiger beetles (Cicindelce); the southern 
lady-bird ( Cocinella australis) ; caterpillar-hunters ( Calo- 
somce), which are found in our corn and cotton fields, fill- 
ing the office which Nature has assigned them — devouring 
the insects which injure vegetation. 
Among the scavenger beetles we notice the tumble-bug 
[Atuchvs volvens), a cosmopolite of great notoriety ; the 
horned passalus {Fassalus cornutus) and the stag-beetle 
[Lucanus dama), both with pincer-like jaws ; and the fox- 
like cetonia (Amphicoura vulpina). 
These scavenger beetles deposit their eggs usually in 
rotten wood, sometimes in the ground, and the grubs or 
larvce live for years as such before their metamorphosis 
into perfect beetles. Upon their emergence into the per- 
fect state they commence their labors, and work most dili- 
gently till ai-rested by cold weather. They purify the 
atmosphere by feeding on putrid substances and the excre- 
ments of animals. 
Herbivorous beetles have a horny skin and hard wing- 
