COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 145 
beetle, it may be considered the most bulky of our 
indigenous Coleoptera. It is common in the south- 
ern parts of England, but becomes rare in the north, 
and has not been observed in any part of Scotland. 
In its perfect state it is by no means so rapacious as 
the Dytisci, sometimes even feeding on vegetable 
substances ; but the larva is of such destructive and 
blood-thirsty propensities that it is known in France 
by the name of ver- assassin. In that early condition 
it resembles a large soft worm, of a somewhat coni- 
cal form, provided with six feet, and having its large 
scaly head armed with two formidable jaws. The 
head moves with such freedom in all directions, 
that it can readily seize small shell-fish and other 
molluscae floating on the surface, without altering the 
horizontal position of the body maintained in swim- 
ming ; and it is even bent backwards, and devours 
its prey more conveniently by using the back as a 
kind of support. These larvae swim with facility, and ' 
have two fleshy appendages at the tail, by means of 
which they suspend themselves at the surface with 
their head downwards when they have occasion to 
respire.* The female beetle spins a silken bag for 
the reception of her eggs, similar to that which may 
at any time be seen attached to a dark-coloured spi- 
der (Lycosa saccata), of common occurrence under 
stones, and interesting for the maternal solicitude 
she shows in protecting her embryo progeny. Ir 
* Cuvier, Regne Animal, iv. 523. 
K 
