16 
BRITISH BEETLES. 
CHAPTER II. 
REMARKS UPON THE STRUCTURE, METAMORPHOSES, 
ETC., OF COLEOPTERA. 
The Coleoptera, or Beetles, are insects whose outer 
wings are not evidently veined, but are more or less 
horny (or chitinous) like other parts of the external 
covering of the body ; the hinder edges of these wings 
when closed are nearly always brought together over 
the back of the individual by close apposition in a 
straight line termed the “ suture.” These hard wings 
are called elytra or wing-cases, and usually cover and 
conceal membranous wings having a few veins and 
folded either transversely or longitudinally ; but these 
lower wings are not infrequently atrophied or absent. 
The elytra are sometimes reduced in size so as not to 
entirely cover the back, and in such cases it also 
occasionally occurs that they do not meet together by 
a straight suture. The maxillae and mandibles (or 
jaws) move transversely and separately. The meta- 
morphosis is complete, but the integument or skin of 
the pupa is not a hard encasement, but a more or less 
elastic membrane enwrapping the parts of the unde- 
veloped image, and allowing their outlines to be more 
or less completely perceived. 
They pass through the ordinary metamorphoses of 
