STRUCTURE* METAMORPHOSES, ETC., OP COLEOPTERA. 17 
egg, larva, and pupa, before 
arriving at the perfect state. 
The eggs, which are usually 
oblong, or oval, and soft, are 
laid in places where the larva, 
when hatched, will be likely to 
obtain proper food, according 
to the habits of the different 
species. The larvae are very 
variable in form, but are mostly 
linear, with a horny front 
and head, the latter having 
strong jaws, rudimentary eyes, 
antenna;, and palpi ; they have, 
as a rule, six hard front legs> 
Fig j and appendages on the upper 
Puii-grown larva of Dtj- side, with a fleshy tubercle on the 
'mntta miivninn? i a n. oommnn . , _ 
under side, of the last segment. 
The legs are sometimes wanting 
entirely, or replaced by fleshy 
tubercles. The body is composed of the head, and, 
usually, twelve segments, to the first three of which 
the horny legs are attached, 
one on each side ; and there is 
usually a spiraclo, or breathing- 
hole, on each side of all the seg- 
ments, except the second, third, 
and last. The number of these 
segments is reduced in the perfect 
insect, as some of them are incor- 
porated in the generative organs, 
&c. : in a very large number of 
cases there is a cylindrical aual 
c 
tiscut marginal in, a common 
Water Beetle (nat. size). 
a. Group of ocelli forming 
one of the eyes. 
Fig. 2. 
Pupa of D. marginalia 
{nat. size). 
