60 
BRITISH BEETLES. 
The larva of the common green Tiger-beetle (C. cam- 
pestris) is found during the summer months in the 
same situation as the perfect insect, viz. hot sandy 
places. It is a whitish, soft-skinned grub, with a 
darker, horny, fiat, broad head and first segment, the 
former being armed with strong sickle-shaped man- 
dibles. The eighth segment of its body is larger than 
— and considerably elevated above — the rest ; with 
two curved, liook-like spines, surrounded by stiff 
bristles on the top : this gives the entire larva a zig- 
zag shape, and affords a strong support when it is on 
the look-out for prey in its cylindrical burrow, which 
is a foot deep (or more) in the sand, and perpendicular 
at the entrance. The larva digs with its flat head ; 
and, as the work gets below the surface, scrambles up 
the shaft, by its hooked segment, to eject the dirt : 
when the pit is completed, it takes a firm hold with 
the hooks inside, and fills up the mouth with its broad 
head and first segment, which are kept level with the 
surface, the sharp jaws being ready to seize any passing 
insect. The victim, when captured, is immediately 
dragged to the bottom of the den and devoured, the 
larva finally closing the mouth of the burrow, and 
turning into a pupa. 
The Cicindelce frequent hot sandy banks and shores, 
flying and running alternately with great rapidity. 
One species only, C. germanica, the smallest and 
most elongate, is found in marshy places (especially 
at Black Gang Chine, Isle of Wight) ; it never takes 
to the wing, but runs with great rapidity over the 
wettest places, like an Elaphrus. The commonest is 
the above-mentioned C. campestris, plentiful round 
London, and indeed almost everywhere, in sandy 
