HABITS OF THE ADEFHAGA. 
133 
The larvae of Cicindela possess six eyes; the head armed with a formidable 
pair of jaws; abdomen furnished on the eighth segment with two erect spines. 
Their habits are interesting. Having burrowed in the earth a cell of a foot or 
more in depth, the larvae attach themselves by means of their dorsal hooks and 
legs at the top, their broad head fitting the aperture. Any luckless insect that 
may approach the hidden foe, is immediately seized and dragged to the bottom of 
the burrow. Mr. Curtis is of opinion that the dorsal hooks “ may, by being 
brought into contact with the head, enable the larva to hold its prey.” But 
Clairville’s idea seems by far the most probable, viz., that the hooks serve as 
an anchor for retaining it at any height in its deep cell. The grubs may be 
readily captured by inserting a straw into their burrows, which they so tena¬ 
ciously seize as to suffer themselves to be dragged out. Before becoming pupte, 
they close the openings of the cells. In Griffith’s Cuvier (Yol. I., 170.) it is 
stated that they “ open the aperture,” which, however, is obviously incorrect. 
In their perfect state, Cicindeloe will vie in beauty with almost any tribe of 
insects, and in voracity surpass the other Carabaceous families. Their strong, 
dentated, and very large mandibles, point them out as typically carnivorous. 
The Cicindelidce frequent -warm sandy districts ; their flight is of short duration, 
though extremely brisk, and, coupled with their great agility, renders the capture 
of their ill-fated prey a matter of comparative ease. There are, however, 
species of the family destitute of wings. Manticora , Ctenostoma , Aptema , and 
a few other genera are thus confined to the ground, on which they run with great 
quickness, secreting themselves under • stones, Grass, &c. Several of the exotic 
Cicindeloe occur frequently on the leaves of trees. Mr. Y/estwood remarks of 
the commonest British species (C. campestris) that it has occurred as early as 
the middle of February in Coombe Wood, and that when handled it exhales a 
pleasing scent. A similar odour is exhaled by a Brazilian species mentioned by 
M. Lacodaire, but which after death becomes foetid and unpleasant. The 
predaceous habits and peculiar markings of the elytra of Cicindeloe have gained 
them the appellation of 66 Tiger-beetles.” En passant it may be mentioned, that 
although colour can only be considered a specific distinction, yet in many instances 
It points out generic affinity. Cicindelidoe are an example of this; for although 
the ground-tint of the elytra varies, most of the species agree in the disposition, 
&c., of the spots. When inspecting specimens in a well-stored cabinet of insects 
from all parts of the world, we immediately perceive the similitude of the black 
markings on the wings of Pontioe , from whatever clime ; the prevailing sulphur- 
colour of species of Colias; the silver spots of those of Argynnis; the metallic 
lustre of true Carabi , Calosomce , &c. I have a specimen of Cicindela from 
China, which considerably resembles our common C. campestris , though larger? 
and in other respects different. 
