C0LE0PTE11A. 
139 
time. The Coleoptera are divided into four large sec¬ 
tions, characterised by the number of joints in the tarsi, 
although the character is liable to many exceptions. 
The largest section contains such beetles as have five 
joints in the tarsi ; these form the Pentamera. In the 
second group, the Ileteromera , most of the insects have 
five joints in the tarsi of the two first pair of legs, and 
four joints in the tarsi of the hinder pair. In the 
Tetramera the tarsi are usually four-jointed ; in the 
Trimera three-jointed. 
The Pentamerous-beetles are divided into four sub¬ 
sections : the Adephaga 
(Ravenous beetles), Rhy- 
popTiaga (Filth - eaters), 
Cordylocerata (Club- 
horns), and the Prioce - 
rata (Saw-horns). The 
Ravenous-beetles live 
some on the land, others 
on the water; of the 
land ravenous-beetles the 
Tiger - beetle ( Cicindela 
campestris ) may be taken 
as a sample. It is an ex- Water-beetle ( Dyticut ). 
tremely active insect of bright green colour, with crimson 
and gold, and several cream-coloured spots on the wing- 
cases or elytra see Plate VI., Fig. 1. It frequents dry 
sandy banks, and is fond of the sunshine. The Tiger- 
beetle has the character of being extremely ferocious ; in 
captivity these insects wall u fight savagely, rearing up 
against one another like dogs, decapitating their adver¬ 
saries by single strokes of the jaws.” The female has been 
