20 
ORDER OR COLEOPTERA. 
Order of COLEOPTEEA. 
The Coleoptera, (a term composed of two Greek words, x»Aeoc a sheath , 
and Trrepa wings,) commonly called beetles, are the most numerous divi- 
sion of the mandibulate or gnawing insects. They are distinguished 
from all other insects by the hard texture of their bodies, and by their 
horny wing-covers, called elytra, which represent the upper pair of wings 
of other insects. The elytra are not moved in flight, but only raised so 
as to permit the free motion of the lower or true wings, and a few ol the 
chafers ( Getonice ) do not even raise them during flight. They are gen- 
erally hard, horny and inflexible, but in the lightning-beetles ( Lam VV - 
ridce ) and a few others, they are comparatively thin and flexible, but 
never membraneous like the lower wings. The inferior or true wings 
differ from those of almost all other insects in being folded crosswise, as 
well as lengthwise, when at rest under their cases. The Bupresfnhe 
and a few others form exceptions to this rule. A few kinds which live 
under stones and in other dark places, and which have no occasion to 
fly, have no wings under their elytra. 
Owing to the perfect development and the hard texture of the crust 
or integument of the Coleoptera, and also to the circumstance that it is 
not usoallv much obscured by hair, this part is made more use of ... 
classification than it is in any of the other orders. The upper sale ex- 
hibits the three divisions of the insect’s body : the head, the thorax, and 
the abdomen, covered by the elytra. Between the elytra, at their base, 
or where they join the thorax, is almost always a small triangular piece 
called the scutelhim. On the under side, each of the principal purls is 
seen to be composed of a considerable number of pieces usually, soldered 
together, anil distinguished only by fine impressed lines called sutures. 
These subdivisions and tlieir names will be sufficiently understood, with- 
out the necessity of a detailed description, by the annexed figure ol one 
of the ground-beetles (1 larpalus caliginosusj and the accompanying ex- 
planation, taken in connection with the general description in the lie- 
ginning of the work. 
EXPLANATION OF THE FOLLOWING FIGURE. 
The oblong narrow piece in the middle of the mouth, marked L, is the 
ligula or tongue. At the extremity of the ligula are two little w ings or 
side pieces marked pp; these are the paraglossw.' The other parts ol 
the mouth are named in the figure, and have been described m t ie in- 
troductory part of this work. The under side of the head, behind the 
mentum or chin, is called the gulu or throat. 
The under side of the thorax is divided into a considerable number 
of pieces more or less distinct, and separated from each other by im- 
pressed lines called sutures. The middle portion is called the sternum 
