1 3 ° 
INSECTS. 
The Cicindelidce consist of about one thousand known species, which arc dis¬ 
tributed throughout the world, but are much more abundant in tropical than in 
temperate or cold countries. In Europe two genera only are represented— Tetracha, 
which comprises nocturnal and twilight-loving species, and Cicindela, whose species 
are found in the hottest and sunniest places. The tiger-beetles are extremely 
pretty insects of remarkably active habits, and exhibit the predaceous type of 
structure to perfection. Besides possessing great speed of foot, most of them make 
ready use of their wings, and they are further characterised by large and prominent 
eyes, and mouths well adapted for seizing and holding their prey, the mandibles 
being long and provided with a number of sharp teeth, while the inner lobe of the 
maxillae is furnished with a movable claw or hook at the tip. The fact that this 
TIGER-BEETLES. 
Cicindela hybrida (with larva and pupa slightly enlarged); Collyris 
, longicottis (enlarged). 
or darker metallic tints, frequently varied with white or pale yellow spots and 
bands, which in the case of a great many species run together to form more or less 
intricate and pretty patterns. While their shape is usually such as is shown in 
our figure of C. liybrida, we get, on the other hand, remarkable exotic forms, in 
which the body is narrow and elongated, and broadest towards the hinder end. 
Collyris and other genera of the various Oriental countries—where the species are 
found pursuing their prey on the trees in the forests—afford examples of this type. 
From its great resemblance in colour and form to Collyris, a rare and curious 
longicorn beetle, found in the same localities, has been named Collyrodes; and it 
has been remarked by Mr. Wallace that beetles of the family Cicindelidce are 
amongst those most frequently mimicked by other beetles. 
In external structure the carnivorous ground-beetles ( Carabiclce ) approach 
the Cicindelidce, from which they may in most cases be distinguished by their 
general shape, as well by the fact that they never exhibit the coloration and 
markings characteristic of that family. Other points of difference may be seen 
in their less prominent eyes, in the absence of an articulation in the hook of 
the maxillae, and in the shape of the mandibles, which, though occasionally long, 
hook is movable and not 
firmlv fixed to the blade 
«/ 
of the maxillse, affords a 
means of distinguishing 
the tmer-beetles from all 
© 
the other beetles of the 
tribe Adephaga. More 
than half of all the 
known species of the 
family belong to the 
single genus Cicindela, 
and this is the only genus 
which is cosmopolitan. 
With the exception of a 
few species of an almost 
entirely ivory - white 
colour, the Cicindelidce 
exhibit greenish, bronzy, 
