THK TWO HUNTKRS. 
195 
Two Hunters. 
BY WALTER S. ABBOTT. 
In the genus Calosoma are found two species that would 
attract the attention of the most casual observer by their 
size, beauty and ferocity ; namely, Calosoma scrutator and 
Calosoma calidum. Calosoma, which is (according to the 
classification of Eeconte and Horn) the second genus of 
the tribe Caribini, is noted throughout the world for the 
size and beauty of some of its members, Calosoma syco- 
phanta being considered the most beautiful beetle in Eu¬ 
rope, and although our species will not equal his beauty, 
still they are worthy followers. 
Calosoma scrutator, in particular, is a very pretty beetle, 
having wing covers of a beautiful iridescent green, bor¬ 
dered with a band of ruby, and a head and thorax of a deep 
violet purple. It is one of our largest coleoptera, measur¬ 
ing in some cases almost an inch and a half in length, and 
when alive its long legs and antennae make it seem even 
larger. However, his heart is as black as his form is beau¬ 
tiful, for a more savage and rapacious insect is rarely to be 
found. He well deserves the name of Hunter, won by him 
in many a fierce and sudden attack, and woe to the unfor¬ 
tunate insect that he spies when on a hunt, for there is no 
escape from those strong mandibles, and flight is of no 
avail, for the Hunter is fleet of foot and can run down the 
fastest Carib. 
Duncan states that these beetles often ascend trees in the 
search of caterpillars, which are its favorite food, and that 
the adult and the larva may frequently be seen feeding to¬ 
gether. The appetite of this beetle is really something 
astonishing, one that was kept by the writer last summer 
actually devouring, in one night, two specimens of the 
common dor-bug (Eachnosterna fusca) and one Polyphilla, 
