Si6 
THE STUDY OF INSECTS . 
In the Typical Coleoptera the mouth-parts are of the 
ordinary type; the head is not prolonged into a snout; the 
gula is present, there being two gular sutures, at least, 
before and behind (Fig. 601, b ); and the epimera of the 
prothorax are not prolonged so as to meet on the middle 
line of the body behind the prosternum (Fig. 612). 
Family Cicindelid^e (Cic-in-del'i-dae). 
The Tiger-beetles . 
The graceful forms and beautiful colors of the greater 
number of the tiger-beetles have made this family one of 
the favorites of students of Coleoptera. To this family 
belong the most agile of all beetles; and they are not 
merely swift of foot, but are also able to fly well. They 
are found on bright, hot days in dusty roads, in beaten 
paths, and on the shores of streams. They remain abso¬ 
lutely still until we can see them well but are still out of 
reach ; then like a flash they fly up and away, alighting 
several rods ahead of us. Before alighting they always turn 
so that they face us, and can thus watch our movements. 
Their popular name is suggestive of their predaceous 
habits, and of the spots with which many are marked. 
They are usually a metallic green or bronze, banded or 
spotted with yellow. Some are black; and some that live 
on white sand are grayish white, being exactly like the sand 
in color. 
A useful character for distinguishing the members of 
this family is the fact that the terminal hook 
of the maxilla (the digitus ) is united to this 
organ by a movable joint (Fig. 618, h). 
The sexes of the tiger-beetles can be dis¬ 
tinguished, except in Aniblychild , by the sixth 
abdominal segment of the males being notched 
so as to expose a small seventh segment; while 
in the females only six segments are visible. In the 
Fig. 618. 
