256 
HALF HOURS WITH IKSECTS. [Packard. 
cerning its habits, nor of the appearance of its grub. The 
beetle itself is blackish brown, with slight, dark blue reflec¬ 
tions. The top of the head and the sides of the prothorax 
Fig. 195. 
The Shining Arrhopalus. 
and under side of the body are covered with short, fine gray 
hairs, and there are silvery w-like markings on the wing- 
covers. 
We have thus seen what a force in the world these beetles 
are. Their work is done slowly but effectively, and their 
gnawing teeth, though slow in action, are as resistless as 
the “mordant tooth of time.” Beetles have in fact well 
earned the right to have engraved on the escutcheon of their 
order the old saying: Scarabceus aquilam qucerit. 
32 
