TORTOISE BEETLE, OR CASSIDA VIRIDIS. Ill 
tures, that I found in the garden this morn- 
ing ; pray tell me the name of this one. 
Mother, It is the cassida viridis*, or, 
as it is commonly called, the garden tor- 
toise beetle, not only from its shape, but 
from the power of drawing in its head, 
and concealing it under the shell like 
the tortoise. It was a yery opportune 
discovery of yours, for it belongs to the 
order of which we are speaking. 
LiUcy, I found it creeping on a thistle 
stalk ; I suppose it eats the leaves. 
Mother, Probably ; for it is generally 
found on that plant. The most curious 
circumstance respecting this species is 
the contrivance by which the larvae shelter 
themselves from rain, or from a very hot 
sun; they actually make a little umbrella 
of dirt, which they support by means of 
their forked tail. 
Now examine this cassida, and endea- 
vour to describe it technically. 
* Viridis, gree». 
