When this Beetle is casually examined, the elytra and head seem to be merely dull green, but when a powerful light is brought to bear on them, and they are placed under a trustworthy lens, they absolutely blaze with gem-Hke hues, so that the eye is almost dazzled with their splendour. Scarcely any two specimens are exactly alike, but in all there is a brilliant metallic resplendence, sometimes as of pale gold, and sometimes as of red gold.

If the wing-cases be opened, and the broad membranous wings spread, the upper surface of the abdomen is seen to be deep shining blue, very much like the colour of the ordinary ‘ bluebottle ’ fly. As the Beetle darts through the air in the sunshine, the light glitters on the burnished blue surface, a circumstance which has earned forihe Beetle the popular name of Sparkler.

One peculiarity of this insect is the strong but pleasingscent which it emits. I well remember the first time that I saw and captured this Beetle. It was on a sandy bank in Bagley Wood, near Oxford, and I could not for some time guess the origin of the pleasant, sweet-briar sort of scent which clung to my hands. For some time I thought that I must have grasped some fragrant herb, and it was not until I had taken the Beetles out of the box (where, by the way, nearly one half had been killed and partly eaten by the other half) that I discovered the real source of the perfume.

The habits of all the species being very similar, we will pass to another insect belonging to the same genus.

Plate I. Tiger Beetles And Bombardier.

Cicindela sylvatica and larva. 2. Cicindela maritima and larva. 3. Cicindela germanica and larva. 4. Broscus ceplialotes. 5. Brachinua crepitans, 6. Carabus monilis.

Plants : — Bramble (Itubus fruticosus). Above. Heath (Erica cinerea). Right of Middle. Lavender Thrift (Statice Zimoniuni). Left of Middle, Fern (Pteris aquilina). Above Heath.

On Plate I. Fig. 1, is seen the Wood Tiger Beetle {Cicindela sylvatica). This, although a really beautiful insect, cannot lay claim to the splendid colouring which adorns its congener, the Green Tiger Beetle.

The colour of this insect is brown above, with a decided purple gloss. The elytra have a cream-white curved mark at the base, a narrow wavy mark of the same colour in the middle, and a round spot close to the apex. Below, it is deep bluish-green, often glossed with copper and purple.

This species is found in various parts of England, and chiefly haunts sandy heaths and similar places. The reason for this habit is, that in such localities the larva can And a home, and the perfect insect a livelihood. The larva of the Tiger Beetle is an odd-looking creature, having a broad flat head, armed with sickle-shaped jaws, and the two next segments very large. The eighth segment is developed to an extraordinary degree, and is furnished on the back with two large tubercles crowned with reddish bristles, and carrying two sharp recurved hooks, the use of which will presently be seen. In consequence of this peculiar form, the larva has been compared in shape to the capital letter Z. The colour is whitish.

These odd-looking larvae are burrowers, making tunnels in the sandy soil nearly eighteen inches in depth, and a little wider than the diameter of the body. They excavate in rather an ingenious manner. With their jaws, assisted by their front pair of legs, they scrape away the sand, and allow it to rest upon the flat broad head. They then work their way up the tunnel, and, when they have reached the orifice, throw off the burden. The creature intends to make a perpendicular burrow, but is sometimes obliged to alter its shape, in consequence of coming across a stone or a furze-root. Sometimes, if a stone or root happens to be a large one, the larva is obliged to abandon its unfinished task, and begin another tunnel.

On Plate I. are shown the tunnels of several species of Cicindela ; the larva being shown in the burrow, and the perfect insect near its mouth. The third burrow, that of Cicindela germanica, is represented as only partially completed, so that the larva might be shown in its attitude of repose.

Wlien the larva feels hungry, which is generally the case, it ascends to the mouth of the tunnel, and c anchors itself there by

pressing the points of the hooks against the sides, so that no muscular exertion is required in order to keep itself from falling down the burrow. It then opens its jaws widely, and waits for prey. In this position it is all but invisible; and many a sm^ll insect runs heedlessly within its reach, and is instantly seized in the terrible jaws. No sooner is the capture made than the Cicindela larva retires to the end of its tunnel, and there devours its prey in peace. At Fig. 3 of Plate I. is shown the larva at the bottom of the burrow, engaged in eating an ant which it has just caught.

It is not very easy to procure the larvae, even in places where they are tolerably common. In the first place, their peculiar mode of life keeps them much out of sight. The mouth of the bm-row is not large ; and when the larva suspects danger, it immediately retreats to the bottom of its tunnel, and there waits until it feels that the danger has passed by. In the next place, even when the creature has been detected, to capture it is a difficult task, owing to the nature of the soil, which is apt to fall in when disturbed, and so to fill up the burrow and hide the inhabitant. The best plan for catching these creatures without injuring them is to introduce into the burrow a fiexible grass-stalk, or something of the same natm'e, and to pass it gently down to the very bottom of the tunnel in which the larva is lying. By carefully digging around the gi-ass-stalk, the hidden grub can be secured.

More care is required in this operation than might at first seem to be needful. The trowel or ‘ digger ’ should be put into the ground at least eight inches from the mouth of the burrow, and quite a large hole should be dug ; as, if it be made too small, the point of the trowel is apt to crush the softbodied grub. Then, the grass-stalk must be carefully held upright in the left hand, while the right hand is employed in digging ; as, if unsupported, it is sure to fall out of the burrow as soon as the operator has dug within some two or three inches of the bottom of the hole, and then all the labour is lost. These larvae may be found about May, and a second brood about August and the beginning of September.

Many insects are very voracioxis in the larval condition, but become comparatively indifferent to food when they reach their perfect state. This, however, is not the case with the Tiger

Beetles, which only cease from eating during the short period of their pupal existence. In localities which these insects prefer, such as sand-banks which are totally sheltered from the wind, they may he seen busily engaged in chasing their prey. They are more active in the air than any other Beetle, having a way of spreading and folding their beautiful wings so instantaneously that they look more like flies than Beetles. Most Beetles are very deliberate in preparing for flight and alighting after it, but the Tiger Beetles are quite exceptional in this respect, and dash about as easily as if their wings had not to be unfolded and repacked under the elytra.

One exception to the general rule is found in the Cidndela germanica.

This is the smallest of the British Cicindelidse, being only five lines in length. Its body is rather cylindrical, and its colour is much like that of the first-mentioned species, the elytra being of a similar dull, but rich green. The elytra have a cream-white spot on the shoulder, one near the middle of the lateral margin, and a crescent-shaped mark at the apex. It is blue-green below, glossed with a copper tinge.

Contrary to the habits of the other Tiger Beetles, this species prefers wet to dry places, and has a liking for brackish marshes. It does not take to wing as do its congeners, but it is a very rapid runner, and traverses the wet surface of the ground with great speed. It appears to be one of those species which are at once intermittent and local in their appearance ; being found plentifully in one season in some favoured locality, and then disappearing for years. Black Grang Chine, in the Isle of Wight, is said to be the place most frequented by this insect.

Another species, Gicindela maritima, is shown on Plate I. Fig. 2. It is purplish or coppery-chocolate above, the coppery hue being plainest along the suture ; and the elytra have a cream-white mark at the base and apex, and a wavy band in the middle. It prefers the sand of the sea-shore, and may be found on many of our sandy coasts. «

We now come to the next family of British Beetles, the Lebiadae. All the Beetles of this family may be known by the

appearance of the elytra, which do not extend to the end of the abdomen, and are abruptly squared, looking almost as if they had been cut off. If their first pair of legs be examined, the tibiae will he seen notched on the inner side. They are all rather small Beetles, and some are very prettily coloured. They are tolerably active when they choose to take the trouble of moving ; but they are much given to hiding themselves in all kinds of crevices, so that some trouble is requisite in order to procure them.

The young entomologist must always bear in mind that the most unpromising localities will often prove to be singularlv rich in insects, and that Beetles especially may be found in any spot where there is a crack or a hole. Large stones are nearly sure to shelter a Beetle or two beneath them ; moss is generally full of them ; and a heap of decaying grass or leaves is a hotbed which seems as well fitted to produce Beetles as to force plants. The loose bark of trees always has Beetles under it; and small Beetles creep into the burrows which larger Beetles have made in the decaying wood of the tree. When a quantity of long moss is to be seen, it is a good plan to fill a bag with it — a paper bag will do in lieu of anything better — and to bring it home, when it can be carefully examined by shaking it bit by bit over a large sheet of white paper. Grasstufts can be treated in a similar manner, and mostly with great success. Lumps of dry earth can also be brought home, where they can be broken up and leisurely searched.

The typical example of this family is shown on Plate II. Fig. 1. Its name is Lebia crux-minor. The insects belonging to this genus have hard and somewhat flattened bodies, and the antennae rather thickened towards the tip. The second joint is the shortest, and the third the longest, the others being of about equal length. One of the maxillary palpi is drawn on Woodcut II. Fig. /.

The colour of this species is very decided. The head is black and ‘ punctated,’ i.e. covered with minute holes or punctures, and the thorax and elytra are rust-red, the latter being marked with a bold black cross. No one can mistake this pretty Beetle who has once seen it ; but, unfortunately, to see it except in cabinets is a very rare event, and any entomologist

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