who is fortunate enough to capture it, is sure to publish the fact. It is probably one of the intermittent and local species, as it has been taken in some numbers near the Devil’s Dyke, at Brighton. The length of the Beetle is about a quarter of an inch.

Another species of this genus is drawn on Woodcut II. Fig. 2. This is called Lehia cyanocephala. The latter of these two words sigTaifies blue-headed, and is given to the insect because its head, instead of being black, like that of the preceding species, is bluish-green. The thorax is rust-red, and is much punctated, and has a definite though slight groove along its centre. The colour of the elytra is somewhat variable, but is generally greenish-blue, in some specimens being almost entirely green, and in others almost entirely blue. It is bluishgreen beneath.

The size of the insect is as variable as its colour, some specimens being quite a third larger than others. Its average length is a quarter of an inch, or rather less. It is not a common Beetle, but may be found upon the broom in the summer time.

There is a common species of this beautiful genus also to be procured from the broom. This is Lebia chlorocephala. It much resembles the preceding insect in colour-, but may be known by the greater depth of the punctures on the head, and the longer and narrower thorax, with the posterior angles more pointed. Like the preceding insect, it is exceedingly variable both in colour and size. Mr. Stephens states that the specimens which he took from the broom in Epping Forest were scarcely half as large as those taken on the same tree in Darenth Wood, and that in the Epping Beetles the prevailing colour- was blue, while in the Darenth specimens it was green.

The genus Dromius comes next on our list. There are nine species of Dromius, all of them small and ratherpretty insects. Although they are almost invariably found under the bark of trees, they must not be confounded with those little Beetles which devour the bark or bore into the wood. On the contrary, such irrsects constitute the food of the Dromii, so that

the latter ought to be encouraged and protected as far as possible. Their bodies are long and flattish, so as to enable them to run about under the bark in search of prey. The maxilla of a Dromius is shown on Woodcut II. Fig. a.

On the same illustration, at Fig. 1, is shown a Beetle which my be accepted as the type of the genus. Its name is Dro- 'ffhvUjS (^VjQj^^/TXTYiO/C'UjLcvtus^ the latter name being given to it on account of the four white marks upon the elytra. The head of this species is black, and the thorax is rust-red. The elytra are brown, and each of them has two white spots, as shown in the illustration. The length of the Beetle is designated by the line drawn by its side. It can be taken in various localities. Throughout the year it can mostly be found by removing the dead bark of trees, but in winter it can sometimes be found under stones and in heaps of decaying leaves.

The word Dromius is of Greek origin, signifying a runner, and is given to the members of this genus in consequence of their activity.

The members of the genus Tarus can be k«own by examining the structure of their mouths, and especially by looking at the labial palpi, which have the last joint very large, and shaped like an axe-head. This shape is technically termed by entomologists ‘ securiform,’ from the Latin word securis, an axe or hatchet. The figure d, of Woodcut No. II., represents the labial palpi of a Tarus, and will at once explain the shape which the word securiform expresses.

On the same Woodcut, at Fig. 3, is drawn the owner of the securiform palpi in question, Tarus axillaris.

Three members of this genus are known to inhabit England. They are little Beetles, long bodied, and very flat, so as to enable them to creep into small crevices. They are sombre in hue, and not very easily distinguished from each other. Indeed, even expert entomologists have been perplexed about these Beetles, and some confusion has, in consequence, arisen respecting their nomenclature.

The present species is rather less than the third of an inch in length. Its colour is pitchy-black, but the thorax, legs, and antennae are reddish, and the latter are downy at the tips. The elytra are very polished, and have bold striae covered with

and there is a dull orange mark on the shoulder, puncttires, a line of the same hue running along the lateral margin. None of the Tari are common, but they may be found near the sea-coast, hidden under stones in damp and marshy places.

If the reader will refer to Plate I. Fig. 5, he will see represented an event which frequently occurs in the insect world, and which, in spite of its frequency, never fails to attract attention and excite admiration.

There is a prettily-made, though soberly-coloured, little Beetle, called Brachinus explodens, the latter title being I given to it in consequence of a most singular property which it possesses, and which is almost unique in the animal kingdom. It secretes a remarkable volatile fluid, which it has the power of retaining or expelling at will. When alarmed, it throws out a small quantity of this fluid, which immediately volatilises with a slight explosion when it comes in contact with the atmosphere, and looks very much like the fire of miniature artillery. In consequence of this phenomenon, the insect which produces it is popularly called the Bombakdier Beetle.

This curious property is used in defence. The Beetle, being a small and comparatively feeble one, is liable to be attacked by the larger- Greodephaga, especially by those belonging to the genus Carabus. Tlie lesser insect could have no chance of escape but for its curious weapons of defence. When the Carabus chases the Brachinus, the latter waits until the former has nearly reached its prey, and then fires a gun, so to speak, in its face. The effect on the Carabus is ludicrous. The insect seems quite scared at such a repulse, stops, backs away from the tiny blue cloud, and allows its intended prey to reach a place of safety.

The illustration represents this scene. The pursuing Beetle, Carabus monilis, is chasing the Bombardier, and has very nearly captured it, but is stopped by a discharge of artillery, under cover of which the Bombardier will make off. Meanwhile, the Carabus, exchanging its rapid advance for a retreat nearly as rapid, throws its antennse backwards — a movement which is analogous to that of a dog when it drops its tail between its legs — and, before it can recover itself, its intended prey has made good its escape.

The Brachini may be identified by the very convex body, and their palpi without the securiform terminal joint. The Bombardier Beetle is reddish-yellow, with dull deep-blue elytra. It is, however, a variable species, as are all, or nearly all, of those in which green or blue is the prevailing colour, and, though most specimens are blue, or blue-black, some are deep blackish-green. It also varies greatly in size, some specimens being not a quarter of an inch in length, and others more than the third of an inch long.

These Beetles love wet situations, especially when the water is brackish, and hide under stones and in crevices, so that they are seldom seen except by insect hunters. The banks of tidal rivers are good hunting grounds for the searchers after Brachini, such as the Thames, from Erith, or even Woohvich, to its mouth. They are found in greatest numbers below Grravesend, and ten or twelve may sometimes be seen under a single stone, firing off their artillery when deprived of their shelter.

The volatile fluid which produces such curious effects is secreted in a little sac just within the end of the abdomen. It is not only capable of repelling the larger Beetles by its explosion and cloud of blue vapour, but is potent enough to discolour the human skin when discharged against it, as many have found who have captured Bombardier Beetles by hand. Should it get within the eyelids, the pain and irritation produced resemble those which would be caused by a corresponding amount of the strongest vinegar.

The whole of the contents are not ejected at one discharge, but there is sufficient to produce a series of explosions, each perceptibly fainter than its predecessor. Even after the death of the Beetle, the explosions may be produced by pressing the abdomen between the finger and thumb. Even in our small British species the phenomenon is very surprising, but there are much larger species in hotter countries, which produce much louder explosions, accompanied with quite a cloud of vapour. Two British species of Brachinus are known to entomologists.

We come now to another family of Gfeodephaga, of which we can but take one example. The Scaritidse, like the preceding family, are seldom seen in the open air, but, instead of

creeping into clefts already existing, they make tunnels for themselves. Tunnelling Beetles are almost invariably cylindric in shape, and this is the case with the Scaritid®. The thorax of these Beetles is rather peculiarly shaped, being separated from the abdomen by a sort of neck, or ‘ pedunculated,’ if we use the scientific term. The tibiae of the first pair of legs, which are the tools chiefly used in burrowing, are very hard, very strong, and boldly toothed, and the antennae are short, and have scarcely any distinction between the joints.

One of the best examples of the Scaritidoe is shown on Woodcut II. Fig. 4, and is an insect called Clivina fossor. The length of this Beetle is rather more than a quarter of an inch. Its colour is exceedingly variable, ranging from pitchy-black to chestnut, brown, or even brick-red. This variation in colour depends chiefly upon the exposure to the air, the oldest specimens being the darkest. This gradual darkening by exposure to light is very frequent among insects; and a too familiar example may be found in the common cockroach, which is often seen almost white, darkening gradually until it assumes its well-known red-brown hue. There are only two British examples of this genus.

Usually, the Clivina is found under stones and in heaps of decaying vegetable matter, but I have taken great numbers out of a large rotten log, which was seen to be full of their burrows as soon as the bark was removed. I took out of the same log both the larvae and pupae of the same Beetle, having nothing to do but to break up the soft and rotten wood with a powerful digger, previously laying a newspaper below the log. The insects fell out in numbers without being injured, and could be taken in any number.

The instrument which is here mentioned was not of the usual form, but was made to order, and a very useful article it was. It was shaped something like a mattock, the blade being trowel-shaped and slightly curved, and a broad hammer taking the place of the prongs. The blade was very strong and sharpedged, and on occasion could serve as an axe, while the hammer end was useful for breaking up the hardened earth in which many Beetles reside. It was particularly useful during hard frosts, because the Beetles are then in their winter quarters, and cannot be got at without some such weapon. If I were

to have another digger made, I should have the handle prolonged into a sort of crow-bar with a rather sharp edge, so as to he able to use it as chisel and lever united.

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