oles. They breathe by piercing the surface
film with the tail, where a pair of spiracles are situated. The pupal
stage is passed in an earthen cell, just beneath the surface of the
ground. Nearly 2000 species of _Dyticidae_ are known: they are
universally distributed, but are most abundant in cool countries. The
_Haliplidae_ form a small aquatic family allied to the _Dyticidae_.

[Illustration: FIG. 7.--_Cicindela sylvatica_ (Wood Tiger-Beetle).
Europe.]

[Illustration: FIG. 8.--_Manticora tuberculata_. S. Africa.]

The _Carabidae_, or ground-beetles, comprising 13,000 species, form
the largest and most typical family of the Adephaga (figs. 4, 5, 6),
the legs of all three pairs being alike and adapted for rapid running.
In many _Carabidae_ the hind-wings are reduced or absent, and the
elytra fused together along the suture. Many of our native species
spend the day lurking beneath stones, and sally forth at night in
pursuit of their prey, which consists of small insects, earthworms and
snails. But a number of the more brightly coloured ground-beetles run
actively in the sunshine. The carabid larva is an active well-armoured
grub with the legs and cerci variable in length. Great differences in
the general form of the body may be observed in the family. For
example, the stout, heavy body of _Carabus_ (fig. 6) contrasts
markedly with the wonderful flattened abdomen and elytra of
_Mormolyce_ (fig. 4), a Malayan genus found beneath fallen trees, a
situation for which its compressed shape is admirably adapted. Blind
_Carabidae_ form a large proportion of cave-dwelling beetles, and
several species of great interest live between tide-marks along the
seashore.

The _Cicindelidae_, or tiger-beetles (figs. 7, 8) are the most highly
organized of all the Adephaga. The inner lobe (lacinia) of the first
maxilla terminates in an articulated hook, while in the second
maxillae (labium) both inner and outer lobes ("ligula" and
"para-glossae") are much reduced. The face (clypeus) is broad,
extending on either side in front of the insertion of the feelers. The
beetles are elegant insects with long, slender legs, running quickly,
and flying in the sunshine. The pronotum and elytra are often adorned
with bright colours or metallic lustre, and marked with stripes or
spots. The beetles are fierce in nature and predaceous in habit, their
sharp toothed mandibles being we