. The popular natural history . Zoology. EAKiVICS. 533 themselves to the space between the bark and the wood. The grubs practi- cally possess no limbs, the minute scaly legs being entirely useless for locomo- tion, and the movements of the grub being performed by alternate contraction and extension of its ringed body. In order to aid in locomotion the segments are furnished with projecting tubercles, which are pressed against the sides of the burrow. Passing by several families, we come to the Chrysomelida, which are roimd-bodied, and in most cases very brilliantly coloured with shining green,
. The popular natural history . Zoology. EAKiVICS. 533 themselves to the space between the bark and the wood. The grubs practi- cally possess no limbs, the minute scaly legs being entirely useless for locomo- tion, and the movements of the grub being performed by alternate contraction and extension of its ringed body. In order to aid in locomotion the segments are furnished with projecting tubercles, which are pressed against the sides of the burrow. Passing by several families, we come to the Chrysomelida, which are roimd-bodied, and in most cases very brilliantly coloured with shining green, purple, blue, and gold, of a peculiar but indescribable lustre. They are tlow walkers, but grasp the leaves with a wonderiuUy firm hold! The British species of Chrysomela are very numerous. One of the genera belonging to this family contains the largest British specimen of these beetles, commonly known by the name of the Bloody-nose Beetle {Titnarcha tenebiicosa), on account of the bright red fluid which it ejects from its mouth and the joints of its legs when it is alarmed. This fluid is held by many persons to be a specific in case of toothache. It is applied by means of permitting the insect to emit the fluid on the finger and then rubbing it on the gum, and the effects are said to endure for several days. The larva of this beetle is a fat-bodied, shining, dark green grub, which may be found clinging to grass, moss, or hedgerows in the early summer. It is so like the perfect insect that its identity cannot be doubted. The family of the Coccinellidae, or Ladybirds, is allied to the Chry- somelidae, and is well known on account of the pretty little spotted insects with which we have been familiar from our childhood. Though the Lady- bird is too well known to need description, it may be mentioned that it is an extremely useful insect, feeding while in the larval state on the aphides that swarm on so many of our favourite plants and shrubs. The mother Ladybird always takes care
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
