. Cuvier's animal kingdom : arranged according to its organization. Animals. COLEOPTERA. 5L'l. saucer-sliaped, more elongated on the front side ; the sternum is elevated in the middle into a keel, which is pro- duced behind into a lonj^er or shorter acute spine ; the maxillary palpi are longer than the antennae; the tarsi, especially of the hind legs, have a long row of fringes, and are terminated by small ungues of unecpial size. In some the sternal spine is very much elongated behind, and the last joint of the anterior male tarsi is triangu- larly dilated. These are the Hydrous of Leach ; on
. Cuvier's animal kingdom : arranged according to its organization. Animals. COLEOPTERA. 5L'l. saucer-sliaped, more elongated on the front side ; the sternum is elevated in the middle into a keel, which is pro- duced behind into a lonj^er or shorter acute spine ; the maxillary palpi are longer than the antennae; the tarsi, especially of the hind legs, have a long row of fringes, and are terminated by small ungues of unecpial size. In some the sternal spine is very much elongated behind, and the last joint of the anterior male tarsi is triangu- larly dilated. These are the Hydrous of Leach ; one of which, II. piceus. Fab., is an inch and a half long, oval, and of a black brown colour and highly polished. [It is a common British species, frequenting ponds and ditches] ; it swims and flies well, but walks badly ; its sternal point is capable of inflicting a severe wound. The anus of the female is furnislied with two spinnerets, with wliich it constructs an ovoid cocoon of silk, surmounted by a point like a curved horn ; its outer surface is coated with gum, wliich renders it impervious to the water; and in its interior the eggs are symmetrically arranged. These cocoons float on the surface of the water. The larvœ resemble worms, being soft and of an elongated conical form, with six feet ; the head large and scaly, more convex below than above, and armed with strong mandibles ; they respire by the extremity of the body, are very voracious, and feed on the young fry in fish-ponds. That of //. piceus is depressed, blackish, wrinkled, with the head reddish brown, round, and capable of being thrown back upon the back ; by which means it is able to seize small shells floating on the surface of the water, its back serving it as a point d'appui for breaking the snail shell. They sw im well, and have two fleshy appendages at the extremity of the body, used in enabling the insects to suspend themselves at the surface while in the act of respiration. Other larv;e of Hydrophili a
Size: 1241px × 2014px
Photo credit: © Central Historic Books / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, bookpublishe, booksubjectanimals
