. Elements of zoology, to accompany the field and laboratory study of animals. Zoology. G(i zooLor;r than those of the two prececlinc; famihcs, l)ut they have other very similar instincts. On account of their Uving on decaying vegetation they do not mo\'e so rapidly tlirough the water as the Dytiscidie. Tluy have heavier and clumsier bodies. They carry a film of air on the lower surface of the bod}' where the air-tubes open, and thus they are enabled to spend a long time on the bottom ^vithout ha^^ng to come to the surface. The short-winged beetles (Staph"3din'ida:'') are so called be- ca
. Elements of zoology, to accompany the field and laboratory study of animals. Zoology. G(i zooLor;r than those of the two prececlinc; famihcs, l)ut they have other very similar instincts. On account of their Uving on decaying vegetation they do not mo\'e so rapidly tlirough the water as the Dytiscidie. Tluy have heavier and clumsier bodies. They carry a film of air on the lower surface of the bod}' where the air-tubes open, and thus they are enabled to spend a long time on the bottom ^vithout ha^^ng to come to the surface. The short-winged beetles (Staph"3din'ida:'') are so called be- cause the elytra cover onl}' a short part of the abdomen (Fig. 07). Consequently they are not eapalile of long flight and are found chieflj'on the ground. The family consists of a vast number of species varying greatly in tlieir beha\aor, but for the I//, |;...i most part they are lovers of darkness, contact, /^|v-J:;'A and moisture. In consecjuence of these in- stincts they are abundant under stones and in decaying wood and along shores of lakes and seas where debris is cast on the beach. They devour both animal and vegetable matter. Indeed, the family includes the great terres- trial scavengers among beetles. Their elon- gated bodjr permits them to penetrate into woody fibre or into the earth for deca3dng vegetable mold. Since their reactions are much like those of ants and of termites they are frequently found associated with these two gi'oups, being even permanent and regular guests in the nest of such insects. Some species mimic ants and wasps not onl>' in general form and color, but also in the movements of the tip of the al)domcn, which, when the animal is irritated, is raised as though to sting fFig. 68). The larva? are not unlike the adults and inhabit siinilar situations. ^ Stapl'ijlinui', a kind of insect, fi'om slaplti/h:', bunch, of Fio. 67.—Aataptiy- linid Anthophagus. From Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1911
