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Crass INSECTA.
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Ozprr COLEOPTERA.

CoLEOPTERA.—Beetles.

The word Coleoptera signifies ‘wings in a sheath;’ the
whole Order are produced from eggs, they then become
grubs, afterwards change into chrysalides, and at length the
perfect insect makes its appearance. The distinguishing
characteristic of the Order is the conversion of the first pair
of wings into elytra, or hard wing-cases, which completely
enclose the second pair when the insect is at rest. The body
is generally of an oval form, and the head is provided with
two antennz, composed of eight or ten pieces, with the ex-
tremities club-shaped; the eyes are large and prominent.
The larvee are soft, flexible, whitish worms, with the body di-
vided into twelve rings, and a sealy head, armed with strong
jaws; in this state they live in the earth, feeding on the