Beetle

A Scottish artist called Sydney Parkinson drew this beetle. He was born around 1745 and in 1768 sailed to the South Seas with Captain James Cook in his ship, The Endeavour. As they crossed the Pacific Ocean the ship stopped at many islands where Parkinson drew the flowers and animals. He drew this beetle on thick paper made from animal skin called vellum. Ground beetles like this one do not harm people and are often useful because they eat other insect pests.