Beetles

REESE LIBRARY

OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.

Received—

BIOLOGY
Accessions No.2 %_6&^. Shelf A^.

LONDON. HENRY G.BOHN.

YORK STREET. COVENT GARDEN.

THE

NATUEALIST'S LIBEAEY.

EDITED BY

SIR WILLIAM JARDINE, BART.,

F.B.S.E., F.L.S, ETC., ETC.

VOL. XXXIII.

ENTOMOLOGY.
BEETLES,

BY JAMES DUNCAN, M.W.S., ETC.

LONDON :
HENRY G. BOHN, YORK ST., COVENT GARDEN

BIOLOGY

LIBRARY

G

CONTENTS.

PAGE

MEMOIR OF RAY . . . , 17

Natural History of Coleopterous Insects . 71
PENTAMERA.

Cicindela aurulenta. Plate I. Fig. 1. . 117

Anthia decemguttata. Plate I. Fig. 2. . 121

Procerus Tauricus. Plate I. Fig. 3. . 122

Carabus Hispanus. Plate I. Fig. 4. . . 124

Carabus auratus. Plate II. Fig. 1. . 125

Carabus clathratus. Plate II. Fig. 2. . . 126

Tefflus Megerlei. Plate II. Fig. 3. . . 127

Calosoma sycophanta. Plate III. Fig. 1. . 129

Elaphrus riparius. Plate III. Fig. 2. . 130

Mormolyce phyllodes. Plate III, Fig. 3. . 132
Dytiscidee.

Dytiscus ..... 135

Dytiscus dimidiatus. Plate IV. Fig. 1. . 137

Gyrinus natator. Plate IV. Fig. 2. . 140

Cyclous vittatus. Plate IV. Fig. 3. . . 142

Hydrous piceus. Plate IV. Fig. 4. . 144
Brachelytra.

Staphylinus erythrurus. Plate V. Fig. 1. . 148

Xantholinus fulgidm. Plate V, Fig. 2. . 149

BolitoUus atricapillus. Plate V. Fig. 3. . 150

Zirophorus exaratus. Plate V. Fig. 4. . 152

CONTENTS.

PAOS

Serricornes.

Buprestis chrysis. Plate VI. Fig. 1. . .155

Buprestis sternicornis. Plate VI. Fig. 2. . 156

Buprestis bicolor. Plate VI. Fig. 3. . . 157

Buprestis amcena. Plate VI. Fig. 4. . 158

Elater noctilucus. Plate VII. Fig. 1. . . 161

Elater porcatus. Plate VII. Fig. 2. . 167

Elater lineatus. Plate VII. Fig. 3. . . 168

Elater suturalis. Plate VII. Fig. 4. . . 1C9

Elater distinctus. Plate VII. Fig. 5. . . 170

Elater melanocephalus. Plate VIII. Fig. 1. 171

Lampyris Italica. Plate VIII. Fig. 2. . 172

Lampyris Latreillii. Plate VIII. Fig. 3. . 175

Lycus festivus. Plate VIII. Fig. 4. . . 176

Malachius marginellus. Plate VIII. Fig. 5. 177

Priocera variegata. Plate VIII. Fig. 6. . 178

Clavicornes.

Necrophorus humator. Plate IX. Fig. 1. . 180

Necrodes littoralis. Plate IX. Fig. 2. . . 181

Silpha quadripunctata. Plate IX. Fig. 3. 182

Anthrenus scrophularice. Plate IX. Fig. 4. . 183

Hister reniformis. Plate IX. Fig. 5. . 184

Lamellicornes.

Ateuchussacer. Sacred Egyytian Beetle. Plate

X. Fig. 1. 188

Onthopliagus Dillwynii. Plate X. Fig. 2. . 200

Phanceus lancifer. Plate X. Fig. 3. . . 202

Phanceus carnifex. Plate X. Fig. 4. . 203

Geotrupes stercorarius. Plate X. Fig. 5. . 204

Scarabceus Hercules. Plate XI. . . 207

Scarabceus Tityus. Plate XII. . .208

Scarabceus Atlas. Plate XIII. . . 209

Scarabceus macropus. Plate XIV. Fig. 1. . 210

Chrysophora chrysochlora. Plate XIV. Fig. 2. 211

Rutela imlchella. Plate XV. Fig. 1. . 212

Macraspis fucata. Plate XV. Fig. 2. . . 213

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Melolontha Fullo. Plate XV. Figs. 3 and 4 . 214

Goliathus magnus. Plate XVI. . . > 2HJ

Cetonia fascicularis. Plate XVII. Fig. 1. * . 218

Cetonia Macleayi. Plate XVIL Fig. 2. . 219

Cetonia discoidea. Plate XVII. Fig. 3. . 220

Cetonia Australasice. Plate XVIL Fig, 4. ib.

Gymnetis nervosa. Plate XVIL Fig. 5. . 221

Gymnetis marmorea. Plate XVIL Fig. 6. 222

Chiasognathus Chiloensis. Plate XVIII. Fig. 1. 223
Lucanus cervue, or Stag Beetle. Plate XVI II.

Fig. 2 224

HETEROMERA.

Horia maculata. Plate XIX. Fig. 1. . 227

Meloe variegatus. Plate XIX. Fig. 2. . ib.
Cantharis vesicatoria, or Blister Beetle. Plate

XIX. Fig. 3 229

Cantharis Nuttalli. Plate XIX. Fig. 4. . 230

TETRAMERA.

Apoderus longicollis. Plate XX. Fig. 1. . 232

Apoderus gemmatus. Plate XX. Fig. 2. . ib.

Apoderus ruficollis. Plate XX. Fig. 3. . 233

Rynchites populi. Plate XX. Fig. 4. . . 234

Rynchites pubescens. Plate XX. Fig. 5.- . ib.

Rynchites collaris. Plate XX. Fig. 6. . 235

Brentus anchorago. Plate XXL Fig. 1. . ib.

Rhina Barbirostris. Plate XXL Fig. 2. . 236

Curculio Cuvierii. Plate XXI. Fig. 3. . 237

Curculio Geo/royii. Plate XXL Fig. 4. . 238

Curculio vittatus. Plate XXI. Fig. 5. . ib.

Curculio sphacelatus. Plate XXI. Fig. 6. . 239

Curculio Latreillii. Plate XXII. Fig. 1. ib.

Curculio sexdecimpunctatus. Plate XXII. Fig. 2. 240

Curculio myrmosarius. Plate XXII. Fig. 3. . ib.

Curculio brunneus. Plate XXII. Fig. 4. . 241

Calandra heros. Plate XXII. Fig. 5. . 242
Longi comes.

Priomis cervicornis. Plate XXIII. . 245

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Prionus corticinus. Plate XXIV. Fig. 1. . 247
Lophonocerus barbicornis. Plate XXIV. Fig. 2. 248
Acrocinus longimanus, or Harlequin Beetle.

Plate XXV. Fig. 1. . . . 250

Lamia subocellata. Plate XXV. Fig. 2. . 253

Lamia ornata. Plate XXVI. Fig. 1. . . ib.

Lamia formosa. Plate XXVI. Fig. 2. . 254

Lamia tricincta. Plate XXVI. Fig. 4. . ib.

Desmocerus cyaneus. Plate XXVI. Fig. 3. 255
SagraBuquetii.. Plate XXVII. . .256

Cassida bicornis. Plate XXVIII. Fig. 1. 257

Cassida scalaris. Plate XXVIII. Fig. 2. . 258

Cassida micans. Plate XXVIII. Fig. 3. . ib.

Cassida echinata. Plate XXVIII. Fig. 4. . 259

Cassida perforata. Plate XXVIII. Fig. 5. ib.

Cassida luctuosa. Plate XXVIII. Fig. 6. . 260

Cassida sex-pustulata. Plate XXIX. Fig. 1. ib.

Alurnus marginatus. Plate XXX. Fig. 1. . ib.

Clythra hirta. Plate XXIX. Fig. 2. . 261

Chlamys monstrosa. Plate XXIX. Fig. 3. . 262

Eumolpus cupreus. Plate XXX. Fig. 2. . 263'

Chrysomela cerealis. Plate XXX. Fig. 3. . 264

Chrysomela fastuosa. Plate XXX. Fig. 4. 265

Doryphora tessellata. Plate XXIX. Fig. 4. . ib.

(Edionychis cincta. Plate XXX. Fig. 5. . 266

Erotylus histrio. Plate XXIX. Fig. 5. . 267

Spheniscus erotyloides. Plate XXIX. Fig. 6. 268
TEIMERA.

Coccinella vigintiduo-punctata. Plate XXX.

Fig. 6 269

PORTRAIT OF RAY .... 2
Vignette Title-page. Buprestis fulminans and

Curculio spleiidens ... 3

In all Thirty-two Plates in this Volume.

M E M 0 1 E OF B A Y.

MEMOIR OF RAY.

THE individual of whose life it is proposed to give
some account, occupied a distinguished place among
the eminent men of the seventeenth century, and
contributed materially by his genius and writings
to give an impulse to the age in which he lived.
He carried his investigations into many of the most
important departments of natural science, and, by
means of his accurate observation, faithful descrip-
tion, and philosophical talents, placed them on a
foundation from which they have been raised to
their present state of advancement. These quali-
ties, combined with learning of the first order, and
an integrity of life seldom equalled, justly entitle him
to the grateful remembrance of his countrymen ;
and the appellations of " Father of Natural History,"
" Aristotle of England," and the " Linnaeus of his
time/* which some of them have bestowed on him,
sufficiently evince the high sense that has been en-
tertained of his merits.

18 MEMOIE OF BAY.

JOHN RAY was born on the 29th November 1628,
at a place named Black Notley, in Essex. Although
the name of his family was Ray, he continued all
the time he attended the university to write it
Wray, a form in which it accordingly appears in the
college registers, and in some of his earliest publi-
cations. This alteration was soon however aban-
doned, and he confesses himself to have adopted it
inconsiderately, and contrary to the usage of his fore-
fathers. His parents were of humble condition, but
they were enabled to provide for the liberal educa-
tion of their son. His early studies were pursued at
the grammar school of Braintree, which was not far
distant from the place of his birth. In his maturer
years he used to lament that so much of his time
had been spent there unprontably, owing to the
, imperfect mode of education pursued — a complaint
pretty generally applicable to such institutions at
the period of which we speak.

We possess no detailed or circumstantial account
of Ray's boyhood, nor is it probable that there was
much deserving of being recorded in the early part
of a life, which was never marked, even at its most
active period, by great variety of incident. What-
ever may have been the deficiencies of his education
at school, they were speedily repaired by his ex-
treme assiduity and aptitude for learning. His at-
tention seems for a time to have been chiefly de-
voted to the acquisition of languages, and other
Branches of knowledge bearing immediate relation

MEMOIR OF EAY. 19

to the sacred profession of the church, for which he
was destined. But a predilection for the study of
nature must have been manifested when he was very
young, as we find him mentioned, shortly after en-
tering the university, in terms of high commenda-
tion, not only for his knowledge of Latin and Greek,
but also for his skill in Natural History.

His removal to the university of Cambridge took
place when he was sixteen years of age, for it ap-
pears that he was entered at Catherine Hall on 28th
June, 1644. He continued there a year and three
quarters, under the tuition of Mr Duckfield, when
he removed to Trinity College. Here he found the
subjects of study greatly more congenial to his taste,
as they consisted chiefly of the physical sciences and
the more elegant departments of polite learning.
He had also the benefit to enjoy the instructions of
Dr Duport, an individual of considerable celebrity
at that time for his extensive acquaintance with
Greek literature. Availing himself to the utmost
of these advantages, and extending his enquiries
into some departments of learning then very little
cultivated, Ray soon acquired a high reputation both
for his scholarship and philosophical attainments. At
a time when all scientific works, and frequently even
the private correspondence of friends, were written
in Latin, a facility in the use of that language was
not a rare attainment ; but a nicer perception of pe-
culiarities of idiom, and a higher tone of classical
elegance, are observable in Ray's Latin composi-

20 MEMOIR OF RAY.

tions, than in the writings of most of his cotempo*
raries. His talents and amiable disposition secured
him the esteem and friendship of many of the most
eminent men then attending the university, parti-
cularly the celebrated Isaac Barrow, Dr Tenison,
afterwards archbishop of Canterbury, and Dr Arrow-
smith, master of Trinity College. When enume-
rating the most eminent men to whom he had been
tutor, Dr Duport was accustomed to say, that the
chief of all his pupils were Mr Ray and Dr Barrow,
to whom he esteemed none of the rest comparable.

Ray prosecuted the regular order of study then
prescribed to candidates for holy orders, and when
of some standing, was chosen into several offices 01'
the college, having been appointed in succession,
Prcelector Primarius, Junior Dean, and College
Steward. The latter office he held for two years,
and was sworn into it on the last occasion in De-
cember 1660.

During his residence at the university, Mr Ray
likewise distinguished himself as an eloquent preach-
er ; for it was a common practice at that period to
deliver public discourses in the college, previous to
ordination. His sermons were much esteemed for
sound reasoning, enlightened views of theology, and
a judicious application of scriptural principles to the
ordinary duties of life ; qualities seldom found in the
sermons of the time, which were generally either cha-
racterized by a spirit of fanaticism, or filled with the
unprofitable disquisitions of scholastic theology. Of

MEMOIR OF RAT. 21

the nature and beneficial tendency of his early dis-
courses, we are enabled to judge from some ex-
amples that have been preserved, and especially
from his valuable? Treatise on the Wisdom of God
in Creation, and Phy si co-theological Discourses
concerning the Chaos, Deluge, and Dissolution of
the World, which in their original form were theo-
logical exercises, or common-places, as they were
termed, delivered in the college.

The turbulent and unsettled state of the country
previous to the restoration, caused Mr Ray to defer
his design of taking orders, but the tranquillity re-
sulting from that event seemed to hold out the pro-
mise of better times. He was ordained both deacon
and priest, by Dr Sanderson, bishop of Lincoln, «*-*
the Barbican Chapel, London, on the 23d Decem-
ber, 1660. He continued to be a fellow of Trinity
College till the passing of the famous Bartholomew
Act in 1662, for enforcing uniformity, by which so
many conscientious divines were deprived of their
livings. Had this enactment merely required an
attestation against the Solemn League and Cove-
nant, there is no reason to suppose that Ray would
have refused to comply ; for he by no means ap-
proved of that oath, and on every occasion showed
the warmest attachment to the doctrines and dis-
cipline of the Church of England. But a declara-
tion was likewise required, that those who had taken
the oath did not lie under obligation to keep it, a
requisition which was so repugnant to Ray's prin-

22 MEMOIR OF RAT.

ciples that he did not hesitate to reject it. He was
accordingly deprived of his fellowship for non-con-
formity, along with thirteen others belonging to the
university of Cambridge.

Ray's ardent desire of knowledge, and the plea-
sure he derived from pursuits so congenial to his
taste and disposition, led him sooner or later to in-
vestigate almost every department of Natural His-
tory. But botany, a subject which has attracted
so many youthful minds to the study of nature, was
the object of his earliest predilection, and it like-
wise continued throughout the greater part of his
life to engross the largest share of his attention.
Little had hitherto been done for this science, either
in Britain or on the Continent. When Ray first
turned his attention to it, it was nearly in the same
condition in which Turner had found it about a
century before. Almost the only works that treated
of plants were styled " Herbals," of which the in-
dividual just named might well say, that they were
" al full of unlearned cacographees, and falsely
naming of herbs." Their use in medicine was the
only consideration that recommended plants to at-
tention ; and while all the works relating to the sub-
ject were, to quote from the title-page of one of them,
" compyled, composed, and auctorysed by divers
and many noble Doctours and expert Maysters in
Medycynes," the object at which they aimed may
be gathered from the title of the " Grete Herball,"
which professed to give " parfyt knowledge and un-

MEMOIR OF BAY. 23

derstanding of all manner of Herbes, and their gra-
cyous vertues which God hath ordeyned for our
prosperous welfare and helth, for they hele and
cure all manner of dyseases and sicknesses that fall
or misfortune to all manner of creatures of God
created." Instead therefore of being valued, as they
are by modern botanists, for their rarity and beauty,
or as supplying a link in the chain of natural affinities,
the highest recommendation which plants could pos-
sess may be supposed to be similar to that men-
tioned by the apothecary in the tale, when he found
one that was unknov/n to him, " that it had a fine
poisonous smell, and must be good for something !"
No trial had been made to form a system of arrange-
ment, and the particular localities of species were
very little regarded.

His first work on this subject was named Catalo-
gits Plantarum circa Cantabrigiam nascentium, which
was published in 1 660. It was nothing more than the
title imports, a mere catalogue of plants, with the
addition of the place of their growth. No generic
characters or description of species are given, nor is
there any attempt at systematic arrangement, the
names being simply placed in alphabetical order.

The favourable manner in which this publication
was received, and the impulse it gave (notwithstand-
ing its local reference and uninviting nature) to the
study of botany, induced its author to form the de-
sign of preparing a similar work applicable to the
whole of England. He thus explains his intentions in

24 MEMOIR OF RAT.

a letter to his valued friend Mr Willughby : " You
remember that we lately, out of Gerard, Parkinson,
and Phytologia Britannica, made a collection of
rare plants, whose places are therein mentioned,
and ranked them under the several counties. My
intention now is to carry on and perfect that design ;
to which purpose I am now writing to all my friends
and acquaintance who are skilful in herbary, to re-
quest them this next summer, each to search dili-
gently his countrey for plants, and to send me a ca»
talogue of such as they find, together with the places
where they grow. In divers counties I have such
as are skilful and industrious. For Warwickshire
and Nottinghamshire I must beg your assistance,
which I hope and am confident you will be willing
to contribute. After that, partly by my own search,
partly by the mentioned assistance, I shall have got
as much information and knowledge of the plants of
each countrey as I can (which will require some
years), I do design to put forth a compleat P. B.
First I shall give the names of all plants which are or
shall then be found growing in England, in an alpha-
betical order ; together with their synonyma. I shall
also put a full Index Anglicolatinus, after the man-
ner of that in the Cat. Cant. Then I shall put in
the counties, with the several rare plants in them
marshalled alphabetically," &c.* For the accom-
plishment of this object, but little aid could be de-

* Philosophical Letters, p. 356.

MEMOIR OF BAY. 25

rived from books. The only enumeration of British
plants that had been attempted was by William
Howe, in his Phytologia Britannica, published in
1650. But that work was too meagre and inaccu-
rate to be of much service, and the Pinax rerum
J3ntannicarum of Merret, which professed to give
the history of every kingdom of nature, was equally
undeserving of commendation. Ray was therefore
obliged to rely on the contributions of his numerous
friends, and his own industry. He travelled through
the greater part of England and Wales, zealously
investigating the indigenous plants ; nor did he ne-
glect the opportunity which these excursions afford-
ed, of examining every thing that was new or interest-
ing either in nature or art. Local'and general history,
traditions, antiquities, provincial language and man-
ners, occasionally shared his attention with the more
direct objects of his research. He kept a journal
of his proceedings, in which he recorded his observa-
tions, and inserted the localities of the rarer plants.
This curious production was published after his
death by Dr Derham, under the title of Itineraries.
In 1661 he made a journey into Scotland, accompa-
nied by his scientific friends Mr Willughby and Mr
Skippon, to examine the natural productions of that
country, which were even less known than those of
England. His route lay through Berwick, Dunbar,
and Edinburgh. On their way to the latter place,
the party visited the Bass Island, — a spot probably
of more interest to the ornithologist than almost any

26 MEMOIR OF EAT.

other of equal extent. His description of the solan
goose, of which this rock is well known to be one
of the principal haunts, is accurate. " The old
ones are all over white, excepting the pinion or
hard feathers of their wings, which are black. The
upper part of the head and neck, in those that are
old, is of a yellowish dun colour. They lay but
one egg a-piece, which is white, and not very large :
they are very bold, and sit in great multitudes till
one comes close up to them, because they are not
wont to be scared or disturbed. The young ones
are esteemed a choice dish in Scotland, and sold
very dear (Is. 8d. plucked). We eat of them at
Dunbar. They are in bigness little inferior to an
ordinary goose. The young one is upon the back
black, and speckled with little white spots, under
the breast and belly grey. The beak is sharp-
pointed, the mouth very wide and large, the tongue
very small, the eyes great, the foot hath four toes
webbed together. It feeds upon mackerel and her-
ring, and the flesh of the young one smells and
tastes strong of these fish. The laird of this island
makes a great profit yearly of the solan geese taken;
as I remember, they told us L.I 30 sterling. They
make strangers that come to visit it Burgesses of the
Basse, by giving them to drink of the water of the
well, which springs near the top of the rock, and a
flower out of the garden thereby."*

His stay in the metropolis of Scotland was very
* Itineraries, p. 191.

MEMOIR OF RAY. 27

short, but he visited the principal public buildings,
and gives a brief account of them. From Edin-
burgh he proceeded to Stirling and Glasgow ; from
thence to Hamilton and Douglas, the latter of which
he calls a pitiful, poor, small place, with scarce a
house in it that will keep a man dry in a shower of
rain ; and re-entered England by way of Dumfries
and Carlisle.

Ray does not appear to have derived much satis-
faction from his northern tour. He was disappoint-
ed in one of his principal objects, as he failed in dis-
covering any new plants.* His remarks on Scotland
are frequently made in a spirit of acrimony, which
was foreign to the natural placability of his temper.
It is probable that he was subjected to much incon-
venience on the road, as the country was in a very
disturbed state, and the accommodation for travellers
of the most indifferent description. Neither were
some of his observations on the social condition of
the inhabitants of a kind calculated to awaken re-

* We know not on what authority it is asserted (Brews-
ter's Edin. Encyc.) that Ray discovered many new plants
in Scotland, since he expressly affirms in a letter to Mr
Wiliisel that he found none. The southern division of the
country bears so much resemblance to England in all the
circumstances that seem to influence the distribution of
plants, that scarcely any appreciable dissimilarity is to be
expected. The primitive and alpine districts of the north
present of course a very distinct vegetation, but these do
not appear to have ever been visited by Ray*

28 MEMOIR OF RAY.

gard, or produce agreeable associations. He states
that while he was in Scotland, divers women were
burnt for witches, to the number, it was reported,
of about 120! And during his walks about Edin-
burgh, one of the spectacles that presented itself
was the heads of Argyle and Guthry fixed on the
gates of the tollbooth. The following extract con-
tains his opinion of the Scotch, and is of consider-
able interest in a historical point of view.

" The Scots generally (that is the poorer sort),
wear, the men blue bonnets on their, heads, and
some russet ; the women only white linnen, which
hangs down their backs as if a napkin were pinned
about them. When they go abroad none of them
wear hats, but a party-coloured blanket, which they
call a plad, over their heads and shoulders. The
women generally to us seemed none of the hand-
somest. They are not very cleanly in their houses,
and but sluttish in dressing their meat. Their way
of washing linnen is to tuck up their coats, and tread
them with their feet in a tub. They have a custom
to make up the fronts of their houses, even in their
principal towns, with firr boards nailed one over ano-
ther, in which are often made many round holes or
windows to put out their heads. In the best Scot-
tish houses, even the king's palaces, the windows
were not glazed throughout, but the upper part on-
ly, the lower have two wooden shuts or folds to open
at pleasure, and admit tbe fresh air. The Scots
cannot endure to hear their country or countrymen

MEMOIR OF KAY. 29

spoken against. They have neither good bread,
cheese, or drink. They cannot make them, nor will
they learn. Their butter is very indifferent, and one
would wonder how they could contrive to make it so
bad. They use much pottage made of coal-wort,
which they call keal, sometimes broth of decorticated
barley. The ordinary country-houses are pitiful cots,
built of stone, and covered with turves, having in
them but one room, many of them no chimneys, the
windows very small holes, and not glazed. In the
most stately and fashionable houses in great towns,
instead of cieling, they cover the chambers with firr
boards, nailed on the roof within side. They have
rarely any bellows or warming-pans. It is the man-
ner in some places there, to lay on but one sheet
as large as two, turned up from the feet upwards.
The ground in the valleys and plains bears good
corn, but especially beer-barley or bigge, and oats,
but rarely wheat and rye. We observed little or
no fallow grounds in Scotland ; some laved ground
we saw, which they manured with sea-wreck. The
people seemed to be very lazy, at least the men,
and may be frequently observed to plow in their
cloaks. It is the fashion of them to wear cloaks
when they go abroad, but especially on Sundays
They lay out most they are worth in cloaths, and
a fellow that has scarce ten groats besides to help
himself with, you shall see come out of his srooaky
cottage clad like a gentleman."*

* Itineraries^ p. 186.

30 MEMOIR OF BAY.

After exploring the natural productions of Britain
with so much diligence and success, Mr Ray became
desirous of gaining some acquaintance with those
of other countries ; and for this purpose formed a
plan, in concert with his steady coadjutor Mr Wil-
lughby, for visiting the Continent. They sailed
from Dover in April 1663, accompanied by Mr Na-
thaniel Bacon, and Mr, afterwards Sir Philip, Skip-
pon, two of Ray's pupils. They passed through the
Low Countries, Germany, &c. ; traversed Italy, and
even visited Sicily and Malta. On their return
they spent a considerable time in Switzerland,
where Ray is said by Haller to have discovered
many new plants, although that was the scene where
Gesner and the two Bauhines had laboured so assi-
duously. The result of his foreign travels was given
to the public in 1673, under the title of " Ob-
servations topographical, moral, and physiological,
made in a journey through part of the Low Coun-
tries, Germany, Italy, and France." Mr Willughby
separated from the party at Montpellier, and made
a tour through Spain, an account of which is like-
wise included in the volume.

When he returned home, Ray continued to pro-
secute the study of British plants with unremitting
assiduity, and to make excursions to the more re-
mote parts of the country to ascertain their locali-
ties. On these occasions he was usually accompa-
nied by Mr Willughby or some other scientific friend,
and his researches were not confined to plants, hut

MEMOIR OF HAY. 21

extended to various departments of the animal king-
dom, particularly birds and fishes. In the summer
of 1667 he traversed Cornwall, where he found
many plants previously unknown to him, and made
observations on the metals found in that county, and
the mode of smelting them, which were afterwards
published. When not occupied in this manner, he
spent much of his time at Middleton-Park in War-
wickshire, the seat of Mr Willughby. In a letter
from that place to Dr Martin Lister, dated June
1667, he thus describes his occupations : " For my
own part, I cannot boast of many discoveries made
the last year, save of mine own errors. After i
took my leave of you at Cambridge, I divided the re-
mainder of the summer between Essex and Sussex,
visiting several friends. My spare hours I bestow-
ed in reading over such books of natural philosophy
as came out since my being abroad, viz. Hook's
Micrographia, Mr Boyle's Usefulness of Natural
Philosophy, Sydenham on Fevers, the Philosophical
Transactions, &c. The most part of the winter I
spent in reviewing, and helping to put in order, Mr
Willughby's collection of birds, fishes, shells, stones,
and other fossils ; seeds, dried plants, coins, £c. ;
in giving what assistance I could to Dr Wilkins, in
framing his tables of plants, quadrupeds, birds,
fishes, &c. for the use of the universal character ;
in gathering up into a catalogue all such plants as
I hod found at any time growing wild in England,
not in order to the present publishing of them, but

32 MEMOIR OF BAY.

for my own use, possibly one day that they may
see the light ; at present the world is glutted with
Dr Merret's bungling Pinax. I resolve never to
put out any thing which is not as perfect as it is
possible for me to make it. I wish you would take
a little pains this summer about grasses, that so we
might compare notes ; for I would fain clear and
complete their history."

The famous work of Dr Wilkins on a universal
character, alluded to in the above letter, subse-
quently entailed on Mr Ray a great degree of labour ;
for he undertook, at the earnest solicitation of its
author, to translate it into Latin. When this labo-
rious task was accomplished, the manuscript was de-
posited in the library of the Royal Society, where it
has continued ever since, no one having undertaken
its publication.

By this time Ray's reputation as an accomplished
naturalist and philosopher was fully established, and
he had become either the personal friend or cor-
respondent of all the individuals of any eminence
who then directed their attention to the study of
nature. Of these the best known to modern na-
turalists are Dr Martin Lister, whose works on tes-
taceous animals, and treatise De Araneis, are scarce-
ly yet surpassed for precise description and lumi-
nous arrangement; Sir Hans Sloane — the Sir Joseph
Banks of his day — whose extensive collections and
valuable library (which formed, as is well known,
the original nucleus of the present vast assemblage

MEMOIR OF RAY. 33

in the British Museum) contributed so essentially
to the progress of natural history ; and, at a later
period, Dr Derham, the learned and eloquent author
of the Physico and Astro- Theology. He was like-
wise solicited to become a member of the Royal
Society, an institution recently established, but
which had already done much in diffusing a taste
for the physical sciences, and had given a powerful
impulse to the study of natural history. He was
admitted on the 7th November 1667, and several
papers from his pen afterwards appeared in the So-
ciety's Transactions.

The description and classification of vegetables
were not the only departments of botany that re-
ceived illustration from Ray's labours ; he likewise
ascertained some important facts in their physiolo-
gy. The theory of vegetation wras at this time very
imperfectly understood, and every observation found-
ed on careful experiment possessed of value. The
accurate investigations of Grew and Malpighi were
destined, soon after, to throw a powerful light on
this difficult and interesting subject. In the spring
of 1669, Ray availed himself of the privileged se-
clusion of Middleton-Hall, and the observational
powers and co-operation of its amiable proprietor,
to institute a series of experiments on the motion
of the sap in trees. The object was to ascertain
the manner in which the sap ascends, and whether
it likewise flows through the woody part of the tree.
By boring holes of different depth into the trunk

34 MEMOIE OF BAY.

before the expansion of the leaves, it was clearly
proved that the sap flows not only through the inner
bark, but by all the pores of the wood; for the quan-
tity of sap that issued was found to be in proportion
to the depth of the hole. " To put it out of all
doubt," says Mr Ray, " we took away, on one side
of a birch tree, bark and wood to a considerable
depth, and bored an hole into the tree, where the
piece was taken away ; out of which hole it bled
copiously, notwithstanding we carefully prevented
any other sap coming on the filter, but what pro-
ceeded from the hole." The mucilaginous nature
of the sap likewise attracted attention, and Ray in-
geniously remarks, that "the white coagulum or jelly
which is precipitated, may be well conceived to be
the part which every year, between bark and tree,
turns to wood, and of which the leaves and fruit are
made. And it seems to precipitate more when the
tree is just ready to put out leaves, and begins to
cease dropping, than at its first bleeding." Experi-
ments of a similar kind seem to have been continu-
ed for several years, as we find frequent allusion
made to them in Ray's letters to Dr Lister and
others of his correspondents. The results to which
they led were communicated to the Royal Society,
and subsequently published in the Philosophical
Transactions.

In his numerous journeys throughout almost every
part of England and Wales, Ray had acquired, with
that spirit of active enquiry which permitted the

MEMOIE OP RAY. 25

neglect of no branch of useful knowledge, an ex-
tensive acquaintance with the proverbial expressions
used in different parts of the country, and likewise
of the local words and idioms that prevailed in dif-
ferent provinces. Under the impression that such
a work might be of use to certain classes of the
community, he arranged the proverbs in methodical
order, and published them at Cambridge in 1672.
Even in this unambitious kind of literary labour, he
showed a good deal of philological learning and
critical sagacity; and this production, which, he
says, he esteems a toy and a trifle, not worth the
owning, has made his name known to many of his
countrymen, unacquainted with his claims to higher
literary distinction. His Collection of Unusual or
local English Words was published nearly at the
same time, and was accompanied with a catalogue
of birds and fishes, and an account of the mode of
smelting and refining metals as practised in Eng-
land. In a subsequent edition these accessory arti-
cles were omitted, as they had been published sepa-
rately in a more perfect form.

We learn from a letter to Dr Lister, that about
this time he was solicited to accompany three young
noblemen to the Continent in the capacity of tutor
This offer he was at first inclined to accept, espe-
cially as it offered him the opportunity of examin-
ing the alpine plants of Switzerland with more care
than he had been able to do on his former visit; but
he was obliged to decline it on account of the de-

36 MEMOIR OF RAY.

licate state of his health. The conditions he con-
sidered liberal, and the manner in which he expresses
himself regarding them, affords an example of that dif-
fidence and humility which were conspicuous in his
character. " Ego certe meipsum tali negotio imparem
et minus idoneum judico; nee si idoneus essem, puto
me tantam mercedem aut stipendium mereri posse.
Centum librae annuatim offeruntur, necessariis om-
nibus expensis etiam persolutis."*

In the year 1672, Ray sustained an irreparable
loss by the premature death of Mr Willughby.
They had been fellow-collegians at Trinity College,
and the acquaintanceship there formed, was speedily
matured by community of tastes and pursuits into the
most intimate and endearing friendship. Possessed
of ample fortune, family influence, and high mental
endowments, Mr Willughby might have attained to
some of the most envied objects to which ambition
aspires ; but his disposition led him to prefer the
tranquil enjoyments that flow from the investigation
of nature, and the cultivation of the generous affec-
tions and contemplative habits which that study is
calculated to promote. The zeal with which he
laboured, is sufficiently evinced by what he accom-
plished during his short life ; and had Providence
spared him to complete the extensive designs he
had formed, his name would have occupied a most
conspicuous place in the annals of science. The

* Philosophical Letters, p. 72.

MEMOIR OF RAT. 37

distinction that now attaches to it, is chiefly to be at-
tributed to the affectionate care of Ray, who under-
took to complete and publish several works which
he left imperfect ; a task which he executed with
so much fidelity and regard to the fame of his de-
ceased friend, that the reader is led to attribute to
Mr Willughby much of the merit that belonged
exclusively to Ray. These important works will be
mentioned more particularly hereafter. They were
originally undertaken in conformity with a plan for
furnishing a complete history and description of
plants and animals, of which the following account
is given by Dr Derham, who derived his informa-
tion directly from Ray. " These two gentlemen,
finding the history of nature very imperfect, had
agreed between themselves, before their travels be-
yond sea, to reduce the several tribes of things to
a method ; and to give accurate descriptions of the
several species, from a strict view of them. And
forasmuch as Mr Willughby's genius lay chiefly to
Animals, therefore he undertook the Birds, Beasts,
Fishes, and Insects, as Mr Ray did the Vegetables.
How each of these two great men discharged his
province, the world hath seen in their works. Mr
Willughby's labours were so incessant in his studies,
that he allowed himself little or no time for those
recreations and diversions which men of his estate
and degree are apt to spend too much of their time
in ; but he prosecuted his design with as great ap-
plication, as if he had been to get his bread thereby.

38 MEMOIR OF RA.Y.

All which I mention," adds this amiable writer
" not only out of the great respect I bear to Mf
Willughby's memory, but for an example to persons
of great estate and quality, that they may be ex-
cited to answer the ends for which God gives them
estates, leisure, parts, and gifts, and a good genius ;
which was not to exercise themselves in vain or
sinful follies, but to be employed for the glory, and
in the service, of the Infinite Creator, and in doing
good offices in the world."*

This event exercised a considerable influence
on Ray's future life. He was appointed one of Mr
Willughby's executors, and at the same time charged
with the care and education of his two infant sons ;
while, as a still further token of esteem, an annuity
for life was bequeathed to him. In execution of the
trust thus confided to him, it became necessary that
he should take up his residence at Middleton-Hall,
where ample occupation awaited him, in addition to
what arose from the superintendence of his youthful
charge, in arranging and completing the MSS. of
his lamented friend. He was likewise obliged to
interrupt his simpling excursions (as Derham calls
them), and to decline the generous invitation sent
to him about this time by Dr Lister, to come and
live with him at York, where he then practised as a
physician.

While yet absorbed in grief for the loss of his

* Derham's Life of Ray, p. 48.

MEMOIR OF BAY.

best friend, he was subjected to another, scarcely
less afflicting, by the death of Bishop Wilkins, an
event of which he says that it occasioned him un-
speakable loss and grief. The most intimate friend-
ship had long subsisted between Ray and this
learned prelate, and the former had been of the most
essential service, in drawing up tables of plants
and animals for the elaborate work on a Real Cha-
racter. Through his influence Ray might readily
have obtained preferment in the church, but he
persisted in a conscientious resolution not to sign
the necessary articles.*

Ray's natural sensibility and ardent temperament,
made him feel these losses in the acutest manner ;
but they fell upon a mind deeply imbued with
Christian principle, and accustomed to recognise
the beneficent appointments of a presiding power,
in the most trivial as well as in the most important
incidents to which our nature is liable. How much
this was the habit of his mind, appears from various

* In reply to a letter in which Dr Lister had expressed
a hope that he would avail himself of the influence allud-
ed to, Ray writes, " D. Wilkins, in episcopalem cathedrum
evectum, et suiipsius, et mei, et pnecipue ecclesiae causa
vehementer gaudeo : me tamen per eum ecclesise resti-
turum iri, stante sententia, plane est impossible, nee
enim unquam adduci me posse puto ut declaration! sub-
scribam quam lex non ita pridem lata presbyteris aliisque
ecclesise ministris injungit, nee tamen tanti est jactura
mei qui nulli fere usui ecclesiae futurus essem, utut (quod
iici solet) rectus in curia starem." — Phil. Let. p. 35.

40 MEMOIR OF RAY.

prayers and devotional exercises, written on occa-
sion of the death of some of his friends, which are
calculated to convey an exalted idea of his piety.
His social circle being thus diminished, and finding
himself with a settled occupation likely to be of con-
siderable duration, he sought to increase his domes-
tic comforts by marriage. His choice was a young
woman then residing at Middleton-Hall, named Mar-
garet Oakley, the daughter of a gentleman of that
name, belonging to Launton in Oxfordshire. The
marriage was celebrated in Middleton church, on
the 5th June 1673, Ray being then in his forty-fifth
year, and the lady not above twenty.

After this event, he continued to reside at Mid-
dleton-Hall, and to superintend the education of his
pupils ;* a task in which Mrs Ray is said to have
lightened his labour by teaching some of the easier
branches herself. For the use of his pupils, he
composed a small work named Nomenclator Classi-
cus, which was first published in 1672. The object
of it was to give a correct explanation of Greek and
Latin terms, especially such as apply to natural ob-
jects ; a purpose for which it is said to have been
of essential service.

For several years subsequent to his marriage,

* The eldest of these youths was created a baronet
when about ten years of age, but died before attaining
majority. The younger was raised to the peerage by
Queen Anne, under the title of Lord Middleton. Their
sister Cassandra- became Countess of Caernarvon.

MEMOIR OP HAY.

Ray's literary occupations consisted in the prepa-
ration for the press of Willughby's book on birds,
the completion of some of his own works on botany,
and various contributions to the Royal Society.
The latter related chiefly to the natural history of
the higher animals, but they likewise communicated
valuable information regarding insects, spiders, and
the myriapodae. The physiology of vegetation also
formed a subject of communication, and on one oc-
casion, at the request of the indefatigable secretary
Mr Oldenburgh, who was one of Ray's regular cor-
respondents, the latter furnished one of the philoso-
phical discourses annually read to the society, which
was received with great approbation. The subject
was, the nature of seeds, and the specific differ-
ences of plants. Willughby's observations on birds
were written in Latin, and the work was accordingly
completed in that language, and published in the
year 1675. Nothing was omitted by the editor to
render it as complete as possible. The descriptions
are frequently of considerable length, and will often
be found more correct and satisfactory than many of
those contained in the numerous and costly works
which have since been devoted to this favourite tribe
of animals. Ray afterwards prepared an English
translation, to which he made large additions, and
gave it to the public in 1678. In this edition, the
plates were likewise improved and increased in num-
ber ; but their execution was by no means satisfactory
to Ray, as the engravers were but little experienced

42 MEMOIR OF EAT.

in representing such objects, and his distance from
London prevented him from giving efficient direc-
tions.

The death of Mr Willughby's mother, which
happened about the year 1676, produced a consi-
derable change in Ray's domestic relations. His
pupils were taken from under his charge, and he no
longer continued to reside at Middleton-Hall. He
took up his abode for a time at Sutton Cofield, a few
miles distant ; but soon removed to Falborne-Hall,
in Essex, which was in the vicinity of his native place.
During his residence there, his mother died at Black
Notley, an event of which the following notice is found
in his diary: "March 15, 1678, departed this life,
my most dear and honoured mother Elizabeth Ray,
of Black Notley, in her house on Dewlands, in the
hall chamber, about three of the clock in the after-
noon, aged, as I suppose, seventy-eight : whose death,
for some considerations, was a great wound to me.
Yet have I good hope that her soul is received to
the mercy of God, and her sins pardoned through
the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, in whom
she trusted, and whose servant she hath been from
her youth up, sticking constantly to her profession,
and never leaving the church in these times of gid-
diness and distraction." Shortly afterwards he re-
moved to Black Notley with his family, in which
place he intended, as he himself expressed it, to
settle, if such was the will of God, for the short pit-
tance of time he had yet to live in this world.

MEMOIR OF RAY. 43

Freed from the interruptions to which he had
been for some time exposed, first by his duties as
a tutor and guardian, and more recently by his fre-
quent removal from one place to another, he had
now the happiness of being able to give that direc-
tion to his studies which his inclination prompted,
and in which he felt himself fitted to confer most
benefit on science. It is observed by Haller, that
few have enjoyed to the same extent as Ray,
the rare felicity of devoting so many years uninter-
ruptedly to the study of a favourite subject. It
may be added, that still fewer have equally improved
the opportunities that occurred to them. The works
which he completed after his final settlement at Not-
ley are so numerous, that he may be ranked among
the most voluminous writers on botany ; and while
these, together with his publications in various de-
partments of zoology, have established his high re-
putation as a philosophical naturalist, his admirable
treatises on religious subjects, all tending to enforce
the observance of practical piety, have gained him the
incomparably more enviable distinction, of having
benefited his fellow men in the most important in-
terests that attach to their nature. Of the most re-
markable of these productions we shall now proceed
to give some account ; for their collective value is
so considerable, that they mark an important epoch
in the progressive history of natural knowledge.

The Methodus Plantarum Nova issued from the
Dress in 1682. It contains Ray's first attempt to

44 MEMOIR OF RAY.

arrange plants in methodical order. They were
distributed in the following manner :

Woody Plants.

Trees I

Shrubs 2

Herbaceous Plants.

Imperfect 3

Without a flower 4

Capillary .....5

Grassy 6

With one naked seed • 7

Umbellate 8

Verticillate 9

Rough-leaved 10

Stellate 11

Pome-bearing 12

Berry-bearing 13

Many-podded 14

With one regular petal 15

With one irregular petal 16

Tetrapetalous, siliquose 17

Tetrapetalous, siliculose 18

Papilionaceous 19

Pentapetalous 20

Frumenta, or the different kinds of corn that af-
ford food to men 21

Grasses 22

Grassy-leaved plants 23

Bulbous 24

Allied to the bulbous 25

MEMOIR OF RAY. 45

This arrangement is, to a considerable extent, con-
formable to that of Csesalpinus, published in 1583,
who was the first to avail himself of Gesners judicious
suggestion to arrange vegetables by means of their
fructification. But while the peculiarities of the fruit
were continually kept in view, and may be said to
form the basis of his method, Ray perceived the
propriety of seeking for distinctive characters in the
other parts of a plant, in consequence of which he
has made a nearer approach to a natural arrange-
ment than any preceding systematist. He has cer-
tainly surpassed his predecessor Morison, a native
of Aberdeen, and professor of botany at Oxford,
whose system was first published at Paris in 1669,
and which is greatly more complex than that of
Caesalpinus, without being more useful in the ex-
trication of natural affinities. It will be perceived
that Ray adopts the ancient primary division of
plants into trees, shrubs, and herbs ; although, as
Sir J. E. Smith observes, his own prefatory remarks
tend to overset that principle, as a vulgar and casual
one, unworthy of a philosopher. To this supposed
fundamental distinction, however, he continued to
adhere, but he soon rectified many of the other
errors of his first arrangement, such as the sepa-
ration of the cereale grasses from their obvious as-
sociates, in an improved method subsequently pub-
lished. This arrangement, which contains his most
matured views on the subject, consists of thirty-four
classes, distributed as follows :

46

MEMOIR OF EAY.

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48 MEMOIR OF BAY.

This method, like the former, is in a considerable
degree founded on the fruit, but the other parts
are adopted without hesitation whenever they afford
strongly marked characters of distinction. One of
its principal merits consists in assigning a distinct
class to the palms, which had scarcely been recog-
nised in any previous system. The arrangement of
the other trees, according to the nature of the fruc-
tification, which was the most defective part of the
first method, is also deserving of high commenda-
j- tion. " But the chief glory of Ray's second method/'
says the Rev. Mr Wood, " arises from its taking the
lead in distributing plants according to the number
of their cotyledons. This, indeed, no one would
suspect from the tabular view of it, as it stands in
Philosophia Botanica ; nor does it appear in Ray's
own table of contents, which Linnaeus has very
carelessly transcribed and unwarrantably abridged.
But the distinction is clearly pointed out and ex-
plained in the work itself, into which one would
think that Linnaeus had never looked. " Floriferas
dividemus," is the perspicuous language of Ray.
" in dicotyledones, quarum semina sata binis foliis
anomalis seminalibus dictis, quae cotyledonum usum
praestant, e terra exeunt, vel in binas saltern lobos
dividuntur, quamvis eos supra terram foliorum spe-
cie non efferant ; et monocotyledones, quae nee folia
seminalia bina efferunt, nee binos lobos con dun t.
Haec divisio ad arbores etiam extendi pctest ; si-
quidem palmae et congeneres hoc respectu eodem

MEMOIR OF EAY. 49

modo a reliquis arboribus difFerunt quo monocotyl
dones a reliquis herbis." It is with peculiar satis-
faction that we thus do justice to our great British
naturalist, and restore to him the honour of which
he has been in a great measure deprived. We
readily acknowledge that we are proud of being able
to call him our countryman, for he was in all re-
spects as good as he was great. How far we may
be unduly biassed by natural patriotic feelings, it is
not in our power to determine ; but while our pre-
sent convictions continue, we cannot allow a decided
pre-eminence to Tournefort. Both of them, indis-
putably, possessed supereminent excellence, and we
cannot but lament that they were not better friends.
But irritabile genus is a character which might have
been extended by the poet much beyond his own
fraternity.5'*

The first work in which he made a practical ap-
plication of his system, and long before he had ren-
dered it so complete as it appears in the above ta-
ble, was his general Historia Plantarum, of which
the first volume, forming a thick folio, was publish-
ed in 1686. He undertook this work at the re-
quest of several of his learned friends, particularly
two gentlemen of rank named Hatton, to whom the
first volume is dedicated. The second volume ap-
peared about a year afterwards, and a supplementary
one was added in 1704. In this arduous undertaking

* Rees' Cyclopaedia.

50 MEMOIE OF EA1.

he received considerable assistance from many of
his scientific friends, especially Mr Skippon, Sir Hans
Sloane, Dr Tancred Robinson, and Mr Dale ; but it
demanded on his part the most persevering and in-
defatigable industry. It is truly characterized by
Linnaeus as opus immensi laboris. It embodies all
that is valuable in preceding writers, and forms a
complete epitome of the botanical lore of the age.
It likewise gives the substance of many works, such
as the Hortus Malabaricus, which are inaccessible,
from their rarity, to the generality of readers. To its
value as a compilation are added all the practical!
knowledge, original observation, and critical discern-
ment of its author. The descriptions are frequently of
great length, and in general remarkably accurate. To
these are added the place of growth, time of flowering,
qualities, and uses. Under the latter head the author
has collected much curious and interesting informa-
tion. The usefulness of this elaborate work is, how-
ever, greatly impaired by the difficulty in identifying
the species, from the vagueness of the generic and
specific characters. This inconvenience would have
been in a great measure obviated by the proposal
made to Ray by the Bishop of London, to have en-
graved figures of the whole ; but the difficulty of
accomplishing this was found to be so great, that the
design was ultimately abandoned.*

Two editions of the catalogue of English plants

* Philosophical Letters, p. 319-320.

MEMOIR OF RAY. 51

being now exhausted, Ray began to prepare a tnird
for the press, but the booksellers who had purchas-
ed the copyright of the early editions, threw so
many obstacles in the way, that he was induced en-
tirely to remodel the work, and publish it in a differ-
ent form. But as this could not be accomplished
for some time, in order, in the mean while, to satisfy
tne importunity of his botanical friends, he publish-
ed, in 1688, his Fasciculus Stirpium P^itannica-
rum post editum Catalogum Plantarum, &c. The
other work appeared in 1690, under the title of
Synopsis Methodica Stirpium Britannicarum. Tnis
publication, in the opinion of one of the most com-
petent judges, Sir J. E. Smith, is the great corner
stone of his reputation in this department of science.
" Of all the systematical and practical floras of any
country, the second edition of Ray's synopsis is the
most perfect that ever came under our observation.
He examined every plant recorded in the work, and
even gathered most of them himself. He investi-
gated their synonyms with consummate accuracy ;
and if the clearness and precision of other authors
had equalled his, he would scarcely have committed
an error. It is difficult to find him in a mistake or
misconception respecting nature herself, though he
sometimes misapprehends the bad figures or lame
descriptions he was obliged to consult."* The se-
cond edition, above referred to, was published i&

* Trans. Linn. Soc. iv. 277.

52 MEMOIR OF RAY.

1696, with the addition of more than a hundred
species, and a history and arrangement of mosses,
mushrooms, fuci, and other cryptogamous plants.
The edition now most in use, is that published many
years after the author's death by the celebrated
Dilienius.

Although our accomplished naturalist was so
much occupied with his botanical labours, and writes
to one of his correspondents that he resembled him
who said, Pectora nostra duas non admittentia euros*
yet such was his industry, that he was enabled to
prepare for the press the valuable but incomplete
and ill-digested materials left by Mr Willughby for
a general history of fishes. As the pecuniary aid
which was liberally contributed by Willughby's re-
lations to the former work was in this instance with-
held, the book was printed, through the interest of
Bishop Fell, at the theatre in Oxford, and the ex-
pense of the plates defrayed by several members of
the Royal Society. The Historia Piscium forms a
folio volume, and is illustrated by 188 plates. It is
a valuable contribution to the natural history of a
class of animals which, after quadrupeds, are of the
greatest utility to man, but which are less known,
notwithstanding the recent exertions of Lacepede,
Cuvier, and Valenciennes, than any other depart-
ment of the animal kingdom.

It had always been matter of deep regret to Ray
that he was prevented from engaging in the active
duties of his profession : his earnest desire to pro-

MEMOIR OF RAT. 53

mote the spiritual good of others led him, therefore,
to attempt through the press what he could not ac-
complish otherwise. The subject which he first
selected for this purpose was admirably fitted to
call forth the qualities in which he most excelled,
and his instructive and enlightened manner of treat-
ing it has been acknowledged by all. " The Wisdom
of God, manifested in the Works of the Creation,"
the volume to which we allude, has been universally
admired as an able exposition of the power, the
goodness, and other attributes of the Deity, as they
are reflected from the mirror of creation, and as far
as they can be " understood by the things that are
made." The tendency of his studies, and the cha-
racteristic qualities of his mind, enabled him to il-
lustrate the subject with a profusion of facts and
observations of the most interesting kind ; and
the work is pervaded by a spirit of sound philoso-
phy and ardent piety, which confer on it a high
value. Such was its popularity, that it soon passed
through many editions, and was translated into se-
veral languages. It has suggested the plan, and
furnished many of the most valuable materials, of
most of the works that have since been written on
the same topic, and has made the name of Ray fa-
miliar to the generality of readers even in the pre-
sent day.

The success of this work led him to prepare an-
other of a somewhat similar nature, entitled " Phy-
sico- Theological Discourses concerning the primitive

54 MEMOIR OF RAY.

Chaos, and Creation of the World : the general De-
luge, and Dissolution of the World ;" which was
published in 1692, and dedicated to Archbishop
Tillotson. Although little known in the present
day, this work excited considerable attention at the
time it appeared, and soon went through several
editions. It is a striking proof of the extent and
variety of knowledge which its author possessed ;
and, independent of its theoretical views, contains
such an assemblage of facts relating to the structure
of the earth, and the changes which it has under-
gone, that it has not yet altogether lost its utility.*
In compliance with the urgent solicitation of Dr
Tancred Robinson,/ Ray undertook to prepare a
series of synoptical arrangements of such of the
other classes of animals as had not been included
in his former publications ; thus furnishing a view
almost of the whole system of nature, f The first of
these works was the Synopsis Methodica Animalium
Quadrupedum, et Serpentini Generis, which appeared
in 1693. Besides a systematic classification of these
animals, it gives a pretty full account of their forms
and internal structure, and is enriched with nume-
rous important observations, and interesting details,
illustrative of their habits and instincts. It was in
general use among naturalists till the year 1735,
when it was superseded by the system of Linnaeus.

* Pulteney's Sketches of the Progress of Botany in
England, vol. i. p. 239.

MKMOIR OF BAY* £3

This was followed by a Synopsis Methodica Avium
et Piscium, in which many species are inserted
which had become known to the author since the
publication of Willughby's works on the same
subjects. Owing to the negligence of the book-
seller to whom the copy had been sold, this volume
was not given to the world till after Ray's death,
when it appeared under the superintendence of Dr
Derham, who added several descriptions, together
with a series of figures.

Our distinguished author was now considerably
upwards of sixty years of age, and his constitution,
naturally feeble, had been severely tried by his stu-
dious and sedentary mode of life. After complet-
ing so many useful works, he was pleased, we are
told by his biographer Dr Derham, by indulging the
thoughts of reposing from his labours. But notwith-
standing his bodily infirmities, his mind was still vi-
gorous ; and he did not hesitate to engage in another
literary undertaking, at the request of his friends.
This was to revise and correct an English edition
of Rauwolfs Travels in Asia, translated from the
High Dutch by Mr Staphorst, a native of Germany.
This work contained a good deal of information on
many subjects in natural history, and to make it
more perfect in this respect, Ray added a catalogue
of the plants of Greece, Syria, Egypt, and Crete.
It was published, with several rare tracts annexed^in
1693.

Some time after his return from the Continent,

56 MEMOIR OF RAY.

he had published a Catalogus Stirpium in exteris
regionibus, &c., which was now out of print ; and
his attention being recalled, by Kauwolf ' s book, to
exotic botany, he conceived that it would be of
advantage to travellers to have a condensed view of
the vegetables of Europe, exclusive of those indi-
genous to Britain, which were sufficiently illustrated
in his other works. He accordingly collected all
that were mentioned by authors, and added them to
such as he had himself discovered. This volume
appeared in 1694, and was entitled Stirpium Euro-
vcjearwm extra Britannias nascentium Sylloge. The
plants are arranged in alphabetical order, and, be-
sides the addition of various lists from Boecone's
Plants of Sicily, and other works, there is subjoined
a geographical view of the species which he observed
on the Continent ; perhaps the earliest attempt to
illustrate the distribution of vegetables that had been
made. In the preface to this book he discusses tne
merits of a method of arranging plants, proposed by
Rivinus, professor of botany at Leipsic, which led to
a controversy with that author. The method of Ei-
vinus is entirely artificial, and is founded on the regu-
larity and irregularity of the corolla, and the number
of petals of which it is composed. It has the appear-
ance of great simplicity, but leads to many very un-
natural combinations, and is, in reality, of difficult
and vague application, as the flowers are more lia-
ble to vary in the number of their petals than al-
most any other part of structure. He was the first

MEMOIR OF BAY. 57

who pointed out the inaccuracy of the division of
plants into trees, shrubs, under-shrubs, and herba-
ceous, a distinction which had been almost universal-
ly adopted, and which was warmly defended by Ray,
who unaccountably made it the groundwork of his
arrangement, although he had declared it to be un-
philosophical. Although this controversy was car-
ried on with less personal recrimination than usually
characterizes such discussions, it was by no means
agreeable to Ray, whose Christian principles, no less
than the amenity of his disposition, rendered him
desirous to live in peace with all men. The prin-
cipal benefit that resulted from this altercation, was
the improvement which it led him to make in his me-
thod of arrangement. These improvements were
embodied in the Methodus Plantarum nova emen-
data et aucta, and are exhibited in the second ta-
bular view which we have given on a former page.
Owing to some difficulty in effecting an arrange-
ment with the London booksellers for the publica-
tion of this work, it was printed at Amsterdam,
under the care of Dr Hotton, professor of botany
at Leyden ; and its wide diffusion on the Continent
made Ray's name as a botanist of European cele-
brity. It was published in 1703, arid is the last of
his botanical labours.

While engaged in its composition, the infirmities
of age were rapidly accumulating. He writes to Dr
Robertson that he was quite unable to go to Lon-
don to examine the different collections of plants,

58 MEMOIE OF EAT.

and that lie could not so much as walk into the
neighbouring fields. He had laboured for some
years under a severe disorder in his legs, which had
broken out into ulcers, and occasioned excessive
pain. He was likewise seized with other complaints,
by which his strength was so much reduced, that it
became evident that his mortal career was approach-
ing its close. But study had now become so habitual
to him, that he did not cease, even under these cir-
cumstances, from prosecuting the investigation of
nature, and even entering upon subjects compara-
tively new to him. It had formed part of Wil-
lughby's plan to write a history of insects, and Ray
had at an early period given occasional attention to
the subject, with a view of assisting in that under-
taking. He now resolved to complete the work
himself. In reference to it, he writes to Dr Der-
ham : " The work which I have now entered upon
is indeed too great a task for me ; I am very crazy
and infirm, and God knows whether I shall overlive
this winter. Cold weather is very grievous to me ; be-
Y sides, I have not bestowed sufficient time and pains
^( in the quest of any tribe of insects, except Papilio's,
and I have told how far short I am of perfection in
that. I rely chiefly on Mr Willughby's discoveries,
and the contributions of friends." On another oc-
casion he writes to the same individual, " For my
part I am now almost three score and fifteen years
of age, so that it is time for me to give over these
studies and enquiries (he alludes to the history of

MEMOIR OF BAT. 59

insects, which he had been recommending Dr Der-
ham to pursue) ; and, besides, I am so lame, and al-
most continually afflicted with pain, that I cannot
attend any study, being diverted by pain. 'Tis true,
of late years I have diverted myself by searching
out the various species of insects to be found here-
abouts ; but I have confined myself chiefly to two
or three sorts, viz. Papilios diurnal and nocturnal,
Beetles, Bees, and Spiders. Of the first of these
I have found about 300 kinds, and there are still
remaining many more undiscovered by me, and all
within the compass of a few miles. L have now
given over my inquisition, bv reason of my dis-
ability to prosecute, and my approaching end,
which 1 pray God fit me for. xou that have more
time betbre you may profitably Desttw some of your
spare hours upon such enquiries, and may probably
make useful discoveries, at least may reap a great
deal ot pleasure ana satisraction in finding out and
ormging to ligni some of the works of God not
before taken notice of." But before ins increasing
infirmities obliged him to abandon this study — the
ast that occupied the attention of his active mind —
tie had prepared pretty copious materials for a his-
tory of insects, which was published after his death by
Dr Derham, at the expense of the Royal Society.
It comprises all Willughby's descriptions in addi-
tion to his own, and forms a small quarto of 398
pages, including an appendix on British Beetles by
Dr Lister. The descriptions are frequently of con-

60 MEMOIR OF RAY,

iderable length, particularly those of the butterflies,
but their value is greatly diminished by the difficulty
in determining, owing to the want of plates and pre-
cise characters, to what particular species they were
designed to apply. Prefixed to the work there is
a systematic arrangement of insects, which was at
first published by itself under the title of Methodus
Insectorum. He divides insects, including under that
name intestinal vermes, earth-.worms, and leeches,
into two primary sections : those wnicn undergo
transformation, and tnose which do not cnange their
form. The orders are variously characterized by
the want, or presence of feet, place of' abode, struc-
ture of" the wings, form of the caterpillar, &c. The
following is a tabular view of this arrangement from
Kirby and Spence's Introduction, which these ad-
mirable authors have compressed into as small a
space as possible, by using the Linnaean terms for
metamorphoses, and reducing Rav's tribes of Orthop-
tert, Hemiptera, and Ne.uroptera* to their modern
denominations.

MEMOIR OF RAY.

61

62 MEMOIR OF EAT.

This classification possesses considerable merit
The praise, it is true, of assuming the metamor-
phoses of these animals as the basis of a natural
arrangement, is due to Swammerdam, but in many
other respects Ray has improved on the method of
his illustrious cotemporary. He has indicated and
characterized several natural groups with great accu-
racy ; and many of his suggestions have not been
without influence in leading to the present improved
state of entomological science. Of the imperfec-
tions of his arrangement no one was more fully
aware than himself. He laments especially the in-
accuracy of that part of it relating to flies, and ex-
presses a hope that he should soon be able to fur-
nish another more complete.* This expectation,
however, was destined never to be realized.

His vital powers were gradually exhausted by
repeated attacks of disease, and he breathed his
last at his residence in Black Notley, on the 17th
January 1705. He was buried in the church-yard
of his native parish, where a monument was some
time afterwards erected to his memory, by the care
of Bishop Compton, and others of his friends. It
was inscribed with the following elegant Latin epi-
taph from the pen of the Rev. William Coy te, M. A*

* Hist. Insectorum, p. 109.

MEMOIR OF BAY. 63

Eruditissimi Viri JOHANNIS KAII, A. M.

Quicquid mortale fuit,
Hoc in angusto tumulo reconditum est.

At Scripta

Non una continet Regio :
Et Fama undequaque celeberrima

Vetat Mori.

Collegii S. S. Trinitatis Cantab, fait olim Socius,

Necnon Societatis Regiae apud Londinenses Sodalis,

Egrigium utriusque Ornamentum.

In omni Scientiarum genere
Tarn Divinarum quam Humanarum

Ver satis simus.
Et sicut alter Solomon (cui forskn Unico Secundus)

A Cedro ad Hyssopum,
Ab Animalium maximis, ad minima usque Insecta,

Exquisitam nactus est Notitiam.
Nee de Plantis solum, qua patet Teme facies

Accuratissime disseruit ;

Sed et intima ipsius viscera sagacissime rimatus,
Quicquid notatu dignum in universa Natura de-

scripsit.

Apud exteras Grentes agens,

Quae aliorum Oculos fugerent, diligenter exploravit,

Multaque scitu dignissima primus in Lucena protulit :

Quod superest, ea Morum Simplicatate prseditus,

Ut fuerit absque Invidia Doctus ;

Sublimis Ingenii,

Et, quod raro accidit, demissi simul animi et mo-
desti ;

64 MEMOIR OF RAY.

I

Non Sanguine et Genere insignis,

Sed quod majus,

Propria Virtute Illustris.

De Opibus Titulisque obtinendi

Parum solicitus,

Haec potius merer! voluit quam adipisci :
Dum sub Private Lare, sua Sorte contentus

(Fortuna lautiori dignus) consenuit.

In rebus aliis sibi modum facile imposuit,

In Studiis nullum.

Quid Plura ?

Hisce omnibus,

Pietatem minime fucatam adjunxit,

Ecclesitz Anglicance
(Id quod supremo halitu confirmavit)
, Totus et ex Animo addictus.

Sic bene latuit, bene vixit Yir beatus,
Quern Prcesens s£tas colit, Postera mirabitur.

We are told by Sir James Edward Smith, that in
1737, the monument bearing the above inscription
having gone very much to decay, it was restored at
the charge of Dr. Legge, and removed for shelter
into the church. Forty years afterwards, the tomb
again underwent a repair by the care of the present
Sir Thomas Grey Callum and others,* who subjoined
a third inscription, as follows : —

* It has been again repaired by Mr. "Walker, the Rector
of Black Notley.

MEMOIR OF EAT. 3D

Tumulum hunc

a nonnullis humanitati, et scientiae
natural!, faventibus,

olim conditum,

et aliorum bona diligentia

postea restauratum, 1737,

nunc e vetustatis situ et sordibus

pauci de novo revocarunt, 1792.

The era in which Ray flourished, is justly de-
scribed by Linnaeus as the dawn of the golden age
in natural history. In the period that preceded it,
the thick darkness that settled, during the middle
ages, on, almost every subject worthy to occupy the
human faculties, still continued to overshadow the
history of nature. Scarcely any effort was made
to elucidate even the most familiar phenomena ;
and when such was attempted, the want of obser-
vation and philosophical discernment was supplied
by fictions of the imagination and the extrava-
gancies of credulity. Since what had been seen
and ascertained was therefore trifling in amount
compared with what had been heard and conjec-
tured, it is not surprising that the few works of the
time devoted to natural history, should so abound
in absurd notions and fictitious representations of
animal forms, as to be useful for nothing but point-
ing out the illusions to which mankind have been
subject. The investigations of Ray and his co-

66 MEMOIR OF BAY.

temporaries, pursued in the rigorous spirit of the in-
ductive philosophy, soon dissipated these delusions,
by bringing every thing to the test of strict obser-
vation. One of the first fruits of this auspicious
change, was the triumphant refutation of the doc-
trine of equivocal or spontaneous generation, which
had maintained its place among the unquestioned
credenda of the schools from the time of Aristotle,
and the full establishment of the Harveian doctrine,
omnia ex ovo. Sound principles of classification
were likewise adopted, and improvements equally im-
portant introduced into every department of natural
science, forming a broad and stable foundation for the
stately superstructure which has since been reared.
How much Ray's individual exertions contributed
to this effect, will in some measure appear from the
brief view that has been given of his life and writ-
ings. He enjoyed the advantage of devoting the
greater part of his life without interruption to the
studies that he loved so well ; and this circumstance,
joined to his indefatigable industry and activity,
enabled him to accomplish more than most other
authors. There is scarcely any department of na-
tural history which did not receive illustration from
his pen ; he greatly extended the boundaries of
many of them, and the systematic study of some
may almost be said to have originated with him.
His mind was equally fitted for the minute and labo-
rious investigation of objects, and that nice percep-
tion of their remote and general relations which can

MEMOIE OF BAY. 67

only be attained by the exercise of the higher facul-
ties. Hence he excelled both as a faithful describer
of species and a framer of systems. In comparing
the latter with the more celebrated method of Lin-
naeus, it' ought to be borne in mind that the two
systematists had, in a great measure, different ob-
jects in view ; and that if our countryman was least
successful, he failed in a more difficult object than
that to which the other so admirably attained. Lin-
naeus adopted an artificial system, of which the only
recommendation is the ease with which it enables
students to ascertain the names of plants. Desir-
ous that this knowledge should not be obtained in
an empirical manner, Ray attempted to follow the
divisions of nature ; and if he could not trace the
Ariadnean thread, he failed in a purpose which has
not yet been fully accomplished. Linnaeus was
deeply indebted to Ray's various writings, particu-
larly in his arrangement of animals ; and a careful
perusal of the Synopsis Quadrupedum, and the
early editions of the System of Nature, will lead to
the wrish that the obligation had been more warmly
acknowledged. Had not Ray and his cotempora-
ries performed the office of pioneers in opening a
way for the illustrious Swede, the energies of his
comprehensive mind might have been engrossed
with the subordinate details of science, and his
progress obstructed to that commanding elevation
which he now occupies.

Fully to appreciate Ray's merits, we must not

68 MEMOIR OF KAY.

only take into account the vast increment of know-
ledge which resulted to natural history from his la-
bours, but also the discredit from which he rescued
the study. Even the history of the higher animals,
though bearing so directly on the interests of life,
was held in little repute, while the lower tribes
were regarded as too insignificant to merit or justify
attention. This was particularly the case in rela-
tion to insects and other " creeping things," the
examination of which was considered as egregious
trifling, and deserving of nothing but ridicule and
contempt. To such an extent did this prejudice
prevail, that on one occasion an attempt was made
to set aside the will of a Lady Glanville, on the
ground of lunacy, because she had shown a strong
partiality for insects, and Ray had to appear on the
day of trial to bear testimony to her sanity I By
his means, however, even the most disreputable of
these studies was placed in a proper light, and in-
vested with the dignity of a philosophical pursuit ;
and although it was not till a remotely subsequent
period that many of them were cultivated with that
zeal which their intrinsic interest is fitted to inspire,
yet a feeling was produced in favour of all, when
they were seen to form the favourite occupation of
a mind which had asserted its superiority in the
most approved walks of learning, and which did not
disdain to exercise its matured faculties in contem-
plating the lowest and most despised of nature's
productions, even at a time when all earthly inte-

MEMOIR OP RAT. C9

rests were beginning to lose their influence in the
near anticipation of the most glorious manifestations
of the Creator.

His varied and useful labours have justly caused
him to be regarded as the father of natural history
in this country ; and his character is in every re-
spect such as we should wish to belong to the indi-
vidual enjoying that high distinction. His claims
to the regard of posterity are not more founded
on his intellectual capacity than on his moral ex-
cellence. He maintained a steady and uncompro-
mising adherence to his principles, at a time when
vacillation and change were so common as almost
to escape unnoticed and uncensured. From some
conscientious scruples, which he shared in common
with many of the wisest and most pious men of his
time, he did not hesitate to sacrifice his views of
preferment in the church, although his talents and
learning, joined to the powerful influence of his nu-
merous friends, might have justified him in aspiring
to a considerable station. The benevolence of his
disposition continually appears in the generosity of
his praise, the tenderness of his censure, and solici-
tude to promote the welfare of others. His modesty
and self-abasement were so great that they transpire
insensibly on all occasions ; and his affectionate and
grateful feelings led him, as has been remarked, to
fulfil the sacred duties of friendship even to his own
prejudice, and to adorn the bust of his friend with
wreaths which he himself might justly have assumed.

70 MEMOIR OF RAT.

All these qualities were refined and exalted by the
purest Christian feeling, and the union of the whole
constitutes a character which procured the admira-
tion of cotemporaries, and well deserves to be re-
commended to the imitation of posterity. *

* While the natural sciences are rapidly advancing in
discovery, it is pleasing to find their most ardent cultiva-
tors cherishing the recollection of this great man with
such feelings as pupils entertain towards an aged and re-
vered preceptor ; wondering at the ability with which he
used the opportunities within his reach, and anxious that
his memory should be honoured by the generations of after
days. A few years since, some of the admirers of Ray in
London proposed that his memory should be commemo-
rated by some appropriate meeting. The proposal was
enthusiastically received by the leading naturalists of the
metropolis and its vicinity, and the 29th November 1828,
the second centenary of his birth-day, was selected for the
purpose of a public expression of the high estimation in
which he was held by the lovers of every branch of na-
tural history. One hundred and thirty of the most dis-
tinguished cultivators and patrons of science gave a pub-
lic dinner, at Free-masons' Hall, Davis Gilbert, Esq. pre-
sident of the Royal Society, in the chair, and spent the
evening admiring his genius, and anxious to use their
best endeavours for the future commemoration of his piety
and learning.

For the particulars of this meeting, see Annals of Fhi-
y^ vol. v. p. 140.

ENTOMOLOGY.

NATURAL HISTORY

OF

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS.

*' Si vous parlez d'une pierre, d'une fourmi, d'un mou«
cberon, d'une abeille, votre di scours est une espece de de-
monstration de la puissance de celui qui les a forme'es;
car la sagesse de Pouvrier se manifeste pour Tordinaire
dans ce qui est le plus petit. Celui qui a e'tendu lea
cieux, et qui a creus^ le lit de la mer, n'est point different
de celui qui a percd 1'aiguillon d'une abeille, afin de donner
passage a son venin." — St Basil, LYONNET'S TRANS.

THE numerous beings comprehended under the
name of Insect, offer to our regard so many inte-
resting objects of contemplation and research, that
their history has deservedly assumed a prominent
place among the natural sciences. Although not
to be compared with many other animals in direct
utility to man, they are by no means destitute even
of the interest produced by that consideration,

72 NATURAL HISTORY OF

while they possess advantages as a subject of study
and investigation, equal to almost any other branch
of zoology. Such is the extent of the subject, and
the variety of aspects in which it may be viewed,
that minds of very different tastes and capacities
may find congenial occupation in some one or other
of its numerous details. The investigation of ge-
neric and specific distinctions, which are often so
faint and evanescent as almost to elude observation,
accustoms the eye to habits of nice discrimination,
— the relations which groups and families bear both
to each other and to the different kingdoms of na-
ture, lead to general views sufficient to exercise
the faculties of the most gifted minds, — while the
variety of form and structure which the species pre-
sent, is the source of inexhaustible gratification to
those who delight to trace the footsteps of the Cre-
ator in his works. When to the consideration of
their forms and habits we add the internal anatomy
of insects, what a wide and fruitful field of enquiry is
laid open ! The celebrated Lyonnet spent a consi-
derable portion of his life in examining the structure
of a single insect, and yet left much to be supplied
by his successors to complete our knowledge even of
that individual species. In the body of an insect not
exceeding an inch in length, M. Straus has enume»
rated 306 hard pieces entering into the composition
of the outer envelope ; 494 muscles for putting these
in motion ; 24 pair of nerves to animate them, di-
vided into innumerable filets ; and 48 pair of tra-

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 73

chese, equally ramified and divided, to convey air
and life into this inextricable tissue. This is a
spectacle, says Cuvier, altogether transporting by its
delicacy and regularity. Even to the fine assortment
of its colours, every thing seems as if made on pur-
pose to please the eye of man, which now perhaps
looked upon it for the first time since the creation.*
.—Each tribe of this extensive class of animals pos-
sesses peculiar attributes deserving of our regard.
The extreme beauty of the Lepidoptera or butter-
flies,— the striking contrast they present in the dif-
ferent stages of their existence, so remarkable as to
have caused them to be regarded by a mystical phi-
losophy as the types of the human soul released from
its material encumbrance, — their habits and times
of appearance, the one suggesting the purity of an
ethereal nature, the other associating them in the
mind of the observer with the beauty of external
nature, and the genial influences of the seasons, —
have alike contributed to render them objects of
general favour. The absence of imposing forms
and splendour of ornament among the Hymenoptera,
is amply compensated by their interesting habits,
arid beautiful adaptation of structure to the perfect
fulfilment of those wonderful instincts which in
every age have excited the admiration of mankind.
Without possessing in equal perfection the beauty
of the Lepidoptera, or the exquisite economy of the

* Rapport sur PHistoire Naturelle.

74 NATURAL HISTORY OF

hive-bee, the Coleoptera partake in no inconsider-
able degree of the interest arising from both these
sources, while they offer some claims on our atten-
tion peculiar to themselves.

In consequence of the compactness and solidity
of their structure, and symmetrical perfection of
their forms, the greater number of writers on ento-
mology have been led to follow Linne, in assigning
to the Coleoptera the precedence over the other
tribes in their systematic classifications. The dis-
tinctness of their insections and articulations, to-
gether with the clearly defined figure of the organs
of manducation, render them the most characteris-
tic representatives of the class to which they be-
long ; while certain relations of analogy which some
of the species are thought to bear to the vertebrated
tribes, seem to point out their relationship to a
superior race of beings. They may be said to
symbolize those higher animals which are most
remarkable for the perfection of their organs, and
which are therefore regarded as the types of their
respective classes, such as the feline race among
quadrupeds, and eagles among birds. These con-
siderations, taken in connexion with the great size,
singular forms, and brilliant colouring, of many of
the species, as well as the ease with which they
can be preserved in much of their living beauty,
have long rendered them favourite subjects of study
with those who have devoted their attention to an-
nulose zoology. At the same time., the important

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 7^

functions which they perform in the economy ol
nature, and the injurious consequences which not
unfrequently result to mankind from their undue di-
minution or increase, impart a greater degree of im-
portance to their history than attaches to the gene-
rality of the insect tribes.

Coleopterous insects compose the first great sec-
tion, or order as it is called, of the class of insects.
They are readily distinguished from the other mem-
bers of their class, by having the inferior wings co-
vered and protected by a hard case or shell. This
peculiarity of structure has suggested the name,
which is composed of two Greek words, and signi-
fies wings in a sheath (xoXso;, a sheath, and Triga,
wings). The term was first used by Aristotle, and
as the character to which it refers forms a very ob-
vious mark of distinction, it has been almost univer-
sally adopted by subsequent writers. In several in-
stances, however, it fails to be an accurate defini-
tion of the order, for there are some beetles without
either wings or sheath, and many others in which
the latter only is present. To the other characters
more recently added, such as the transverse folding
of the wings, and the straight sutural line down the
middle of the wing-cases, separating them into two
equal portions, there are likewise exceptions ; but
these are too few and unimportant to invalidate ma-
terially the general correctness of the definition.

The insects to which these characters apply, con-
stitute one of the most numerous orders of their

76 NATURAL HISTORY OP

class. In this country alone, they amount, by the
latest and most accurate census, to upwards of 3600,
thus forming nearly a third part of our entire insect
population. This is considerably more than double
the number of phaenogamous or flowering plants in-
digenous to Britain, and greatly exceeds the whole
amount of our native vertebrate animals. When com-
pared with the two other orders that are next to it in
extent in this country, it will be found that the Cole-
optera are nearly one half more numerous than the
Lepidoptera, and that they stand much in the same
relation to the Diptera or two-winged flies. Of the
latter, indeed, all the species ascertained to inhabit
Europe scarcely exceed the amount of British Cole-
optera ; for the most accurate enumeration of the
European Diptera which we possess makes them
about 3760.* The native Coleoptera of Sweden,
according to the enumeration of them given by
Gyllenhal, in his admirable Insecta Suecica, are
about 4700 in number. In advancing southwards,
these insects increase in a ratio similar to what is
observed in other departments of nature ; and in
countries under the tropics, so redundant in every
kind of animal life, they may be said absolutely to
swarm. We are without sufficient data, however,
from which to form an accurate estimate of their
total amount. Some years since, the collection of

* ©pstematigdje 'Bejecftretfrnng tier fce&annten €uro*
^toetflugeligen 3In0*fcten, toon 31* SX[1«

1818-1830.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 77

the Count de Jean at Paris, one of the most exten-
sive that exists, contained no fewer than 20,000
species. Many others are no doubt to be found in
different collections ; and when we take into account
the discoveries daily made by the numerous culti-
vators of this branch of zoology, and the extent and
fertility of the countries with the insect productions
of which we are wholly unacquainted, there seems
reason to believe that it cannot be much short of
30,000— that is 10,000 above the estimate formed
by Ray nearly a century and a half ago, as the pro-
bable amount of the whole class of insects !

This order comprehends some of the largest as
well as the most minute insects with which we are
acquainted. Certain orthopterous species belonging
to the genus Phasma surpass them in length, and
several gigantic moths are of greater superficial ex-
tent ; but in many beetles length of body is com-
bined with a proportionate breadth and thickness,
which renders them the most bulky and massive of
their class. A fine specimen of Prionus giganteus
measures nearly half a foot in length, the breadth
is about two inches, and the expansion of the wings
is nine inches. A handsome and scarce species of
the same family (Prionus armillatus) is about five
inches long and one inch and three quarters broad,
and the antennas, which are very strong and rigid, are
upwards of six inches in length. The Hercules beetle
(Dynastes Hercules), and Scarabseus Actaeon, mea-
sure respectively about four and a half inches in length

73 NATURAL HISTORY OF

including the horns. The largest coleopterous insects
inhabiting Britain are the Hydrous piceus, and the
Stag-beetle (Lucanus cervus). The latter is nearly
two inches in length, including the mandibles ; and
the former is not much short of the same dimen-
sions, besides being of considerably greater breadth.
These may be regarded as the giants of this order
of insects, occupying one extremity of the scale.
At the opposite extremity may be placed some
species of the genera Trichopteryx, Atomaria, and
Agathidium, which are so minute as not to exceed
one-eighth part of a line in length ;* or, to adopt
an illustration sometimes employed, they are abso-
lutely not bigger than the full stop that closes this
period.

The structure of these minute beings is perhaps
even more calculated to excite our admiration than
that of the larger animals. In the latter, most of
the parts are of sufficient size to come within the
direct cognisance of our senses, and there is no ap-
parent discrepancy between their dimensions and
the functions which they perform ; but when we re-
flect that a mere animated point, almost invisible to
the naked eye, possesses all the attributes which be-
long to the largest of its race — that it is furnished
with an external covering made up of many parts
adjusted to each other with the nicest accuracy —
that it is supplied with all the requisite organs of

* A line is the twelfth part of a French inch.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 79

sense and motion, and has a nervous and respiratory
system of greater complexity than many of the lar-
ger animals — that the various processes of digestion,
assimilation, and secretion, are continually going
forward — that not a limb can be put in motion
without calling into play a multitude of muscles —
and that this atomic being is moreover endowed
with instincts which regulate with almost unerring
certainty all its habits and economy — we can scarce-
ly fail to regard it as affording a more striking in-
stance of consummate skill than if it had occupied
a much larger space.

The shapely limb, and lubricated joint,
Within the small dimensions of a point,
Muscle and nerve miraculously spun,
His mighty work, who speaks and it is done ;
The invisible in things scarce seen revealed,
To whom an atom is an ample field.

" To the eye of the naturalist," says Latreille,
" the mass or volume of an object is a matter of
little consequence. The wisdom of the CREATOR
never appears more conspicuous than in the struc-
ture of those minute beings which seem to conceal
themselves from observation ; and Almighty Power
is never more strikingly exhibited than in the con-
centration of organs in such an atom. In giving
life to this atom, and constructing in dimensions
so minute so many organs susceptible of different
sensations, my admiration of the Supreme Intelli-
gence is much more heightened than by the con-

80 NATURAL HISTORY OF

lemplation of the structure of the most gigan
animals."

If superiority in certain qualities must be conced-
ed to some other tribes of insects, the Coleoptera
certainly surpass them all, as well as the higher
races of animals, in variety of form and singularity
of structure. Among butterflies, the Hymmoptera,
and two-winged flies, nearly as great a uniformity of
outline prevails as in the case of birds and serpents.
But there appears to be no general type of form ac-
cording to which beetles have been modelled. They
differ as widely among themselves in outward appear-
ance, as separate classes of othei animated beings
do from each other. Even the great deep, which has
ever been regarded as the fertile mother of all mons-
trous and all prodigious things, seldom produces an
" odd fish" equal in eccentricity to some species of
beetles. If we are less struck with the strange pro-
portion of their parts, than with any unusual figure
among the larger animals, it is on account of their
small size, which is generally too inconsiderable to
arrest our attention, and leads us to consider them
in a great measure abstractedly from the idea of
physical power with which we are accustomed to re-
gard animated beings of large dimensions. But for
this circumstance, they would excite the astonishment
of the most careless observer, and lead us to fear lest
they should realize the anticipations of the poet,—

Their shape would make them, had they bulk and size
More hideous foes than fancy can devise ;

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 81

With helmet-heads, and dragon-scales adorned,
The mighty myriads, now securely scorned,
Would mock the majesty of man's high birth,
Despise his bulwarks, and unpeople earth.

To those who have never had an opportunity of
inspecting a well-stored cabinet of Coleoptera, or
whose attention has never been drawn to the observ-
ance of the living insects in their native haunts, it
is not easy to convey an adequate conception of the
variety of forms which they assume. An examina^
tion of the accompanying plates will afford a more
satisfactory notion of this than can easily be con-
veyed by description. The most common figure
of trie outline of the body is oblong or oval ; fre-
quently it is cylindrical or linear, that is, having the
sides parallel with each other, sometimes orbicular,
and occasionally almost square. These may be re-
garded as the primary or dominating forms, but they
are subject to an endless variety of modifications,
and are variously blended with each other. The
surface is commonly convex, and the under side
rather flat, so that a transverse section forms a seg-
ment of a circle ; sometimes, however, the upper
side is depressed, and the under side somewhat
convex. The length of the body usually exceeds
the breadth, but in some instances the transverse
diameter is longest. The surface is frequently ren-
dered unequal by numerous elevations and depres-
sions, which cause the creatures " to resemble so
many pigmy Atlases bearing on their backs a mi-

82 NATURAL HISTORY OP

crocosm, and presenting to the eye of the beholder
no unapt imitation of the unequal surface of the
earth, now horrid with mis-shapen rocks, ridges, and
precipices, now swelling into hills and mountains,
and now sinking into valleys, glens, and caves/'*
But the singular appearance of the greater number
is produced by the horrid array of horns, spines,
and other projections with which they are furnished.
Some of these appendages are so remarkable as to
be wholly unparalleled in any other department of
the animal kingdom, and we are often wholly at a
loss to conjecture what purposes they were intended
to serve. In some instances (Scarabtzus Syphax^
and several allied species) three pointed horns, nearly
half the length of the body, project forwards from
the thorax, one on each side, and the other just over
the head. Another species of large size ( Scarabceus
Actceori) has a long and powerful horn issuing from
its head, curved backwards, and bifid at the point,
and having a strong tooth on its upper side towards
the base, while two other horns stand out from the tho-
rax, one on each side. A middle-sized species, of a
uniform reddish -brown colour (Scarabceus claviger),
bears on the centre of its thorax a long stout horn,
which is dilated in an angular manner at the tip,
and curved forwards so as nearly to meet another
of a slender subulate form arising from the crown

* Introduction to Entomology, by the Rev. William
Kirby and William Spence, Esq. vol. i.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 83

ot the head. One group (Lucanidcz) is distin-
guished by the portentous length of their jaws, gar-
nished with a formidable armature of angular pro-
jections and pointed teeth, bearing some resem-
blance to the branching antlers of some kinds of deer,
on which account they have been named Stag-beetles.
A second (Eusceles of Macleay) is so remarkable for
the disproportionate length and thickness of the hin-
der legs, that it has been regarded as the representa-
tive of a quadruped of similar peculiarity of structure,
and has therefore obtained the name of Kanguroo
beetle. In an extensive section (Longicornes), of
which many of the species are noted for elegance of
form and agreeable markings, the antennae are cf .
such extraordinary length as to equal in some in-
stances four times that of the body ; and they are
now and then singularly adorned with fascicles
or tufts of long hair. Certain kinds, distributed
throughout several different genera, and usually de-
signated by the specific term longimanus, are fur-
nished with anterior legs of unusual length, greatly
exceeding, in relation to the size of the body, those
of the Grallatores, or wading birds, and imparting a
very grotesque aspect by their strange disproportion.
Examples of similar anomalies everywhere present
themselves in this Protean race of animals ; but these
will suffice to show that

Nature here

Wantons as in her prime, and plays at
Her virgin fancies.

84 NATURAL HISTORY OF

The purposes which some of these peculiarities
of structure were designed to serve are sufficiently
apparent ; but in the greater number of cases we can
scarcely form a conjecture as to their use. Much of
the variety of form which these insects present, is no
doubt the necessary result of their being destined to
subserve so many different purposes in the economy
of nature. The configuration of each individual spe-
cies is that which adapts it best to fulfil the various
ends of its being ; and this connection between figure
and function is so strikingly displayed in the case
of many insects with which we are well acquainted,
that we are authorized to presume its existence when
their habits are unknown to us. A more intimate
acquaintance with these habits, would doubtless ex-
plain the utility of many a remarkable form and fan-
tastical assemblage of horns and prominences, which
our present imperfect knowledge might lead us to
regard as unnecessary or even cumbrous, and would
enable us to appreciate more fully the wisdom —
" wonderful in counsel and excellent in working"—
that has presided over the organization of these lowly
beings, and taught them to work its will. At the
same time it may reasonably be supposed that use-
fulness to the individual is not always the object in
view : the production of a pleasing variety may have
been as much the design of the creating mind in
the present instance, as it appears to have been in
giving a particular form and character to the leaves
and foliage of different trees, although the functions

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 85

of many of these might, for aught we know, have
been equally well performed had there been.no such
marked dissimilarity.

The colouring and variegation of coleopterous
insects are not less remarkable than their forms.
In the variety and beauty of their hues, they seem
to combine the clearness and decision of tint pos-
sessed by flowers, with the diversified markings of
the feathered race, and the metallic splendour of
the mineral kingdom. " In this tribe," says an
author, determined that his language shall not fall
short of his subject, " lavish nature sports gorge-
ously in the mingled riches of indescribably reful-
gent colours, proof against a continuance of the
visual ray, which makes the eyelids dance, while
the optic nerve aches at the splendour."* " Na-
ture in her sportive mood," say Messrs Kirby and
Spence, speaking, it is true, of insects in general,
but all their observations apply to beetles, " when
painting them, sometimes imitates the clouds of
heaven ; at others, the meandering course of the
rivers of the earth, or the undulations of their
waters : many are veined like beautiful marbles ;
others have the semblance of a robe of the finest
net-work thrown over them : some she blazons with
heraldic insignia, giving them to bear infields sable—-
azure— vert — gules — argent and or, fesses — bars —
bends — crosses — crescents — stars, and even ani-

* Barbut's Gen. of Insects, p. 46.

86 KATUEAL HISTORY OF

mals.* On many, taking her rule and compasses,
she draws with precision mathematical figures 5
points, lines, angles, triangles,f squares, and circles."
Some extensive groups are characterized by the pre-
valence of certain hues, bestowed on them probably
as a* means of concealment from enemies, by assi-
milating them to the objects by which they are us-
ually surrounded, or in subserviency to some par-
ticular purpose in their economy. The prevailing
colour among beetles of obscure haunts — such as
burrow in the earth, or pass the greater part of their
lives under stones (the Geodephagi of some modern
systematic writers), as well as those destined to fa-
cilitate the decomposition and dispersion of putres-
cerit and excrementitious substances — is black or
brown. The water-beetles (Dytiscidce) are almost
uniformly brownish black, inclining to olive, and
frequently variegated with streaks and spots of dull
yellow. The rostrated beetles, or weevils ( Curcu-
lionidce), present some of the most highly adorned
examples of insect life ; and in them also a curious
instance is observable of change in colour accom-
panying dissimilarity of habit. Numerous kinds of
these insects occur among loose earth and sand, or
under stones, and these are almost invariably of
sombre hues, and destitute of ornament : an exten-
sive division of the same tribe inhabit trees and
snrubs, and they are remarkable for displaying the

* Ptinus imperialis^ Linn. f Trichius deltat Fab.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 6/

most vivid tints of green. As examples ot tins, the
British genera Otiorhynchus and Phyllobius may be
cited, and the foreign ones Brachycerm and Entimm*
The elegant tribe ofCetonidce, which find their suste-
nance on plants, and which are represented in this
country by the Rose-chafer (Cetonia aurata), an
avant-courrier of those " flying gems" that delight
the eyes of the Entomologist in his progress south-
ward— are generally of a fine green, often accompa-
nied with a delicate schiller or play of colour, resem-
bling the floating light on the surface of some pre-
cious stones ; and they are sometimes spotted, or varie-
gated with lines and bands contrasting strongly with
the rest of the body. The Chrysomelidce — a term
which signifies an apple of gold — are most com-
monly of a pretty uniform golden-green, highly po-
lished and lustrous, and streaked occasionally along
the back with parallel lines of purple and blue;
while the Coccinellidce, or Lady-birds, are never dis-
tinguished by metallic splendour, but are prettily
marked with round spots of black on a red or yellow
ground, or with red spots on a ground of black.

The species in which some of these fine colours
are combined with a high degree of lustre, and di-
versified markings, must evidently be objects of no
mean beauty. An eye accustomed to the brilliant
shades of green and purple that adorn many of the
Buprestidae — the blue and coppery hues of the Eu-
molpi — the varied delineations of the Cetonidae—
and the warm but delicate tinting of the Ceramby-

88 NATURAL HISTORY OF

cidae — will not frequently find other natural pro-
ductions on which it can repose with greater plea-
sure. Such indeed is the splendour of some kinds,
that the wing-cases and other parts are often worn
as ornaments instead of precious stones. " A pe-
culiar and scarce night-fly," says a writer on Japan,
speaking of a species of beetle, " is of such incom-
parable beauty that it is kept by the ladies among
their curiosities, and has given rise to the following
fable : They say that all the other night-flies, owing
to the unparalleled beauty of this little creature,
fall in love with it, and in order to get rid of their
importunities, it maliciously bids them (for a trial
of their constancy) to go and fetch fire. The blind
lovers scruple not to obey commands, and flying to
the next fire or candle, they never fail to burn them-
selves."* Notwithstanding the beauty which many
tropical species retain when brought to this country,
and even after they have been preserved for many
years in our cabinets, it cannot be supposed to equal
that of their living state. In that condition only
can there be a full development of their finer and
more evanescent shades of colour — while their po-
lished surfaces must be of dazzling brilliancy when
seen under the light of a tropical sun, in angles con-
tinually varying with the motion of the animals,
which are thus rendered no unfit associates of the
Lories, Creepers, and other " birds of gorgeous plu-

* Kempfer's History of Japan.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS.

mery," which people the gay parterres of a
landscape, and embellish them

With their rich restless wings, that gleam

Variously in the crimson beam

Of the warm west — as if inlaid

With brilliants from the mine, or made

Of rainbows.

These insects occur in almost every country
capable of supporting animal life. Even the un-
genial sun of Greenland and Iceland awakes to a
short and precarious existence a few small species,
which endure, or rather escape from, the rigours of
an arctic winter, by a kind of hybernation partly
analogous to that of some vertebral animals. In the
higher latitudes, however, of Melville Island and
Winter Harbour, no coleopterous insect has been
observed ; and even the pestilent mosquito, which
spreads over almost the entire surface of the habita-
ble globe, extracting its nutriment equally from the
tropical Indian and the greasy hide of the Lapland-
er, appears unable to encounter the icy atmosphere
of these hyperborean lands. It may indeed excite
surprise that creatures of so fragile a nature should
be found at all in such countries as those just
mentioned ; but it must be borne in mind, that they
not only pass certain periods in the pupa or torpid
state, but are usually, while in that condition, deeply
buried in the earth. " What they chiefly require,"
Mr Macleay observes, " is the presence of heat
during some period of their existence ; and the

90 NATURAL HISTORY OF

greater, within certain limits, is the heat, tne more
active will be their vital principle. On the Ameri-
can continent, the extremes of heat and cold in the
course of the year are, as is well known, incompa-
rably greater than in places of the same latitude in
Europe. We may therefore readily conceive how
particular families of insects will inhabit a wider
range of latitude in the former country than in the
latter. We also see how insects may swarm in the
very coldest climates, such as Lapland and Spitz-
bergen, where the short summer can boast of ex-
traordinary rises in the thermometer ; because the
energy of the vital principle in such animals is,
within certain limits, proportionate to the degree of
warmth to which they may be subjected, and escapes
in a manner the severe action of cold."*

As heat is the principal agent in giving impulse
and vigour to organic life, it will be found that
these insects undergo as great a change under the in-
creasing temperature of the earth and atmosphere,
on approaching the equator, as is well known to take
place in vegetables and the larger animals. Their
numbers are prodigiously augumented, and they
acquire considerable momentum from the great size
of many of the species. The latter, too, are contin-
ually varying even under the same parallel of lati-
tude, so that countries similar to each other in soil,
temperature, and all other circumstances which

* Horse Entoraologicae, part i. p. 45.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 91

might be supposed to have an influence on animals,
present the most striking differences in their insect
productions. Latreille has observed that the coun-
tries most fruitful in insects, are those in which
vegetation is richest and most speedily renewed.
South America, which is so prolific in

all rare and beauteous things that fly

Through the pure element,

furnishes a greater number of Coleoptera than any
other country. It comprehends every variety of
soil and climate, and offers all the other conditions
that tend to the increase of organized beings. Its
intertropical regions are watered by many sea-like
rivers, and clothed with a luxuriance of vegetation
scarcely equalled elsewhere ; its mountain ranges,
rising far above the limit of perpetual snow, are the
sources of endless variation in climate and temper-
ature ; its elevated plateaus enjoy the temperate air
of a northern latitude, while the climates of Spain,
Italy, and France, and even of Norway and Sweden,
are successively presented to us in our progress to-
wards the Straits of Magalhaens. Extensive wastes
of arid sand likewise occur, similar to those that
cover so large a portion of the African continent ;
and the Pampas or Llanos (levels) stretching in a
dead flat, like the illimitable expanse of the ocean,
over an extent of country equal to a fourth part of
Europe, and so far removed, in their untrodden so-
litudes, from the turmoil of ordinary scenes, that
by the earliest European visitors they were styled.

92 NATURAL HISTORY OF

in the play of imagination, the regions of supreme
repose — form a feature in the physiognomy of the
country peculiar to this continent. " Forests, the
growth of thousands of years," says Humboldt in his
" Tableau de la Nature," "of an impenetrable thick-
ness, fill the humid country situate between the
Oronoco and the Amazons. Immense masses of
lead-coloured granite narrow the foamy beds of the
rivers. The mountains and woods resound unceas-
ingly with the roar of cataracts, the growl of the
jaguar, or the dull howl of the red monkey, which
foretells the approach of rain. In those places
where . the lowness of the waters leaves a sandy
beach uncovered, with open mouth, but motionless
as a rock, lies a crocodile, whose scaly body is co-
vered with birds. The tiger-marked boa, his tail
fixed to the trunk of a tree, his body rolled upon
itself, sure of his prey, lies in ambush on the bank ;
suddenly he uncoils to seize the young bull which
is just passing."

Brazil has always been regarded as the most fer-
tile region of South America, and that portion of it
lying between the twelfth and twenty-fifth degrees
of south latitude may be considered the richest in
the world in Coleoptera. Mexico perhaps is next
to it, for that country is much more prolific than
Guiana, so often referred to by the older Ento-
mologists, who became acquainted with its produc-
tions through the early French and Dutch settlers,
who have always been zealous collectors and culti-

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 93

vators of natural history. In the old world, the
countries that afford the greatest number of these
insects, are certain regions on the western coast of
Africa, the Cape of Good Hope, Java, and the other
large islands of the Indian Archipelago. New Hol-
land possesses many remarkable kinds, and the island
of Madagascar offers a rich and almost unexplored
field to the industry of some future collector.

Some interesting sketches of the entomological
aspect of Brazil, and other intertropical regions of
America, are given by a recent French writer.
According to his account, the insects of these coun-
tries in a great measure disappear during the months
of May, June, July, and August, probably because
that is the dry season, when vegetation is compara-
tively scorched and sapless, and therefore yields im-
perfect nourishment. But towards the middle of Sep-
tember, when the first showers begin to fall, all na-
ture seems to issue from its repose. Vegetation ac-
quires a tint of livelier green, the greater number of
plants renew their leaves, and insects begin to appear.
In October the rains become more frequent, and in-
sects are seen in greater numbers ; but it is not till the
middle of that month, when the rainy season definite-
ly sets in, that all the families seem, as it were, to
undergo a sudden development; and this general im-
pulsion, which all nature receives, goes on increasing
till the middle of January, when it reaches its great-
est height. The forests then present a scene of life
and motion, of which our European woods can give

9 1 NATURAL HISTOEY OP

no idea. During one part of the day nothing »s
heard but a loud and uninterrupted rustling or
humming noise, in which the harsh and deafening
'notes of the Cicadae predominate.* One cannot
move a step nor touch a leaf without seeing insects
take flight from all quarters. The herbaceous plants
are literally covered with brilliant beetles ; and the
slender twigs of the mimosa, on which they live in
society, appear to bend under the weight of dia-
mond-beetles (Entimus imperialis and nobilis).
This teeming exuberance is most striking in the
morning, before the sun has evaporated the dews of
the night. Towards the approach of mid-day the
heat becomes insupportable, and all animated nature
sinks into repose. The din ceases, and insects, as
well as other animals, seek the freshness of the
shade, from which they do not again emerge till the
approach of night has cooled the thirsty air. To
the species of the morning then succeed a multitude
of others, many of which, and these too of the
largest and most remarkable kinds, are seldom ob-
served but in the evening twilight. Then also

the night-eyed insect tribes

Wake to their portion of the circling hours.

* " Captain Hancock informs me that the Brazilian
Cicadae sing so loud as to be heard to the .distance of a
mile. This is as if a man of ordinary stature, supposing
his powers of voice increased in the ratio of his size, could
be heard all over the world. So that Stentor himself be-
comes a mute when compared with these insects." — Kirby
and Spencers Intro, to JEntom. ii. 404.

COLEOPTEKOUS INSECTS. 95

The Lampyridce, issuing in myriads from their re-
treats, diffuse their mild effulgence over the plants
and shrubs, which they often cover with their num-
bers ; and the luminous Elateridce dart about in all
directions, filling the air with their radiant tracks.
This natural illumination does not cease till the ap-
proach of day.

Although these insects, as has been stated, gene-
rally increase in number as we proceed from the
poles to the equator, yet there are some exceptions
to this rule. Among these are the aquatic beetles
(Dytiscidce), which are most numerous in the tem-
perate zone, and also of larger size than within the
tropics. At the same time there is scarcely any
tribe of Coleoptera more widely distributed than
this ; a circumstance no doubt attributable to the
equable temperature of the medium in which they
live, which exempts them in a great degree from
the modifying influence of climate. Of this a fami-
liar proof is afforded by our native Colymbetes, which
continue pretty active throughout the winter, when
other insects are in a state of torpidity. We have
occasionally seen them swimming with alacrity in
the waters of a pond when the surface was covered
with a thick coating of ice. The same circumstance
that accounts for their extensive diffusion, may there-
fore be regarded as the cause of their not increas-
ing in tropical regions. In the latter countries, be-
sides, every pool or stagnant water, such as these
creatures love to frequent, is dried up during one

96 NATURAL HISTORY OP

season of the year by a rapid evaporation, and the
smaller streams at one time undergo the same tate,
and at another assume the character of torrents.

As providence in the creation of insects seems
partly to have designed them for removing various
nuisances and superfluous materials from the face
of nature, their distribution is regulated accordingly,
and their numbers proportioned to the work assigned
to them. In temperate climates, for example, where
the dead carcasses of animals decompose but slowly,
our senses would be continually offended, and our
health liable to injury, from the unwholesome mias-
mata that exhales from them, unless some provision
were made to accelerate their removal. We ac-
cordingly find a profusion of carcass-eating beetles
— Necrophori, Silphidce, &c — which speedily as-
semble from all quarters, round a dead body, led by
the emanation of the tainted air, and in a short pe-
riod it is either buried or consumed. In several
extensive countries of South America, however,
where the extreme dryness of the air and heat of the
sun cause the animal juices to evaporate with such
rapidity that a dead body can scarcely be said to
putrefy, but is converted into a substance so com-
pletely desiccated, that travellers across the woodless
pampas sometimes make their fire of a dead horse,
such insects would scarcely be required, and ac-
cordingly few if any have been observed. In this
country, and others under similar latitudes, nature
has devolved the task of removing excrementitious

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS 97

nuisances chiefly on a numerous host of small bee-
ties belonging to the genera Aphodius, Onthopha-
pus, Aleochara, &c. Some kinds (such as the Geo-
trupidcB) convey the dung to the bottom of holes dug
to receive it, and make it a receptacle for their eggs ;
others consume it, and by perforating the mass in all
directions, make it pervious to the air and wind, by
which it is soon dried and scattered, leaving the herb-
age on which it rested to spring with renewed vigour.
In warmer countries, where the task becomes more
onerous, from the increased number of large mam-
miferous animals, the species mentioned are super-
seded or assisted by others more powerfully gifted-,
such as the gigantic Scarabaei, the Phansei, and
Ateuchi, whose singular habits we shall afterwards
describe. New Holland, on the contrary, being
destitute of large animals, furnishes scarcely any
coprophagous insects, except a few scarce species,
most of which are referable to a single genus.

As the different continents produce various kinds
of the higher animals not occurring in other regions,
tney are in like manner distinguished by possessing
peculiar species of insects. Many of these will be
afterwards particularized. The geographical distri-
oution of the Coleoptera is still so imperfectly un-
derstood, that the attempts which have been made
to illustrate it consist not so much in an exposition
of the general principles by which it is regulated,
as in a detail of insulated facts and observations.
Tnese it will be more satisfactory to give herealter

98 NATURAL HISTORY OF

as a part of the general history of particular groups
and species ; and we shall conclude these introduc-
tory observations by giving an account of the exter-
nal organs of coleopterous insects, in order that trie
descriptions and generic characters in the subse-
quent part of the volume may be more readily un-
derstood.

The most characteristic feature of the coleopte-
rous order, and from which it obtains its name, has
been already mentioned, viz. the horny consistence
of the upper pair of wings. The whole body is
likewise covered with an integument or crust of a
similar nature, more or less rigid, which has been
found, on analysis, to consist chiefly of a peculiar
principle named chitine. This corneous envelope
defends the internal organs, and executes a function
analogous to that of the bones in vertebrate animals,
by supporting the softer parts, and affording points
of attachment to the muscles.

It is one of the distinguishing attributes of' the
class of insects, that their bodies are inserted or di-
vided into many jointed parts, a mode of structure
which is more or less obvious in all their different
states of existence. These segments are more re-
gular and distinct in the larvae of the Coleoptera
than after the insects have undergone their final
transformation, by which some of the rings become
very much enlarged, while others suffer a corre-
sponding diminution. But in every perfect i

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 99

there are three obvious divisions, consisting of the
head, thorax, and abdomen.

The head appears as a single piece, without any
obvious suture or division, and is generally or a
harder substance than the rest of the body. Its
form is most commonly triangular with the angles
somewhat rounded, frequently it is orbicular, and
in a numerous and important tribe {Curculwnid<E)
it is produced into an elongated rostrum or snout.
The hinder part is occasionally constricted into a
short neck, which inosculates in the anterior cavity
of the thorax, and admits of a considerable degree
of motion in almost every direction. The position
of the head, or its inclination with respect to the
body, is generally somewhat slanting, forming an
angle more or less obtuse ; but in some instances it
is bent inwards and forms an acute angle. The
anterior part of the head is occupied by the moutn
and its various appendages, near to which are placed
tne antennae and eyes.

The mouth is greatly more complicated in its
structure than among the higher animals, and its
various parts undergo numerous modifications in
different tribes. They will be found however to he
essentially as follows : the labrum or upper lip, the
mandibles, the maxilla or under jaws, the labiwn
or under lip, and the mentum.

The upper lip (labrum) is a small moveable piece
placed on the upper side of the mouth, and closing
it from above. It is variable in form, but is most

100 NATUEAL HISTORT OF

commonly quadrate, usually wider than long, and
sometimes rounded or triangular. It is of a horny
consistence, and its direction is often somewhat
slanting or vertical. Its outer margin is frequently
sinuated or notched.

The mandibles, or upper jaws, are two strong
horny pieces, which take their rise one from each
side of the mouth, immediately beneath the upper
lip, which usually covers their base. They are ge-
nerally of a triangular form, more or less curved,
esp cially towards the tip, and usually toothed or
serrated on their inner edges. They may be said
to r present the jaws in vertebrate animals, but they
differ in this, that their motion, instead of being ver-
tical, is horizontal or from side to side. Their in-
ternal surfaces are frequently parallel, but the den-
tati ns are seldom alike in both, the projections of
the one being so arranged as to enter the concavi-
ties of the other, in order to admit of their closer
junction. This, however, is often prevented by
the curvature of the tips ; and in several instances
where the mouth is wide, and the mandibles rather
remote from each other at the base, the blades cross
each other a little beyond the centre. The name,
which is derived from a Latin word signifying to
chew, indicates their function, which is to bruise
and comminute the food ; and they likewise act as
instruments of prehension. They are liable to re-
markable variation in size : in many genera they
v e so short and inconspicuous as to be almost en-

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 101

Urefy concealed within the cavity of the mouth,
while in others they are nearly equal to half the
'ength of the body. Instances of the latter may be
seen in several of the species figured, particularly
Prionus cervicornis (Plate XXIIL), Chiasognathus
Chiloensis (Plate XVIII.), and the stag-beetle.

The under jaws (maxillce) are likewise two pro-
jecting pieces, inserted on each side of the moutn,
immediately below the mandibles. As in the last-
named organs, their action is horizontal, but their
texture is generally less rigid, their colour usually
paler, and their internal edges ciliated or fringed
with hairs. The tip is frequently acute, and in one
beautiful tribe of beetles (Cicindelidce) it terminates
in a moveable claw; but in many instances the
maxillae are lobed, and of a spongy consistence at
the extremity. As accessory to the mandibles, they
are employed in holding the food, lacerating it, and
subjecting it to a still further comminution, after
the harder parts have been broken down by the
more powerful action of the upper jaws.

Towards the middle of the outer edge of the
maxillae, there emerge two slender filiform processes,
composed of several joints, named palpi. These
are usually termed maxillary palpi, to distinguish
them from another pair which take their origin in
the under lip. In many beetles each jaw is fur-
nished with two of these appendages, in which case
they are distinguished from each other as the ex-
ternal and internal palpi ; but in numerous Instances

102 >ATUEAL HISTORY OF

there is only one palpus attached to each blade of
the maxillae. These organs generally consist of four
joints, of which the terminal one is remarkable for
the variety of forms which it assumes in different
insects, affording valuable characters for distinguish-
ing genera. When an internal palpus is present,
it is usually formed of two slender articulations.
The palpi are susceptible of rapid and extended
motion, and are sometimes observed in a state of
intense vibration, similar to the antennas of Ichneu-
mons, and other Hymenoptera, when exploring a
decayed trunk to discover a proper nidus for the
reception of their eggs. They are supposed to con-
stitute one of the principal organs of touch. That
they perform this function is rendered extremely
probable by their structure, which is well adapted,
by its peculiar pliancy, to the examination of the
objects with which they come in contact. The
joints into which they are divided likewise favour
this explanation of their use, since they seem to
present some analogy to the articulated extremi-
ties which form the principal seat of the sense of
touch in the higher animals. It is at the same time
probable that these organs are subservient to other
purposes.

As the mouth is covered above by the labrum or
upper lip, so it is closed beneath by the under lip
or labium. This part is situate between the max-
illae, and is composed, as it were, of two portions
joined together by their inner edges. The part

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 10.5

immediately behind it, which may be considered
as forming its base, is named the chin (mentum).
This piece is usually transverse, or broader than
long, and is in most instances sinuated or notched
in the middle of its anterior edge, with an acute tooth
in the centre of the notch, which is sometimes bi-
fid. From each side of the labium, and frequently
attached to its lateral margin, there projects an ar~
ticulated feeler, similar to those borne by the max-
illae. These are called the labial palpi. They ge-
nerally consist of three moveable articulations, at-
tached to a fourth which is adherent and forms a
support to the others. They seldom equal the ex-
ternal maxillary palpi in length, and the terminal
joint does not exhibit such a variety of form, being
most commonly somewhat clavate, or nearly of equal
breadth throughout its whole length.

The most conspicuous appendages of the head
are two jointed organs, which stand out like horns
from the forehead, and are named antenna. These
never exceed two in number in genuine insects, and
are situated anterior to and rather beneath the re-
gion cf the eyes : occasionally they are placed close
to the margin of the eyes, and in some instances the
latter have a sinuosity for their reception, and par-
tially encompass their base. They are generally
composed of eleven obconical or tubujm^joints, lia-
ble to great variation in their relative proportions.
Occasionally, however, the joints do not exceed

104 NATURAL HISTORY OF

nine or ten, and in some cases, instead of being
conical, they are globose and somewhat remote from
each other, being connected by a slender filament,
so that they bear no unapt resemblance to a series
of beads rather loosely strung. The ordinary length
may be stated to be about half that of the body, but
they very often fall short of these dimensions, and
in many insects they are not longer than the head.
On the other hand, they often equal or surpass the
length of the insect, and in the Capricorn-beetles,
a tribe distinguished by the length and delicate
structure of these members, they are sometimes
more than four times as long as the body. Al-
though of considerable importance in the systematic
arrangement of insects, the development of the an-
tennae does not seem subjected to any very general
or well-established rules, and is therefore of less
value than certain other parts of structure. For
example, we frequently find a considerable differ-
ence to exist in the form of the antennae among
species in other respects intimately allied ; and even
between the sexes of the same species a great dis-
parity of size and structure is observable. When a
difference exists, those of the male are more fully
developed than those of the female.

The antennae are obviously of the first importance
in the economy of insects, but their primary use
has not been fully ascertained. It seems to be ge-
nerally admitted that in many tribes they exercise

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 105

a function analogous to that of touch, being em-
ployed in exploring the depth of crevices, and in
ascertaining by contact the nature of any opposing
object. But as their extreme shortness in two-
winged flies (Dipterci), and some other insects, does
not accord with that usage, they are likewise sup-
posed to be the seat of a particular sense. Proceed-
ing on the assumption that all the organs of sensa-
tion found in the higher animals have their analogues
in insects, some observers maintain that tfl-e antennae
represent the ears, and that although th«?y may not
directly convey the vibrations of sound Vo the sen-
sorium, their primary function is something related
to hearing. Others again suppose that they are the
media through which the sense of smell is effected,
but this explanation of their use is disproved by
Huberts observations on Bees, which show that the
sense of smell, at least in these hymenopterous spe-
cies, is placed within the cavity of the mouth.

The appendages of the head arid mouth wIVch
have just been described, are represented in their
natural position by the following figures, which we
have taken the liberty to copy from Griffith's edition
of Cuvier's Animal Kingdom: a (fig. 1) is the la-
brum or upper lip ; b the mandibles ; c the exter-
nal maxillary palpi ; d the labial palpi ; e the an-
tennae ; f (fig. 2) the labium or under lip ; g the
mentum, with a triangular tooth in the centre of its
notch ; h the internal maxillary palpi ; i the max-
illae, produced into an acute arcuate lobe.

ion

NATURAL HISTORY OF

Ffr.2.

The next part of a coleopterous insect which re-
quires some notice is the thorax, which it will suf-
rice for our present purpose to describe as a single
principal portion, intermediate between the head
and abdomen. It is the seat of all the organs of
motion, and is usually strong and muscular, as it
forms the chief support of all the other parts of the
body. It is generally wider than the head and nar-
rower than the abdomen. The form of the upper
and exposed portion is very variable : in an exten-
sive tribe of beetles it is more or less heart-shaped,

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 107

truncated before and behind, with a longitudinal
groove down the middle. In other instances it is
somewhat square, and occasionally it is nearly or-
bicular. The inferior portion of the thorax is com-
posed of a single piece named the sternum, or breast-
bone. It is much developed in certain tribes, par-
ticularly water-beetles (Dytisridce), and in the beau-
tiful species which constitute the genus Buprestis.
Of the hinder portion of the thorax, the only part
seen from above is a small piece, commonly of a
triangular form, with its point projecting backwards
and interposed between the suture, of the elytra at
the base. This piece is termed the scutellum. It
exists in a more or less obvious form in nearly all
beetles, and although usually minute, it is sometimes
so large (as in the genus Macraspis) as to occupy a
considerable portion of the dorsal area. The ap-
pendages of the thorax are the instruments of mo-
tion, the wings and legs, on which it is necessary to
bestow a brief consideration.

The true organs of flight in the Coleoptera are
two membranous and transparent wings, jointed
upon the upper and hinder portion of the thorax.
They are generally very ample, and are extended
by means of a few strong nervures which run in a
longitudinal direction, and throw off a few lateral
branchlets. When in a state of repose they are
transversely folded, and in most cases completely
covered by the first or upper pair of wings. The
latter, as has been already stated, are of a hard or

108 NATURAL HISTORY 0¥

horny substance, similar to the crustaceous envelope
of the head and thorax, and in the language or en-
tomology are named elytra or wing-cases. These
organs are likewise articulated to the thorax, and
when at rest lie along the back of the abdomen, in
the middle of which their internal edges meet and
form a straight longitudinal line or suture. At this
point of junction the wing-cases are sometimes sol-
dered together, and form a single undivided piece,
which completely incases tne abdomen. In such
instances the inferior wings are wanting, or exist in
a very rudimentary condition, and the species are
of course incapable of flight. The elytra usually
cover the whole upper surface of the abdomen,
which, being sufficiently protected by their means.
is rather of a soft consistence ; in numerous ex-
amples, however, they cover only a small portion at
its base, in which case the exposed surface is equally
rigid with the rest of the body. Without some
protection similar to that afforded by the elytra, tne
inferior wings would be continually liable to injury,
as they are but little adapted by their delicate cex-
ture to resist the attrition to which they are so often
exposed by the haunts ot the species, many of which
live among loose earth and under stones. The wing-
cases likewise serve to protect the stigmatic open-
ings, placed along the sides of the abdomen, by
which air is introduced for the purposes of respira-
tion ; and it is probable that they assist materially
40 the act of flight, by presenting a broad and cou-

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS, 109

cave surface to the air, and maintaining the body in
a proper equilibrium.

The aerial movements of these insects are nor,
however, in general performed with that power and
ease of evolution which are so remarkable in biras,
and even in certain other tribes of their own class.
In the larger kinds especially, the weight of the
body seems somewhat disproportionate to the size
and motive apparatus of the wings, and their flignt
is therefore heavy and laborious, and seldom sus-
tained for any considerable time. They rise into the
air but slowly, and although their motion soon be-
comes rather rapid and headlong, the frequency with
which they strike against any object that happens
to come within the line of their flight, shows them
to be incapable of exerting that degree of muscular
energy necessary to check suddenly the impulse
they have received, or speedily change its direction.
It is probably owing to this cause that they are so
often seen to come in contact with other objects,
rather than deficiency of sight, to which it is ascribed
in the saying, " blind as a beetle." Olivier asserts
that no coleopterous insect can fly against the wind,
and it is probable that the affirmation is correct, at
least in relation to the majority, and when the wind
is so high as to offer much resistance. Many of the
smaller beetles, however, and those whose habits
render a sustained flight necessary (such as the tree-
chafers, Melolonthce, &c.), possess considerable power
of wing. During a warm day in spring the air ig

1 10 NATURAL HISTORY OF

filled with StaphytinidcE) Spharidiidce, and other
minute beetles, which flit about in the sunshine with
an ease and velocity which sufficiently indicate the
perfect aptitude of their structure for such an exer-
cise.

In beetles, as well as in all other insects properly
so called, there are six legs, each of which may be
considered as composed of four principal pieces,
viz. the coxa or haunch a, the thigh &, the tibia
or shank c, and the tarsus or foot <f, as represented
in the following figure.

The coxa may be regarded as
the joint which connects the leg
with the thorax. It is frequent-
ly furnished with an appendage
called the trochanter. The thigh
is the largest and most conspi-
cuous portion of the leg ; it is
usually somewhat flattened, and
frequently spined or serrated on
the edges. In the jumping beetles (Halticce), and
some other species (as in Sagra, Plate XXVII.),
the hinder thighs are very much thickened. The ti-
biae are generally shorter and more slender than the
thighs, growing thicker at the lower extremity, and
having a tendency to a triangular form. They are
frequently beset with stiff bristles, and armed more
or less with spines or spurs. The tarsus is the ter-
minal portion of the foot, and consists of small joints
varying in number from five to three. The shape of

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. Ill

the joints is most commonly triangular or elongate-
quadrate. On the under side they are usually densely
clothed with hairs or bristles forming a kind of cush-
ion, which enables the insects to make their footing
more secure. The tarsi terminate in two curved
claws, which in some instances are double, and in
others are bifid at the tip. They are frequently
serrated on the under side.

As the anterior pair of legs are in most cases con-
vertible into organs of prehension, they sometimes
exhibit striking peculiarities in their structure in
order to adapt them to this usage. In several
species they are remarkably elongated, and occa-
sionally provided with a kind of hook at the extre-
mity of the tibia, as in the harlequin beetle, repre-
sented on Plate XXV. In other instances, as among
some of the predacious Carabid<c> the anterior ti-
biae have a deep notch on the inner side towards
the apex, above which there is placed a strong
moveable spine, which admits of being pressed
down across the opening, and thus secures any
object that may happen to be within it. A scarce
British beetle, found on the coast of Norfolk, and
on the shores of the Frith of Forth near Portobello
( Cillenwn laterale)y &hows an arrangement of this
kind ; and it is rendered still more efficient by the
addition of two small spines on the side of the notch
opposite to the moveable spine, which receive the
latter between them when it closes, and prevent it
f-om being twisted in a lateral direction (fig. 1 of the

112 NATURAL HISTORY OF

following cut). A similar structure is observable in
the anterior legs of the common Blister-beetle ; but
in this instance the notch is in the basal joint of the
tarsus, and is closed by a strong conical spine aris-
ing from the interior angle of the tibiae (fig. 2).
This apparatus is confined to the male, and, ac-
cording to the observations of M. Victor Audouin,
it is employed to lay hold of the antennae of the fe-
male, which it effectually secures.

Fig. 1. Fig. 2.

To answer a similar purpose, the tarsi of many
male carabideous insects are considerably dilated,
and clothed with hair in such a manner that they
act as suckers. In the males of the large water-
beetles especially, (genus Dytiscus), there is a singu-
lar and elaborate apparatus of this kind, the exami-
nation of which, to use the words of Messrs Kirby
and Spence, will almost compel the most inattentive
observer to glorify the wisdom and skill of the ALL-
FATHER, so conspicuously manifested in the forma-
tion of these complex organs. The three first joints

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 113

of the anterior tarsi are dilated so as to form a c.r-
cuiar plate, fringed round the edges with strong
hairs ; the under side of this plate is more or less
thickly covered with small circular cups, some of
which are placed on footstalks, and others are nearly
sessile ; two of the largest of these cups are situated
near the base of the plate, the whole apparatus
forming a powerful sucker. A very beautiful and
curious appendage, designed probably to serve a si-
milar end, has been noticed on the under side of the
tarsi of a dark-brown beetle (Harpalus ruficornis)>
found everywhere throughout Britain, under stones
and among rubbish.

The third and last primary division of the body
is the abdomen, an important portion of the animal
economy. It is generally the largest part of the in-
sect, and is closely attached to the hinder extremity
of the thorax. It is unprovided with locomotive
organs, and is composed of rings or segments, on
both sides of which are placed rounded openings,
named stigmata, or breathing holes, through which
the fluids become aerated. Many Coleoptera have
a tubular retractile piece at the extremity, termed
an ovipositor, which forms a funnel for conveying
the eggs in safety to their appointed nidus ; but no
insect in this order is possessed of any appendage
analogous to a sting. The abdomen is generally
larger in the females than in the opposite sex, and
differs in the form of the terminal segments, besides
having one fewer than the males. — We now proceed
H

114 NATURAL HISTORY OP

to give a historical and descriptive account of th»
leading groups and most remarkable species belong-
ing to this extensive and important tribe of insects.

The first division of the Coleoptera includes all
the kinds which have five joints in each tarsus, on
which account it is named

PENTAMERA,

a term derived from two Greek words, civra, Jive*
and /xi£o;, a part or joint

The species which most systematic writers place
at the head of the coleopterous order, constituted
the Linnaean genus CICINDELA, a term which was
anciently applied to various destructive insects, as
well as to those possessing luminous properties. This
precedence is assigned to them owing to a certain
perfection and development of structure, by which
they are fitted for a mode of life pre-eminently car-
nivorous. The legs are long and slender to enable
them to pursue their prey with rapidity, the eyes glo-
bose and remarkably prominent, and all the organs
employed for the purposes of prehension and masti-
cation of the most efficient kind. Of these the man-
dibles are most conspicuous, as they project from
the head, and are garnished with long and powerful
teeth. The same circumstance is observable in these

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 115

atures that has been sometimes noticed in the
gher animals, that the most blood-thirsty propen-
sities are often combined with elegance of form and
the highest beauty of colouring. They are adorned
with the most beautiful tints of green and blue, with
coppery or golden reflections, and the majority are
variegated with spots and streaks of yellow. Their
rapacity and agile movements have procured for
them the name of Tiger-beetles. They prey indis-
criminately on other insects, and few of the smaller
kinds are capable of eluding or resisting their attack.
The larvae are equally voracious with the perfect
insect, but their locomotive organs being too im-
perfect to enable them to attempt an open war, they
have recourse to stratagem. In that early condition
the body is long, white, and cylindrical, furnished
with six scaly feet of a brown colour, and having
two strong fleshy tubercles, like horns, rising from
the back. It is entirely of a soft consistence, except
the head, which is covered with a large rounded
plate, and armed with two large jaws. These grubs
dig cylindrical holes in the sandy soil where they
love to reside, and lie in ambush at the entrance,
the opening of which is completely closed by the
broad scaly head. As the excavation is nearly per-
pendicular at its mouth, the grub would have diffi-
culty in retaining its position, were it not for the
dorsal spines formerly mentioned, by which it sus-
pends itself to the side of its dwelling. When lying
in wait in this position, the jaws are expanded, and

116 NATURAL HISTOR7 OF

ready to seize any unwary insect that comes within
reach ; sometimes it makes a sudden dart if the ob-
ject is at some distance, and immediately retreats
to the interior of its den. Their voracity is not
satisfied with other insects, but extends to their own
species ; and when two individuals form their holes
in the immediate neighbourhood of each other, the
stronger devours the weaker, that there may be no
interference with his own pursuits. When about
to change their skins or be converted into nymphs,
they retire to the bottom of their holes, having pre-
viously sealed up the entrance.

The perfect insects are found in the spring and
summer months, usually in sandy fields exposed to
the sun. They seem rather partial to heaths, and
certain kinds are found only in the vicinity of the
sea.

In its present restricted form the genus contains
upwards of 200 species, only six or seven of which
occur in Britain. The most common throughout
the northern parts of Europe is C. campestris, one
of the most beautiful of our indigenous insects. It
is of a fine green colour, glossed with coppery-red,
and having five yellowish spots on the margin of
each elytron, and another towards the middle. It
is distributed over the whole island, but is rather
local in Scotland.

A beautiful species representing this genus is the

. /7/7/////Y// auruLe*tita>. 3 . Procerus* Tauricu,?.

. ,///////// ,•/<•/.'('//////•• ///i/sj,. 4. Ctu^abus hisp'Uiii

COLEOPTEROUS

«?

OF THE r

UNIVERSITY

CICINDELA

PLATE I. FIG. 1.

Fabricius, Syst. Eleuth. p. 239, No. 38 — Dejean, Spec. Ge>
7ier. vol. i. p. 46.

The ordinary length of this insect is about seven
lines and a half. The upper lip, which projects ver^
little, is yellow, somewhat dusky at the base ana
sides. The mandibles are deep black, and marked
with a yellowish spot at the base. The palpi and
four lowest joints of the antennae are greenish
bronze, occasionally changing into blue ; the re-
maining joints of the latter are dull black. The
head is striated between the eyes, that is, marked
with slightly impressed longitudinal lines, and of a
fine green colour variegated with blue. The thorax
is narrow, greenish blue, with two large patches of
golden green. The elytra are duller than the other
parts of the body, the colour bluish green, glossed
with golden yellow at the base and margins, and
each marked with four spots of yellowish white, of
which that next the shoulder is very minute, and the
third somewhat crescent-shaped. The under side of
the body and legs are variegated with blue and green,
and of a very brilliant lustre. This species inhabit?
Java, and other Asiatic islands. It likewise occurs
in China ; and the individual figured was found so
far to the west as the British possessions in India-

118 NATURAL HISTORY OF

The tribe which next ^resents itself to our notice
is of very great extent, including a vast assemblage
of species which differ considerably from each other
in appearance and habit. They are named CARABICI
by modern authors, — a term which corresponds to
the old and comprehensive genus Carabus of Linne.
They are readily distinguished from the preceding
tribe by the structure of the lower jaws, which ter-
minate simply in a hook without any articulation.
The form of the typical or characteristic kinds is
handsome ; and although the prevailing hue is ob-
scure, not a few of them are ornamented with
colours of great brilliancy. The head is usually
somewhat triangular, and borne horizontally or slight-
ly inclined ; the thorax more or less heart-shaped
and truncated, with a longitudinal impressed line in
the middle ; and the abdomen is long and oval, hav-
ing a considerable degree of convexity both above
and below. The legs are generally long and power-
ful, and most of the species run with great rapidity ;
but few of them fly well, and no inconsiderable num-
ber are entirely destitute of wings. The organs of
the mouth are very fully developed, demonstrating
a decidedly carnivorous disposition ; but the mandi-
bles are never furnished with such prominent teeth
as those of the Tiger-beetles.

Many of these insects are characterized by having
the hinder extremity of the elytra truncated or cut
across ; and they seldom completely cover the ab-
domen, but leave a small portion of its apex exposed.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 119

Such as exhibit a formation of this kind constitute
the section TRUNCATIPENNES. Some of the species
have attracted much attention in consequence of a
very singular means they employ to repel the at-
tacks of their assailants. The majority of carabide-
ous insects secrete an acrid and caustic fluid, which,
when irritated, they discharge with considerable
force. But in the kinds alluded to (belonging
chiefly to the genus Brachinus), the fluid is so vo-
latile, that when it is propelled by the insect it im-
mediately evaporates with a detonating sound, so
that the discharge seems to consist of blue smoke,
which is of a peculiarly disagreeable and penetrat-
ing odour. These bombardiers, as they are named
by the French, can fire a considerable number of
volleys before their ammunition is exhausted. The
largest kinds inhabit tropical and other warm coun-
tries ; but a few extend pretty far to the north, there
being several indigenous to France and the south
of England.

To the section with truncated elytra belongs also
the genus ANTHIA (a name originally applied by
Aristotle to a kind of fish), which, however, does
not well exemplify the distinctive feature of this
subdivision, as the elytra are sinuated rather than
truncated at the extremity. It is known by having
the terminal joint of the external palpi somewhat
cylindrical and truncated, or in the shape of a re-
versed cone ; by the want of a tooth in the notch
of the mentum ; and by the elongate-ovate form of

120 NATURAL HISTORY OF

the elytra. The species are confined to certain dis-
tricts of Asia, and the African continent. Even
the southern shores of Europe, of which the vege-
table and animal productions become strongly assi-
milated to those of Africa, have not hitherto afford-
ed any examples. They delight in an arid and
sandy soil, in which they form shallow excavations,
and lie in wait for their prey. In manners, and
even in the figure of their bodies, they bear a greater
resemblance to the beetle named Broscus cephalotes,
found abundantly on the sandy shores of the sea in
many places both in England and Scotland, than
to any other British insect. They partake of the
form which prevails among beetles accustomed to
burrow in the soil, and which is best exemplified in
the Scarites and Clivinae, or mole-beetles, as they
are sometimes called, which live chiefly beneath the
ground. The head is very thick and strong, fitted
to make its way through a resisting medium, and
the thorax is attached to the abdomen by a narrow
neck-like portion, which admits of the anterior part
of the body being easily turned in a lateral direc-
tion, and therefore answers the same purposes as
the flexibility of the vertebral column in moles and
other burrowing quadrupeds. The hinder part of
the body is considerably wider than the anterior, a
circumstance never observed in burrowing beetles
properly so called, as it would materially impede the
insect's progress through its cylindrical excavations.
The species figured is

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 121

ANTHIA DECEMGUTTATA.
PLATE I. FIG. 2.

) Sytf. Eleuth. p. 221 — Carabus decemguttatus,
Oliv. iii. 35, pi. 23, No. 16.

The general colour of this species is dull black.
The eyes are brown, and the antennae incline to the
same colour, but the four lowest joints are more or
less thickly covered with whitish down on the under
side. On each side of the thorax anteriorly there
is a small white spot. The elytra are marked with
a few deep grooves, which are pretty densely clothed
with whitish down ; this, however, is frequently
rubbed off, and in the bottom of each groove there
appear two rows of small impressed points, and a
longitudinal ridge between them. Each elytron has
five spots of white down, but some of these are often
obliterated (as in the example figured). The un-
der side of the body and legs are of a more shining
black than the other parts, and the thighs are some-
times brown.

This insect varies greatly in size, colour, and even
in the relative proportion of its parts, and it has in
consequence been described under several different
names. It is found in the neighbourhood of the Cape
of Good Hope, where it appears to be very common.

The genus CARABUS properly so called is distin-
guished by having the upper lip simply notched or

122 NATURAL HISTORY OF

bilobed, by the tooth in the middle of the mentum
being entire at its apex, and by the joints of the
anterior tarsi being dilated in the males. The an-
tennae are nearly filiform, or become gradually some-
what more slender towards the outer extremity.
The external palpi terminate in a joint considerably
wider than the others, and forming a kind of trian-
gle. The thorax is heart-shaped and truncated,
the mandibles have a single tooth at their base, and
the wings are not adapted for flight. In a few very
large and remarkable European species the anterior
tarsi have been found to present no appreciable dif-
ference in the two sexes, and these have accordingly
been formed into a distinct genus under the name
of PROCERUS. The latter are among the largest
carabideous insects with which we are acquainted.
They are of a uniform black colour on the under
parts of the body, but tinged with green or blue
above. They seem chiefly to inhabit the moun-
tainous districts of the eastern and southern parts
of Europe, the Caucasus, and Asia Minor. The
species represented is

PROCERUS TAURICUS.
PLATE I. FIG. 3.

Carabus Tauricus, Pallas — Carabus scabrosus, Fisher
Entomographie de la Rustic.

This fine insect is little short of two inches in

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 123

length. The colour of the upper surface is a fine
olue, inclining sometimes to green. The thorax is
nearly twice the width of the head, truncated be-
fore and behind, and somewhat heart-shaped ; the
surface rough and granular. The elytra are oval
and convex, covered with large tubercular points,
which are arranged nearly in straight lines. The
under side of the thorax and the sides of the abdo-
men are tinged with greenish blue ; the other parts,
as well as the legs, are black.

The insects to which the generic appellation of
CARABUS is now restricted is of very considerable
extent, including about 170 well-ascertained species.
They are generally of considerable size, and most
frequently of a dark colour, glossed with blue or
purple. Many of them, however, are of the bright-
est metallic hues, and deserving of being ranked
among the most ornamental of European beetles.
Such are C. rutilans, an inhabitant of the Pyrenees,
and our own C. nitens, found in heathy districts,
where the soil is formed of peat, in many parts of
Scotland and the north of England, which scarcely
yields to any exotic insect in the brilliancy of its
lustre. The principal seat of the Carabi is within
the temperate zones ; they become rare in very
warm countries, and seem to disappear altogether
within the tropics. They are most abundant in
the old world, but a few have likewise been observ-
ed in the northern and southern extremities of Ame-
rica. Britain possesses about sixteen species, and

124 NATURAL HISTORY OP

half that number has been ascertained to inhabit
Scotland.

CARABUS HISPANUS.
PLATE I. FIG. 4.

Fabricius, Syst. Ehuth. p. 171 — Olivier, iii. 35, p. 22, No.
14, pi. 1, fig. 9.

This species varies in length from ten to fifteen
lines. The surface of the head is of a fine blue in-
clining to violet, with the anterior part black ; it is
ather deeply punctured, and marked with irregular
wrinkles. The antennae are black, and the eyes
brown. The thorax is nearly heart-shaped, a good
deal contracted behind, similar in colour to the
head, and likewise rough with punctures and wrin-
kles : there is also an impressed line down the centre.
The scutellum is black. The elytra are of an elon-
gate-oval form, covered with impressed points which
have a tendency to run into lines, three of which
are pretty distinctly formed : they are of a bright
copper-colour, glossed on the exterior edges with
violet, and having a very high degree of lustre.
The under parts of the body and the legs are glossy
black.

This splendid insect occurs in mountainous dis-
tricts in the south of France, usually frequenting
the banks of small rivulets which flow down the sides
of hills.

PLATE 2.

J

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS.^ — — ^ 125

CARABUS AURATUS>
PLATE II. FIG. 1.

>sx^V.

Fabricius, Syst. Eleuth. p. 175 — Olivier, iii. 35, p. 3^S
30, pi. 51, fig. 5, a, fc, c — Dejean, Spec. Ginir. p. 111.

The colour of the upper side is green, glossed
with golden yellow. The head is faintly punctured,
and there are two longitudinal impressions between
the antennae* The organs of the mouth, and the
four lowest joints of the antennae, are reddish. The
thorax is marked like the head, and has a longitu-
dinal line down the middle, and a transverse im-
pression on each side near the posterior angles.
The elytra are oval and convex, each of them with
three elevated ridges, the spaces between which
are covered with small raised points, making them
appear somewhat granulated. The under parts of
the body are black, the anterior part slightly tinged
with green. The legs are rust-red, and the tarsi
brown. The ordinary length is about an inch.

This is a very common insect throughout France,
where it is known by the name of le Jardinier ; but
it becomes rare as we advance northward, occurring
very seldom in Germany and Sweden, A few in-
stances are recorded of its having been taken in
Britain, but it must be ranked among the rarest of
our indigenous beetles.

126 NATUEAL HISTOBY OF

CARABUS CLATHRATUS.
PLATE II. FIG. 2.

Fiibriciua — Olivier. — Gyllenhal, Insec. Suecica, p. 67. — Dc-
jean. Spec. Gener. p. 108.

This species is about an inch in length. It is of
an oblong-ovate form, and wider in proportion to
its length than most other species of the genus.
The colour is dark brassy, varying considerably in
shade in different individuals. The head and thorax
are very faintly punctured, and the latter has the
hinder angles very little produced. Each elytron
has three elevated lines, and a triple series of rather
deep excavations, which are of a golden-yellow or
copper colour, united by an oblong tubercle rather
indistinctly formed. The outer edge of the ely-
tra is slightly sinuated at the apex in both sexes.
The under side of the body and the legs are black.
This was esteemed till lately one of the rarest kinds
of the British Carabi. Although very scarce in
England, it is now however ascertained to be pretty
copiously distributed over the Western and Northern
Highlands of Scotland. Throughout the southern
division of the country, the most common species
of the genus are C. catenulatus^ C. hortensis, and
C. violaceus ; but as we advance northwards the
two latter gradually become scarce, and their place
is supplied by C. glabratus and C. clathratus. Of

COLEOPTEBOUS INSECTS. 127

these two, the former is the most abundant in the
northern counties of Scotland, and the elevation at
which it is found on the mountains shows it not to
be abhorrent even of a more northern climate. The
latter occurs in considerable numbers in the north-
west district of Sutherlandshire, and, next to C. gla-
bratus, is the most common species, C. catenulatus
becoming scarce, and the specimens small and
dwarfish, which may be assumed as an indication
of its having nearly reached the natural limit of its
extension in a northern direction.*

The genus TEFFLUS, which was first constituted
by Dr Leach, differs from the two preceding genera
in having the labrum or upper lip entire or with-
out any notch. It includes only a single species,
which has been named after a celebrated naturalist
of Vienna.

TEFFLUS MEGERLEI.
PLATE II. FIG. 3.

Carabus Megerlei, Fabricius, Syst. Ehuth. p. 1C9 __ De-
Spec. Gcn'r. ii. p. 21.

This insect is seldom much short of two inches
in length. It is entirely of a uniform glossy black

* In a recent expedition to explore the natural pro-
ductions of Sutherlandshire, upwards of forty specimens
of C. clathratus were procured, and C. glabratus might
have been obtained almost in any number.

128 NATURAL HISTORY OP

colour, except the eyes, which are yellowish. The
outline of the thorax approaches to a hexagonal
form ; the surface is thickly covered with deep
punctures, which run together and render it very
rough ; the margins are slightly elevated, and there
is a faint line down the centre. The elytra are
elongate-oval and very convex, each of them having
seven longitudinal ridges, which unite at the extre-
mity : in the bottom of the furrows between these
ridges there is a row of small tubercles. It inhabits
Senegal and the coast of Guinea.

The genus Calosoma is chiefly distinguished from
the true Carabi, to which it is very closely allied,
by possessing wings ; by the third joint of the an-
tennae, which is considerably longer than the others,
and somewhat sharp on its outer edge ; by the man-
dibles being destitute of teeth ; and by the form of
the thorax, which is somewhat transverse, that is,
wider than long, and equally rounded on the sides.
The form of the elytra likewise differs, as they ap-
proach more to a square shape than is usual among
the carabideous tribes. Both as larvae and in their
perfect form, these insects prey upon other species
of their own class. The grubs, which resemble a
small black worm, take up their abode in the nests
generally of the processionary moth (Lasiocampa
Processioned)^ and devour the caterpillars in great
numbers. When in a state of repletion and inac-
tivity from excessive gluttony, they are sometimes
attacked and devoured by the smaller individuals of

PLATE 3.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 129

their own fraternity. Although this genus ii not
extensive, the species are very widely distributed.
In Europe they range from Sweden to the shores
of the Mediterranean ; several occur in Senegal and
at the Cape of Good Hope ; and a considerable
number inhabit America and the eastern regions of
Asia. The only kinds known as British are C. inqui-
sitor and that which we have figured : the latter is

CALOSOMA SYCOPHANTA.
PLATE III. FIG. 1.

Fabricitif, Syst. Ekuth. p. 212 — Carabus svcophanta, O/k
vier, iii. 35, p. 42, No. 43, t. 3, fig. 31.

it does not exceed ten or eleven lines in length,
the ligure on the plate being somewhat enlarged.
The colour of all parts of the body except the ely-
tra is violet-black, sometimes slightly glossed with
green. The head and thorax are covered with
minute punctures and irregular transverse wrinkles ;
the former having two deep longitudinal impressions
between the antennae, and the latter a faint line
down the centre. The scutellum is black, and
nearly smooth. The elytra are of a rich green,
glossed with golden yellow ; in shape somewhat
like a shield, and marked with closely placed striae,
which have small punctures in the bottom, and a
row of rather large and remote punctures on the
fourth, eighth, and twelfth interstices.

130 NATURAL HISTORY OP

This insect is of frequent occunence ai all tnfc
middle and southern countries of Europe, but it be-
comes scarce in the north. Few instances are re-
corded of its having been observed in Britain, and
an indigenous specimen is consequently regarded
as a valuable acquisition by collectors. Mr Kirby
mentions that one was taken at Aldborough in Suf-
folk, by Dr Crabbe, the celebrated poet ; another
Ly a young lady at Southwold, which is now in the
cabinet of W. J. Hooker, Esq. ; and a third by a
boy at Norwich, crawling up a wall, which was pur-
chased of him by S. Wilkin, Esq.

ELAPHRUS RIPARIUS.
PLATE III. FIG. 2.

Clcindela riparia, Linn. — Donovan'* British Insects, vol. £x»
p. 301.

The above figure represents this beautiful insect
as it appears under a very high magnifier. The
colour of the body is brassy green, with coppery re-
flections. The head and thorax are very thickly
punctured, and the latter has a short deep groove
in the middle. The elytra are very thickly covered
with minute punctures, and each is ornamented with
four rows of rounded spots, rather faintly marked,
wnich are purple in the centre, and surrounded with
a ring of a metallic lustre. The spaces between these
oceliated spots are very little elevated, except one

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 131

near the middle of the interior row. which is large,
somewhat square, and very highly pofisned. The
under side of the body arid legs &i e bronzed green,
except the base of the thighs and greater part of
the tibiae, which are pale reddish yellow.

This insect is of frequent occurrence in most
parts of Britain. The genus derives its name fiom
a Greek word, referring either to the nature of the
place which the species frequent, or to the activity
of their motions.* It is distinguished by the an-
tennae gradually becoming a little thicker towards
the extremity ; by the thorax being at least as long
as broad, and nearly of the same width as the head ;
by the large and very prominent eyes ; and by hav-
ing the four first joints of the anterior tarsi slightly
dilated in the males. It contains only a few species,
some of which bear such a strong resemblance to
each other, as to countenance the conjecture that
they may be mere varieties. They frequent marshy
places, and the margins of lakes and ponds, running
about with remarkable celerity during the heat of
the day. They are most prevalent in the northern
parts of Europe, the more common kinds becoming
scarce in the south, and two or three not extending
further than the northern extremity of Germany.
There is one species found in America.

* K>.*f, a marfh* or i/,a<p^?, light* active.

132 NATURAL BISTORT or

MORMOLYCE PHYLLODES.
PLATE III. FIG. 3.

Ifagenoach, Novum Coleop. Genus — Dejean, Spec. Gen. t. v.
Dart ii. p. 714 — Latreille, Regne Anim. t. iv. p. 400.

This insect is so peculiar in its form and structure,
that it is difficult to determine what place it ought
to occupy in a systematic arrangement. It posses-
ses little in common with the genera associated with
it by the continental naturalists, except the elon-
gation of the third joint of the antennae. In its flat
and dilated elytra, it bears considerable resemblance
to certain neuropterous species of the genus mantis,
which are remarkable for their likeness to the with-
ered leaves of trees. It is this circumstance that
has suggested the above specific name, which is ex-
pressive of resemblance to a leaf. The head and
thorax are narrow and elongated, and the latter has
a dilated portion on each side which is scolloped on
tne outer edge. The abdomen is likewise rather
narrow, and the portion of the elytra which covers
iv is somewhat convex, reticulated, and marked
\\ itn a double series of rather large impressions ;
the portion of the elytra projecting beyond the ab-
domen is very broad and flat, and is somewhat
waved on tne surface. The tibiae are crooked, and
the anterior pair have a deep notch near the apex.
The general colour of the insect is blackish brown,

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 133

and it is somewhat shining. It is liable to great
variation in size, some of the specimens which we
have seen, among an extensive series in the posses-
sion of James Wilson, Esq. measuring three and a
fourth inches in length, and an inch and a half across
the elytra, while others do not exceed two inches
in length and one in breadth. It is a native of
Java, and seems to occur in considerable plenty in
some parts of the country.

DYTISCID^.

A numerous group of carnivorous beetles, belong*
ing to the present section, inhabit the waters of
lakes and ponds, both as larvae and in their perfect
condition. Although frequenting an element so
different in its nature from that in which other in-
sects live, there is no very marked difference in
their structure, a slight modification of certain parts
sufficing to adapt them to their new abodes. Their
motions are effected by means of the hinder pair of
legs, which are rather long and flat, and have the
tibiae and tarsi densely fringed with long stiff hairs,
presenting a pretty broad surface to the water.
Their respiratory apparatus in no respect differs
from that of other insects ;. but, in order to bring the
stigmatic openings in contact with the air, they are
ojbliged from time to time to repair to the surface.
This is speedily effected merely by stopping the
movements of the legs ; for as the body is specifically

134 NATURAL HISTORY OF

lighter than water, it obeys the tendency to float
upwards as soon as the counteracting force ceases
to be applied. When resting on the surface the
head is turned downwards, and the legs extended
at right angles with the body, of which the only
portion that appears above the water is the extre-
mity of the abdomen, where the air is admitted by
the tips of the elytra being slightly raised; and
when the insect descends, it carries along with it
a bubble of air resembling a globule of quick-
silver. If they wish to remain below the surface
with their legs unemployed, they can do so only
by adhering to the roots or stem of some aquatic
plant.

They are strictly an amphibious family ; for, al-
though water is their favourite element, they sur-
vive for a long time on moist land, and usually fly
about in the evening twilight, or even during the
darkness of the night. Their flight is rapid and
sustained, and may be assisted in certain species
of Dytiscus by a kind of winglet, similar to that
found in the majority of two-winged flies, which is
placed under the base of the elytra. All the spe-
cies are extremely voracious, as might be inferred
from the structure of the masticatory and other or-
gans, which are very fully developed. Their usual
prey are the larvae of gnats, ephemerae, and dragon-
flies ; and the more powerful kinds are said to at-
tack with success animals considerably exceeding
themselves in size. By far the most conspicuous

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 135

genus in the family, is that. first established by
Linne under the name of

DYTISCUS,

a term derived from $urij£, which signifies a diver.
In its present restricted form, it is distinguished by
having the antennae setaceous, that is, tapering slight-
ly from the base to the apex ; by the truncated ter-
minal joint of the labial palpi ; and by having the
anterior tarsi dilated in the males into a rounded
plate. The three basal joints of the tarsi are di-
lated in the middle pair of legs — a circumstance
which chiefly discriminates the Dytisci proper from
the genus Acilius of Dr Leach — and the elytra of
the female are usually furrowed.

The larvae are narrow and elongate, composed of
twelve segments, including the head, which is large
and strong, bearing short antennae, and armed with
two powerful jaws. The last named organs, which are
long and incurved, are perforated at the tip, so that
they not only serve to seize and lacerate the prey,
but also form a tube through which its juices are
absorbed. The anal segment is slender and co-
nical, and is furnished with two projecting appen-
dages, by means of which the animal is enabled
to push itself forwards in the water, and rise to
the surface for a supply of fresh air. The three
segments behind the head are each provided with
a pair of legs, which are more or less fringed with

136 NATURAL HISTORY OF

hairs, and no doubt assist materially in swimming.
The food of the larvae is similar to that of the per-
fect insect, and they are perhaps even more vora-
cious in their early condition than after they have
undergone their final change. The following cut
represents the larva of Dytiscus marginalis, the
most common species throughout the southern parts
of Britain.

The largest species of Dytiscus with which we
are acquainted is D. latissimus, which is found in
Germany and the north of Europe. About eight
or nine different kinds inhabit Britain, some of
which are common in England ; but they become
scarcer in the more northern parts of the island.
The species represented, for which we are indebted
to Mr Curtis' beautiful figure, is

PLATE 4.

J . Dyfi.viws dimidiatus. ~.
Zuarffo

ttvw

QF THE

UNIVERSITY

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 137

DYTISCUS DIMIDIATUS.
PLATE IV F;s. r..

Bergstraesser Nomcnclatitr, pi. 7, fig- !• — Curtis' Brit. Ent.
iii. pi. 09.

The colour is brownish black tinged with oiiva
green. The antennae and upper lip are yellow, and
there is a triangular or crescent-shaped spot of rust
red on the forehead between the eyes. The thorax
is widely margined on each side with yellow, and a
broad stripe of the same colour runs along the wrhole
of the external margin of the elytra : the surface of
the latter is very smooth in the males, and each is
marked with three rows of punctures. The under
side of the body, and the legs, are yellowish, with
the sutures of the breast black. The lobes of the
sternum, which afford very distinctive characters in
this group, are obtuse in the present species.

It has occurred at Cambridge, and in some other
parts of England.

There is another group of aquatic beetles, the
species of which, although much inferior in size to
those just described, are still more fitted to attract
attention by their numbers, brilliant appearance, and
interesting manners. These insects constitute the
genus

138 NATURAL HISTORY OF

GYRINUS,

a word sometimes used by Aristotle and other Greek
writers, and which 13 devi/ed from a verb signifying
to move in a circle. They afford a few well-marked
characters, by which they are readily distinguished
from all their aquatic associates. The antennae are
ah:>rt and thick, and are attached to the head in
such a manner as to resemble ears. They consist
of a clavate mass formed of seven closely joined
rings, which is attached by a slender peduncle to
the upper and internal edge of a large radical joint
furnished with an auricle on its outer side, which,
like the lid of a box, shuts in the antennae when
unemployed, and protects them from the water.*
The anterior legs are long, and formed for walking,
or to act as instruments of prehension ; the four
hinder ones are very short, compressed and ciliated
externally, bearing a strong resemblance to the
paddle of an oar. The head is sunk in the thorax
as far as the eyes, and the latter are divided by a
process from the anterior part of the head, in such
a manner that there appear to be two eyes above
and two below — a mode of structure admirably
adapted to the wants of the insect, which requires,
at the same time, to observe objects both in the air
and water.

* Kirby and Spence's Introd. to Entom. iii. 516.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 139

Throughout the greater part of the year there is
scarcely a sheltered pool without a group of these
agile little creatures, pursuing their avocations with
the most sportive alacrity. Their chief occupation
is swimming rapidly along the surface in concentric
circles, or darting about in irregular gyrations, an
exercise which they keep up during the whole day,
without any apparent object but the love of motion.
Their bodies are so highly polished, that they shine
like a piece of burnished metal, and not a particle
of water can adhere to them. When approached
or otherwise interrupted, they speedily scatter or
dive under the water, but soon re-appear and resume
their sports. Their circular movements are no doubt
produced by the natatory legs on the one side being
more rapidly moved than on the other, as a boat is
turned when the rowers on one side cease to ply.
In collecting into parties, and leading up their mazy
dance together in the sunshine, we may suppose
these little creatures to be actuated by the same
social feeling which Mr Wordsworth has ascribed
to the gnat-like flies (TipulidcB\ which assemble in
choirs, and may be seen in sheltered situations
even in the middle of winter, alternately rising and
falling with a rapid undulatory motion.

Nor wanting here to entertain the thought,
Creatures that in communities exist,
Less, as might seem, for general guardianship,
Or through dependence upon mutual aid,
Than by participation of delight,

140 NATURAL HISTORY OF

And a strict love of fellowship combined.
What other spirit can it he that prompts
The gilded summer flies to mix and weave
Their sports together in the solar beam,
Or in the gloom and twilight hum their joy ?

These insects are not numerous in Britain, the
registered species not exceeding eight, and it is
probable that at least two of these are merely va-
rieties. The most common in this country, as well
as throughout the middle and northern parts of
P^urope, is

GYRINUS NATATOR.

PLATE IV. FIG. 2.
Linn. — Fabriciits — De Geer, Insect, iv, xiii. 4, 19.

This species, of which we have given a greatly
enlarged representation to show the form of the
legs, is nearly three lines long, of an ovate form,
blue black, with a metallic lustre, and highly re-
splendent. The thorax is marked with three trans-
verse lines on each side, of which the anterior one
is punctured and runs parallel with the margin, the
second is continued across the disk, and the poste-
rior one abbreviated and bent forward. The scu-
tellum is triangular, narrow, and elongate. The
elytra are rather convex, the margin turned in at
the sides and of a yellowish colour beneath, and the

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 141

surface of each marked with eleven striae or longi-
tudinal lines composed of minute punctures. The
breast is pitch red, and the terminal segment of the
abdomen, together with the legs, is of a ferruginous
hue.

The following lively account of the manners of
this species is given by a popular writer. " Water,
quiet, still water, affords a place of action to a very
amusing little fellow, which, about the middle of
April, if the weather be tolerably mild, we see gam-
boling upon the surface of the sheltered pool ; and
every schoolboy, who has angled for minnows in the
brook, is well acquainted with this merry swimmer
in his shining black jacket. Retiring in the autumn,
and reposing all the winter in the mud at the bot-
tom of the pond, it awakens in the spring, rises to
the surface, and commences its summer sports.
They associate in small parties of ten or a dozen,
near the bank, where some little projection forms a
bay, or renders the water particularly tranquil ; and
here they will circle round each other without con-
tention, each in his sphere, and with no apparent
object, from morning until night, with great spright-
liness and animation ; and so lightly do they move on
the fluid, as to form only some faint and transient
circles on its surface. Very fond of society, we
seldom see them alone, or, if parted by accident,
they soon rejoin their busy companions. One pool
commonly affords space for the amusement of seve-
ral parties ; yet they do not unite or contend, but

142 NATUEAL HISTOEY OF

perform their cheerful circlings in separate family
associations. If we interfere with their merriment
they seem greatly alarmed, disperse, or dive to the
bottom, when their fears shortly subside, as we soon
again see our little merry friends gamboling as be-
fore. This plain, tiny, gliding water-rlea seems a
very unlikely creature to arrest our young atten-
tions ; but the boy with his angle has not often
much to engage his notice, and the social active
parties of this nimble swimmer, presenting them-
selves at these periods of vacancy, become insensibly
familiar to his sight, and by many of us are not ob-
served in after life without recalling former hours,
scenes of, perhaps, less anxious days ; for trifles like
these, by reason of some association, are often re-
membered, when things of greater moment pass off
and leave no trace uoon the mind."*

CYCLOUS VITTATUS.
PLATE IV. FIG. 5.

This insect exemplifies an exotic group, very
closely related to the Gyrini, but offering so many
minute modifications of structure as to warrant their
separation into a distinct genus. The most obvious
difference is the want of an apparent scutellum in
Cyclous, the great size of the body, and the length

* Journal of a Naturalist.

COLEOPTEKOUS INSECTS. 143

of the anterior legs. The species figured is about
nine lines long and five broad. The colour is blu-
ish black, slightly glossed with purple, and having
faint coppery reflections ; the whole surface highly
polished and resplendent. During life the purpie
and blue form pretty distinct bands on the elytra,
especially towards the sides. The under side of tnc
body is pitch brown, the natatory legs paler : tue
fore-legs are very long, and of a brownish-black co-
lour. It was received from Java.

Three principal or typical forms prevail among
beetles of strictly aquatic habits, to one or other of
which nearly all of them may be regarded as refer-
rible. Two of these have just been described as
characterising the families Dytiscidce and Gyrinidce,
and we shall now proceed to point out the distin-
guishing marks of the third. Many of the species
of which it is composed formed a part of the great
Linnaean genus Dytiscus, but they differ so essenti-
ally from the insects to which that term is now ap-
plied, that Latreille, in his systematic arrangement,
has removed them to a great distance from their
former associates. Most other naturalists, however,
have to a certain extent preserved the connection,
owing to the affinity that arises from their inhabit-
ing the same element, and presenting some points
of resemblance in structure. The most striking
character is the great length of the maxillary palpi,
which are often considerably longer than the an-
tennae— a circumstance which has led the group to

] 44 NATURAL HISTORY OP

he distinguished by the name of PALPICORNES. The
antennae usually consist of nine joints, which become
larger towards the upper extremity, and are con-
nected by a filament, which has the appearance of
nassing through them. The genus most deserving
of notice, is that first established by Dr Leach under
tbe name of Hydrous. It is known by having the
Jabrum entire, the posterior claws bifid, the elytra
narrowing gradually behind, and the great size of
flie teeth on the internal edge of the mandibles.

HYDROUS PICEUS.
PLATE IV. FIG. 4.

Dytiscus piceus, Linn Hydrophilus piceus, Fab. — Hyd.

piceus, Curtis' Brit. Ent. v. pi. 239 (from which the ac-
companying figure is taken).

The ground colour is black, inclining to olive,
and the margins of the elytra are faintly tinged with
green and purple. The antennae and organs of the
mouth are reddish. Each wing-case is marked with
eight dotted lines, and the alternate interstices with
an irregular series of dots. The breast is clothed with
yellowish hair, and there are several yellow spots on
each side of the abdomen. The legs are of a pitchy
colour, with the extremity of the tarsi, and the hairs
with which they are fringed, reddish brown.

This is the largest aquatic beetle inhabiting Bri-
tain, and, indeed, with the exception of the Stag-

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 145

Beetle, it may be considered the most bulky of our
indigenous Coleoptera. It is common in the south-
ern parts of England, but becomes .rare in the north,
and has not been observed in any part of Scotland.
In its perfect state it is by no means so rapacious as
the Dytisci, sometimes even feeding on vegetable
substances ; but the larva is of such destructive and
blood-thirsty propensities that it is known in France
by the name of ver-assassin. In that early condition
it resembles a large soft worm, of a somewhat coni-
cal form, provided with six feet, and having its large
scaly head armed with two formidable jaws. The
head moves with such freedom in all directions,
that it can readily seize small shell-fish and other
molluscae floating on the surface, without altering the
horizontal position of the body maintained in swim-
ming ; and it is even bent backwards, and devours
its prey more conveniently by using the back as a
kind of support. These larvae swim with facility, and
have two fleshy appendages at the tail, by means of
which they suspend themselves at the surface with
their head downwards when they have occasion to
respire.* The female beetle spins a silken bag for
the reception of her eggs, similar to that which may
at any time be seen attached to a dark-coloured spi-
der (LyCosa saccata\ of common occurrence under
stones, and interesting for the maternal solicitude
she shows in protecting her embryo progeny. Ir

* Cuvier, Regne Animal, h% 623.
K.

M6 NATURAL HISTORY OF

this receptacle they are left to swim about till they
are hatched.

BRACHELYTRA.

The insects belonging to the second great family
of the Coleoptera with five joints in each foot, form
a well-defined group, readily distinguishable from
their associates by their peculiar aspect. The body
is narrow and elongated, and in its general form
bears considerable resemblance to that of the Ear-
wig. The elytra are so short that they seldom
cover more than the base of the abdomen ; a cha-
racter which has caused the family to be distinguished
by the name BRACHELYTRA.* This peculiarity in
the form of the wing-cases is obviously designed to
render the body more flexible, by removing every
obstacle to the motions of the abdomen. That part ac-
cordingly possesses a great degree of suppleness, and
is capable of being inflected in almost every direc-
tion. When the animal is alarmed, or repelling the
attack of an assailant, it bends the abdomen forwards
over its back, and protrudes two conical vesicles
from the extremity, which in certain species emit a
strong scent of sulphuric ether. While in this at-
titude, the jaws are usually kept extended to their
utmost stretch, by which the appearance of the
.iarger kinds is rendered sufficiently formidable to

* From fyK%vf short> and sXr/rgav, a wing-case.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 14?

avert the attack, not only of other insects, but of
much more powerful foes. Notwithstanding the
small size of the wing-cases, they suffice for the
protection of the wings, which, when in' a state of
inaction, are folded up with great nicety, in order
to bring them within a narrow compass ; this opera-
tion is assisted by the extremity of the abdomen,
which can be reverted sufficiently to push the wings
under their cases.

These insects live for the most part under stones,
in excrementitious substances, decaying wood, and
mushrooms ; many of the kinds inhabiting America
are observed most frequently flying about trees, in
search of caterpillars and minute insects. They are
extremely voracious, and the larger kinds devour in-
discriminately whatever other species they can sub-
due. The larvae are very similar to the perfect in-
sect, but of a softer substance and a more conical
form. In the latter the last segment of the abdomen
is lengthened in the shape of a tube, and furnished
with two hairy appendages.

Tne amount of known species does not fall much
short of a tnousand, and nearly eight hundred nave
been found in Britain. They were all included by
Linnaeus in his comprehensive genus Staphylinus,
but are now arranged in a multitude of subordinate
genera. The term Staphylinus is now restricted to
such as have all the palpi filiform, and the antennae
inserted above the labrum and mandibles, between
the eyes. The general appearance of the insects

148 NATURAL HISTORY OF

of this genus is exemplified in the conspicuous spe-
cies represented.

STAPHYLINUS ERYTHRURUS.
PLATE V. FIG. 1.

It is about an inch and a half in length, of a black
colour, rather smooth and glossy, with the two last
segments of the abdomen rust red. The mandibles
are very large, and armed with strong teeth on their
internal edge. The head, which is large and square,
having the surface thinly punctured, is united to
the thorax by a short neck. The thorax is nearly
half an oval, and considerably narrower than the
head and elytra. The latter are rather thickly
punctured, and have a narrow longitudinal ridge on
each side of the sutural line. The abdomen is black,
with the two apical segments deep red, and fringed
on the sides with hair. The under side of the body,
and the legs, are black. '

The individual from which the above figure is
taken was obtained from North America.

PL ATI- 5.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 1-19

XANTHOLINUS FULGIDUS.

PLATE V. FIG. 2.

Staph. fulgidus, PaykulL — Othius fulgidus, Leach* Stephen*.
— Olivier, iii. No. 42, pi. 4, fig. 34, 0, 6, c.

This genus includes such brachelytrous insects as
are of a linear shape, with the head and thorax in
the form of an elongated square, the antennae placed
near each other at the base, and in general suddenly
bent, or geniculated, as it is called, and having the
greater number of the joints somewhat granular or
cup-shaped. The legs are rather short and strong,
and the anterior tarsi very slightly or not at all di-
lated. The species, of which we have given a mag-
nified figure, is of frequent occurrence in most parts
of Britain and the north of France. The head is
oblong-ovate, of a glossy black colour, punctured on
each side, and having a transverse series of three or
four remote punctures between the eyes. The tho-
rax is nearly of the same colour as the head, with a
few small punctures on each side, among which three
larger ones are observable. The elytra are of a deep
red, shining, punctured, and clothed with short hairs.
The abdomen is black, the terminal segment, as well
as the under side of the body, pitch-red. The legs,
antennae, and the organs of the mouth, are light-red.

J5Q *<ATURAL HISTORY OP

BOLITOBIUS ATHICAPILLUS.
PLATE V. FIG. 3.

Stauhylinus atricapillus, Fabricius, Olivier, iii. No. 42, pL
4, fig. 39, a, b — Tachinus atricapillus, Gravenhorst, Mo-
n&g. Microp.

This generic group was first separated by I)r
Leach from the genus Tachinus of Gravenhorst.
It includes about twenty small species, which appear
to be found only in Europe and North America.
They are known by having the body narrowed at
both ends, the thorax nearly as long as wide, the
anterior part of the head rather produced, and the
four posterior tarsi considerably lengthened. They
are ornamented with strongly contrasted marks of
red, pale yellow, and blue black ; and the surface is
remarkable for its high polish. All the species feed
on mushrooms, boleti, &c., and seem most partial
to them when in a putrescent state. B. atricapillus,
of which we have given a magnified figure from
Olivier's Entomologie, inhabits Britain, France, and
most of the northern and middle countries of Europe.
It varies from three to four lines in length, and is of
a glossy black on the head, with the mouth and palpi
reddish. The thorax is glossy red, without punc-
tures, except on the sides : the elytra bright bluish
black, with a pale crescent-shaped mark at the base
of each, and three faint punctured lines along the

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 151

disk ; the abdomen shining red, with the two last
segments black. The legs and four lowest joints of
the antennae are pale red, the six following joints of
the latter black, and the terminal one pale red.

The only other genus of this family now to be
illustrated has been named ZIROPHORUS. Its dis-
tinctive characters are, the depressed body, the teeth
on the outer edge of the anterior tibiae, the trans-
verse head (i. e. wider than long), square thorax,
attached to the abdomen by a kind of narrow pe-
duncle, and the size of the mandibles, which rather
exceed the length of the head, and are deeply den-
tate at the extremity. All the species, not exceed-
ing seven in number, are natives of America and
the great islands on the east of Asia. They inva-
riably live under bark in a state of decomposition, a
process which they greatly hasten by perforating it
with numerous holes, and making it pervious to air
and moisture. The most common species is Z. sco-
riaceus ;* that which we have represented bears con-
siderable resemblance to it, and is named

* Fisrured in Griffith's Translation of Cuvier's R£gne
Animal, iv. pi. 32.

152 NATURAL HISTORY oj*

ZIROPHORUS EXAftATUS.

PLATE V. FIG. 4.
£iroph. exaratus. Dejcau*

The length is about nine lines. It is of a uniform
black colour, very smooth and shining, the tarsi alone
and the hairs on the antennae and legs, being brown.
The mandibles are slightly curved upwards at the
tip, and furnished with two or three large angular
projections or teeth. The head, which is very short
and wide, has a deeply impressed line down the
middle, meeting at right angles a transverse one
behind the Lead. The thorax and elytra are nearly
of equal width, the surface flat, very smooth and
shining, and the former having a line down the
middle. The abdomen is very narrow, and fringed
with brown hairs, the terminal segment conical.
The under parts of the body and legs are black and
shining ; the anterior tibiae armed with small teeth
on the outer edge. The tarsi are brown or pitch-
red. Inhabits Brazil, occurring not unfrequently.

SERRICORNES.

The next division of the pentamerous Coleoptera
which presents itself to our notice, includes an ex-
tensive variety of species, in which the antennae are
more or less obviously serrated or pectinated, on

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 153

which account they have received the above name.
Many of these insects are distinguished by a pecu-
liar conformation of the middle portion of the breast,
which lies between the two anterior legs, and is pro-
perly called the prosternum. It is defined on each
side by a longitudinal groove, which sometimes re-
ceives the antennae ; the anterior part is dilated and
advanced close upon the mouth, while the opposite
extremity is prolonged into a point which is ad-
mitted into a cavity placed in the hinder part
of the breast, a little before the insertion of the
middle pair of legs. Such as exhibit a structure of
this kind constitute the section Sternoxes, a term
which bears reference to the acute process of the
breast just alluded to. In other instances the pro-
sternum is not dilated below the head, and scarcely
ever produced into a spine behind ; and the body,
instead of being firm and rigid, as in the species of
the former section, is usually of a soft and flexible
consistence. The latter circumstance has suggest-
ed the name of Malacodermes for this section, a
term composed of two Greek words signifying a
soft skin. Both of these sections comprehend in-
sects of considerable interest, both for their beauty
and singular economy, and which require therefore
to have some space devoted to their history.

The Sternoxes are divisible into two well-marked
families, corresponding to the genera Buprestis and
Elater of Linnaeus. The Buprestidae are most rea-
dily distinguished by not having the posterior angles

154 NATURAL HISTORY OF

of the thorax prolonged into an acute spine, and by
being incapable of leaping. The name Buprestis*
was applied by the ancients to certain insects, of
what particular kind cannot now be easily deter-
mined, which were supposed to be possessed of qua-
lities which rendered them noxious to cattle. Geof-
froy transferred the term to another group, under
the idea that such an application of it was more in
accordance with its original usage, and distinguished
the present one by the generic name of Cucujus.
It now designates a numerous and well-defined fa-
mily, including nearly 200 known species, many of
which are the most beautiful and richly ornamented
of the coleopterous tribes. They are adorned with
the most brilliant green and golden colours, often
glossed with purple and blue, arid variegated with
bands and markings of the highest metallic lustre.
A few species inhabit this country, but several of
the larger kinds included in the British Fauna have
been introduced without sufficient authority. Their
proper geographical position is within the tropics,
where they may be seen flying about in great num-
bers in the open parts of the forests and on the
margin of rivers, or reposing on the trunks and
leaves of trees, as if enjoying the heat of the meri-
dian sun, which is reflected with great brilliancy
from their polished surfaces.

* From $vv$i an ox* and <ror,Su^ I inflame.

PLATE 6.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 155

BUPRESTIS CH11YSIS.
PLATE VI. FIG. 1.

Buprestis chrysis, Oliv. 32, pi. 2, fig. 8, a, d, e — Bup. ster.
nicornis, De Geer. — Bup. sternicornis, Far. Linn.. — Ster-»
nocera chrysis, Esch. Dejean.

The body of this species is very stout and con-
vex anteriorly, and the elytra taper towards the
hinder extremity. The antennae are of a blackish
colour, and rather shorter than the thorax. The
head and thorax are of a brilliant golden green,
and the latter is sculptured with numerous exca-
vated dots, rather of large size, which have ash-
coloured hairs in the bottom. Each elytron bears
three small teeth at the hinder extremity ; the sur-
face, although thickly covered with minute punc-
tures, is smooth and glossy, and of a uniform deep
chestnut colour, occasionally with a greenish gloss
towards the base. The under side is of a brassy
green, very highly polished, and the terminal seg-
ment is usually margined with chestnut colour ;
the legs are of the latter hue. The sternum has
a strong conical projection directed downwards.

This insect was once regarded as a variety of the
following species, from which it differs in several
important characters. It is a native of the East
Indies, in some parts of which it appears to be rather
common.

156 NATURAL HISTORY Off

BUP11ESTIS STERNICORNIS.
PLATE VI. FIG. 2.

Oliv* 32, pi. 6, fig. 52, a. — Sternocera sternicornis, Esch>
Dejean.

This fine species is rather of smaller size than
the preceding, but very similar to it in form and
sculpture. The colour of the whole body is bright
green with copper-colour and golden reflections,
the antennae and tarsi alone being blackish. The
thorax is very convex, and has its hinder margin
produced in the centre in the form of a triangle ;
the surface is thickly covered with large and deeply
impressed punctures. The elytra are pretty thickly
marked with minute punctures, and numerous round-
ed impressions, variable in size, which are filled with
ash-coloured scales ; one of these placed at the base
of each elytron is larger than the rest. At the apex
of each elytron there are two small teeth, and another
on the external edge at a small distance from them.
The sternum is produced into a strong spine, and
is bent downwards. Likewise an inhabitant of the
East Indies.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 157

BUPRESTIS BICOLOR.

PLATE VI. FIG. 3.
Buprestis tricolor, Fal — Catoxantha bicolor, Dejean.

This is the largest and one of the most beautiful spe-
cies of the splendid tribe to which it belongs. It seems
to have been very little known to Entomologists of
the old school, since it is not figured, and seldom
alluded to, in any of their works. The specific name
bicolor has no doubt been applied to it on account
of the striking contrast between the colour of the
upper and under side. The former is deep brassy
green, very smooth and glossy ; the latter is light
brownish yellow. The head has a deep groove
down the middle, and the greater part of it is oc-
cupied by the eyes, which are of a deep chestnut
colour. The thorax is small and depressed, thinly
covered with minute punctures, and having a cal-
osity at each of the hinder angles, marked with a
pretty large triangular spot similar in colour to the
under side of the body. The elytra are very long,
and rather convex, punctured anteriorly, each of
them having four slightly elevated lines running
along their whole length, and a short oblique one
near the suture at the base : the colour is brilliant
brassy green, with faint coppery reflections towards
the sides, and a large transverse spot of yellowish
white on each, placed a little behind the middle.

158 NATURAL HISTORY OP

The wings are of a deep smoke brown, finely gloss-
ed with blue. The under parts of the body are yel-
lowish brown, and very glossy ; some of the inci-
sures, and a large spot between the middle and
hinder legs, are nearly black. The legs are shining
green, and have a very fine pubescence, which is
likewise observable on the sides of the breast. It
is a native of Java, but by no means common.

BUPRESTIS AMCENA.

PLATE VI. FIG. 4.
JTir&t/, Linn. Trant. xii. 381.

This species is of the most brilliant blue, inclin-
ing to green when seen in certain directions, and
having a yellow band across the elytra towards the
apex. The thorax has no groove in the centre. The
elytra are somewhat furrowed ; the outer edge is ser-
rated, two of the serratures forming acute teeth on
each side of the suture at the hinder extremity. Both
the upper and under side of the abdomen are bril-
liant blue. It is a native of Brazil and other tropi-
cal countries of America.

The second division of the Sternoxes forms the
family of the ELATERID.E. The latter bear a con-
siderable resemblance to the insects of the former
family, but are much less convex in their general
form, narrower and more elongate, and have the
hinder angles of tfie thorax prolonged into a strong

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS, 159

triangular point like a spine. They are likewise
distinguished by possessing the power of leaping to
some height into th.e air when they happen to fall
on their back — a provision not required by the Bu-
prestidae, probably because the more rounded form
of their bodies enables them without difficulty to
regain their natural position. The legs of the Ela-
teridae are so short and slender, that without some
property of this kind they would be as unable to
recover their standing as a reversed tortoise. The
spring is produced by bending the head and tho-
rax backwards, and suddenly forcing the projecting
point into the hole designed to receive it, — while
the action is assisted by the pressure of the elastic
elytra and other parts of the body against the plain
of position. This operation is attended with a sharp
snapping noise, which has caused these insects to be
termed click-beetles, in addition to the names of
skipjacks and spring-beetles, by which they are like-
wise known in England.

We are but imperfectly acquainted with the me-
tamorphoses of these insects, and the larvae of most
of them appear to be unknown. The individual
described by De Geer (E. undulatus) is long and
cylindrical, provided with short antennae, palpi, and
six feet. Its body consists of twelve scaly segments,
of which the posterior forms a circular plate, fur
nished with two blunt points curving inwards : un-
derneath there is a large fleshy protuberance, which
seems to serve the office of a foot. The grub so

160 NATURAL HISTORY OP

well known in this country by the name of wire-
worm is the larva of a kind of Eluter (E. obscurus).
It is of a very slender form (as will
be seen by the accompanying figure),
but so tough and horny that it can re-
sist a considerable degree of pressure
without injury. It is said to continue
five years in the larva state, and during
that time it lives in the earth, devour-
ing the roots of various kinds of corn
and vegetables. The damage it occa-
sions in this way is so considerable, that sometimes
entire fields of corn are destroyed by it. The larva
of the fire-fly, we are informed by Humboldt, feeds
on the roots of the sugar-cane, and often proves very
destructive to that plant in the West Indian islands.
Several insects of this family are remarkably distin-
guished by the power of emitting a bright phospho-
ric light, which renders them exceedingly beautiful
and conspicuous objects among the dark foliage of
tropical woods, and when the shades of night have
fallen upon the forests. This luminous property,
which has procured for them the name of fire-flies,
they possess in common with several other coleop-
terous species, named glow-worms, which belong to
a different section, and therefore fall to be consider-
ed in a subsequent part of the volume. Besides
these two groups, there is another, still more re-
markable, known under the English generic appel-
lation of Lantern-flies. In these insects the seat of

I. Z /,-//<"/• 7ioc/r/ut v/.v
percatus
3. lineatus

COLEOPTEROVS INSECTS 161

the luminous matter is an elongated projection from
the head, in the form of a rostrum or snout, which
is dilated in one of the species (Fulgora lanterna-
rid) into a figure not unlike a mitre, and in others
is fantastically adorned with knobs and spines;
through this organ the light is suffused in a lambent
effulgence of considerable brilliancy. These insects
however, belong to the order Hemiptera, and then
history does not fall within the scope of the present
notice.

The species of fire-fly that affords the finest exhi-
bition of this interesting phenomenon, is named

ELATER NOCTILUCUS.

PLATE VII. FIG 1.
Pyroporus noctiluca, Dejean.

It is upwards of an inch long, and one third of an
inch broad. The colour is a uniform obscure blackish
brown, and the body is everywhere covered with
a short light-brown pubescence. The thorax is
pretty convex, and there are two small depression*
(at least in one of the sexes) on the surface before
the middle ; the hinder angles are produced into a
strong conical spine, and between the hinder angle
and the middle there is placed on each side a smooth
convex round spot of a yellow colour. The elytra
are indistinctly marked with rows of small punctures,
which are most obvious at the base. The under

162 NATURAL HISTORY OF

parts of the body, as well as the legs, are brownish
black, and covered with pubescence of a somewhat
lighter hue.

This insect is pretty widely distributed over the
intertropical countries of South America, and the
West Indian islands. When it walks or is at rest,
the principal light which it emits issues from the
two yellow tubercles placed at the lateral margins
of the thorax ; but when the wings and elytra are
expanded in the act of flight, another luminous
spot is disclosed in the hinder part of the thorax.
This luminosity is so considerable, that it is often
employed in the countries where it prevails as a
substitute for artificial lights. A single insect is
sufficient to enable a person to decipher the
smallest written character, and when several are
brought together, their light is said to suffice for all
the ordinary evening occupations of an Indian's
dwelling. They are employed for many useful pur-
poses ; the Indians are said to have formerly used
them instead of flambeaux in their hunting and fish-
ing expeditions, and when travelling in the night
they were accustomed to fasten them to their feet
and hands. Another important service is rendered
by these insects in destroying the gnats and mus-
quitoes, which abound in tropical countries to the
incessant annoyance of the inhabitants. Like most
'other animals of nocturnal habits, the fire-flies are
attracted by strong light, and the Indians avail
themselves of this circumstance to obtain them for

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 103

the purposes above mentioned. The mode in which
they are taken, and several curious particulars re
specting their appearance and uses, are thus quaintly
described by an old author: — "Whoso wanteth
cucuij," says Pietro Martire, in his Decades of the
New World, " goeth out of the house in the first
twilight of the night, carrying a burning fire-brande
in his hande, and ascendeth the next hillock, that
the cucuij may see it, and hee swingeth the fire
brande about, calling cucuius aloud, and beateth the
ayre with often calling and crying out cucuie, cu-
cuie. Many simple people suppose that the cucuij,
delighted with that noise, come flying and flocking
together to the bellowing sound of him that calleth
them, for they come with a speedy and headlong
course ; but I rather thinke that the cucuij make
haste to thfc brightness of the fire-brande, because
swarmes of gnattes fly into every light, which the
cucuij eat in the very ayre, as the martlets and
swallowes doe. Some cucuius sometimes followeth
the fire-brande, and lighteth on the grounde ; then
is he easily taken, as travellers may take a beetle if
they have need thereof walking with his wings shut.
In sport and merriment, or to the intent to terrify
such as are afrayed of every shadow, they say that
many wanton wild fellowes sometimes rubbed their
faces by night with the fleshe of a cucuius, being
killed, with purpose to meet their neighbours with
a flaming countenance, as with us wanton young
men, putting a gaping vizard over their face, en-

1G4

NATURAL HISTORY OP

deavour to terrify children, or women who are easily
frighted," &c.

During the splendour of a tropical sunshine —

the long, sunny lapse of a summer day's light

Shining on, shining on—

the sombre hues of the fire-flies attract but little at-
tention amidst the infinite variety of living beings
of more imposing form and attractive manners that
people to overflowing these prolific lands, while
every lesser light is lost in the effulgency of " re-
dundant day." But no sooner do the lofty and
umbrageous trees begin to throw their shadows
across the landscape, than occasional specks of light
are seen to flit amidst the growing obscurity. As
the darkness increases, these become more nume-
rous; they mount into the air and shoot athwart the
gloom like igneous meteors, and when the underwood
is disturbed they rise in such numbers that they span-
gle the air as with a thousand stars. The brilliancy
of this spectacle, so far transcending any similar ap-
pearance witnessed in temperate climates, seldom
fails to excite the admiration of an European tra-
veller. Its effect on some British visitors has been
thus described :

,- Sorrowing, we beheld

The night come on ; but soon did night display
More wonders than it veiled ; innumerous tribes
From the wood-cover swarmed, and darkness made
Their beauties visible ; one while they streamed
A bright blue radiance upon flowers that closed

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 1C5

Their gorgeous colours from the eye of day ;
Now motionless and dark, eluded search,
Self-shrouded ; and anon, starring the sky,
Rose like a shower of fire.*

An appearance alike remarkable for its singularity
and beauty, is well fitted to afford imagery to the
poetry and figurative oratory of the natives of the
countries where it prevails ; and if a learned Greek
could suppose the hum of an obscure beetle to be
the voice of the gods speaking to mankind, f it need
less excite our wonder that some savage nations,
unacquainted with the causes of natural phenome-
na, and so prone to consider " holy light" as a di-
vine effulgence, should have regarded even the more
obscure manifestations of a supposed celestial princi-
ple with superstitious veneration, and imagined these
illuminated beings to be the appointed vehicles for
conveying the souls of the departed to their final
resting place.

The following extract contains an account of the
introduction of a few fire-flies into Britain : — "Mr
Lees having been struck with the beauty of the
fire-fly on his arrival in the West Indies, and be-
coming desirous to keep them alive, made several
attempts during his residence at the Bahamas ; but

* Southey's Madoc.

f Dum volant, tanto stridore vel murmure et gemitu
potius aerem replent, ut per eos Deorum cum hominibur
fieri colloquia Laertius scriberet — Mouf. Theat. 134.

166 NATURAL HISTORY OP

was unable to succeed in his object, until he learned
from a lady, that the cage containing the insects
should be daily immersed in cold water. This is
rendered necessary from their natural habitation
being in swampy meadows, where, during the day,
they probably lie concealed in the wet herbage.
Perhaps the introduction of damp moss into the cage
(which ought to be made of wood, and not glued
together) might be more natural and salutary to the
insects. The Elaters feed upon the sugar-cane, and
should the larvae do so likewise, which is more than
probable, from their being xylophagous, they must
do incredible mischief to the planters, as they are
produced in abundance in the West Indian islands,
and are very generally distributed over them. Mr
Lees having taken some sugar-cane to sea with him
to feed the beetles upon, he observed that they
readily broke the wood away with their mandibles
to obtain the saccharine matter on which they fed ;
and after his stock was consumed, he gave them
brown sugar, by which means they were kept alive
the whole of their voyage, from June to the middle
of September.

" The insect, when roused and in perfect vigour,
seems to be completely saturated with the luminous
secretion, since the back, when the elytra and wings
are expanded, has a phosphoric appearance ; and
there is a strong light at the base of the abdomen,
where the posterior coxae are attached, which being
apparent only in some, I thought might be peculiar

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 167

to one sex, but its absence was more probably caused
by a languid state of the animal. The light is far
more beautiful in colour, and greater in power, than
the mild secretion of the glow-worm ; and the sub-
stance, if removed from the beetle immediately after
death, will remain luminous like phosphorus, on the
objects on which it is placed.

" It is to be hoped that others will be induced to
bring these insects over alive earlier in the season ;
for there can be little doubt that they would live
through a warm summer in this climate. I do not
despair therefore of seeing our fair countrywomen
at home, as well as abroad, employing these living
gems to add to the splendour of their attire. At
the Havannah they are collected and sold for orna-
menting the ladies' head-dresses at evening parties,
when they are, I understand, generally confined
under gauze which covers the head, and from among
the ringlets of hair these terrestrial stars shine forth
with all their beauty."*

ELATER PORCATUS.
PLATE VII. FIG. 2.

FMcius — Olivier, ii. No. 31, pi. 7, fig- 74 — Chalcolepi-
dius porcatus, Esch — Dcjean.

The body of this insect is of a shining black, but
it derives its superficial colour from a coating of
* Zoological Journal, vol. iii. p. 379.

1^8 NATURAL HISTORI OF

scales, which are either white or green. The head
and central portion of the thorax are more or less
green., but the scales are usually abraded, when they
appear shining black ; the sides of the latter are
whitish. The elytra are marked with deep furrows,
which approximate in pairs, and are more or less
filled with white scales, making the surface appear
as if lined with white. The under parts of the body,
and the legs, are green, except where the black sur-
face is exposed by the scales being rubbed off.

Found in considerable abundance in Brazil, Cay-
enne, and other parts of tropical America. It is
almost always found on the trunks of trees, and falls
to the ground when the hand is extended to seize
it.

KLATER LINEATUS.
PLATE VII. FIG. 3.

Fdbriclus. — Olivier -, ii. No. 31, pi. 6, fig. 63. — Hemirhipus
lineatus, Latreille, Dejean.

The prevailing hue of this large and conspicuous
insect is black, and the surface is covered with a
fine pubescence, which gives it a silky gloss. The
body is elongate, and rather obtuse at the two ex-
tremities. The antennae are black. The head,
outer margin of the thorax, and a line down the
middle, are covered with silky pubescence of a red-
dish colour. The elytra are striated, black, with a

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. I 09

longitudinal elevated line of red down the middle of
each, which is turned backwards at tne base. The
under side of the body, and the legs, are black.

An inhabitant of the same countries as the pre-
ceding species, and often found in company with it.

ELATER SUTURALIS.
PLATE VII. FIG 4.

Falricius.— Olivier, ii. No. 31, pi. 1, fig. 3, a, 6, c, d. — Ela-.
ter angulatus, Drury's Illustrations, iii. pi. 47, fig. 5.

This species is liable to considerable variation
both in size and markings. The head and antennae
are black, and the former has an angular projection
on each side anteriorly. The thorax is rather long
and narrow, and is produced on each side before the
middle into an acute angle: the colour is yellow,
with a broad streak of black down the centre ; and
occasionally there is a rounded spot of black placed
between the dorsal line and the lateral projections.
The scutellum is black. The elytra are reddish
yellow, with a broad band of black on each side, and
another along the suture, which meet at the apex,
and gradually become narrower at the opposite ex-
tremity, scarcely extending to the base. The legs
and under side of the abdomen are reddish yellow,
the latter with two longitudinal streaks of black.

Likewise a native of South America, where it ap-
pears to be pretty common.

170 NATURAL HISTORY OP

ELATER DISTINCTUS.
PLATE VII. FIG. 5.

Prricalus distinctus, Herbst. — Pericalus acuminatus, Dc»
jean. Cat.

This handsome species is of a reddish chestnut
colour, very glossy, and almost free from pubescence.
The head, which is excavated in the middle, and
the two lower joints of the antennae, are reddish, the
remaining joints of the latter dusky. The thorax
is deeply punctured, especially towards the sides
and has a black streak down the middle. The ely-
tra are rather convex, and taper to the hinder ex-
tremity, where they are produced into a kind of
spine ; the surface marked with straight punctured
lines, a dark-brown band along the middle of each
elytron, and another on each side of the sutural line.
The under side and legs are chestnut red.

Found in South America, and often observed,
according to M.* Lacordaire, along with several of
the species already described, resting on the stems
of trees.

PLATE 8.

fLlg^s

Of THE r

UNIVERSITY

COLEOPTEROUS

ELATER MELANOCEPHALUS.
PLATE VIII. FIG. 1.

Fabricitts — Olivier, ii. No. 31, pi. 4, fig. 36, 0, J __ Melan-
oxanthns melanocephalus, Esch. Dejean.

This insect, of which we have given a greatly en-
larged figure from Olivier, bears some resemblance
to the indigenous species E. balteatus. The anten-
nae and head are black. The thorax is reddish, very
smooth and shining, and there is an oblong spot of
black extending from the head rather beyond the
middle. The elytra are reddish, with the hinder
extremity black, the surface marked with punctured
lines. The under side and legs are red, the extre-
mity of the abdomen being more or less suffused
with dusky black. It is a native of the East Indies.

The section of the SERRICORNES, formed by spe-
cies with a somewhat flexible integument, compre-
hends the interesting family of glow-worms, or Lam-
pyridce. It corresponds to the undivided genus Lam-
pyris as constituted by Linnaeus. The species may
be known by having antennae approximating at the
base, the head small and nearly concealed by the
projecting edge of the thorax, and the body de-
pressed or very slightly convex. In the male the
eyes are so large as to occupy almost the whole
head. The penultimate joint of the tarsi is always
divided into two lobes, and the claws are simple ;

1/2 NATURAL HISTORY OP

that is, without teetn or other appendage. But
these insects are best known by the remarkable
property which many of them possess of diffusing
a phosphoric light, a peculiarity which has suggest-
ed a name for them in every country where they
occur. Only one species, L. noctiluca, is to be
found in Britain. It is abundant in some of the
southern counties of England, but occurs very sel-
dom in Scotland, although it has been noticed in
several places in the southern division of that coun-
try. One of the most interesting of those indige-
nous to Europe, is named

LAMPYRIS ITALICA.
PLATE VIII. FIG. 2.

I/ampyris Italica, Linn — Olivier, Entom. ii. No. 28, p. 18,
pi. 2, fig. 12, a, 6, c, d — Lampyris australis, Fab — Co-
liphotia Italica, Dejean.

This is one of the smallest luminous insects with
which we are acquainted, the ordinary length not
exceeding three lines and a half. The prevailing
hue is blackish brown. The thorax and scutellum
are reddish yellow, pretty deeply punctured and pu-
bescent, and the former has sometimes a dusky spot
in the centre. The elytra are somewhat rough with
numerous and rather deeply impressed punctures
The breast and legs (with the exception of the
tarsi) are yellow, and the abdomen dusky black,

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 173

svith the two terminal segments white, slightly
tinged with yellow.

This species is very abundant throughout the
southern parts of Europe, particularly in Italy,
where it is named Lucciola. Contrary to what is
observed in the British Glow-worm, both sexes are
provided with wings. When the insect either
perches or creeps little light is therefore perceptible,
but it becomes obvious as soon as the wing-cases
are opened for flight. It is not however constant,
but has a kind of scintillating appearance, recur-
ring at every other instant, as if disclosed by the
opening of the wings at each successive expansion.
When the insect is laid upon its back, a position
from which it cannot easily recover itself, the light
is steady and unvarying. It is of considerable in-
tensity in a single insect, and when three or four
are brought together, it is sufficient to render the
smallest objects around quite visible. It is appa-
rent in the twilight, but is not fully displayed till the
darkness is confirmed. It then becomes a pheno-
menon of some interest and beauty, as the insects
are so numerous and active that their luminous
tracks through the air can be traced in all direc-
tions,

Upward and downward, thwarting and convolved ;

and they spangle the shrubs and herbage with
Innumerable radiant points. Their appearance and
effect in the neighbourhood of Genoa, is thus de-
scribed by Sir J. E. Smith :— « On the eve of St John

174 NATURAL HISTORY OF

Baptist, the great festival of Genoa, the town was
brilliantly illuminated ; while along the purple coast
to the west, the last rays of the setting sun still
trembled on the hills, and the moon arose in the
east. To these three contrasted lights was added the
singular effect of the innumerable flying glow-worms,
darting their momentary splendour through all the
streets, gardens, and rooms. We used frequently
to catch these little insects, and entangle them in
the ladies' hair and head-dresses, a decoration the
women in some countries adopt themselves. A
lady of Genoa told me a singular anecdote of some
Moorish women of rank, taken prisoners by the
Genoese, and detained for a ransom. They wrere
lodged in a villa out of the town, and visited, dur-
ing their stay, by several families. A party going
to see them one summer's evening after a hot day,
were surprised to find all their doors and windows
close shut, and themselves in the utmost terror and
distress. They had conceived an idea that these
luminous flies were the disturbed souls of their re-
lativeSi The common people of Genoa too suppose
them to be of a spiritual nature, and to come out of
the graves — of course they are beheld with abhor-
rence."*

• Sketch of a Tour on the Continent, vol. Hi. p. 84.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. I /5

LAMPYRIS LATREILLII.
PLATE VIII. FJG. 3.

Kirby, Linn. Trans, vol. xii. 387, pi- 21, fig. 4 — Selas
Latreillii, Dejean.

This insect may be regarded as representing a
pretty numerous group of glow-worms confined to
the tropical parts of America, and differing consi-
derably in structure from the European species.
Some of them are the largest of their tribe, and
they contribute more than any other to embellish
the nights of the torrid zone, as. the light which
they emit is of considerable splendour, and their
flight higher in the air and longer sustained than
in the other kinds. They pass the day in a state of
inactivity, and are usually found on the trunks of
trees, clinging to the bark or concealed in its fis-
sures.

The species represented, which Mr Kirby has de-
dicated to Latreille, Entomologorum facile princeps,
is about twelve to thirteen lines in length. The
body is ovate, and of a dull black colour. The an-
tennae of the male consist of ten joints, all of which,
except the radical and terminal ones, emit a long,
compressed, flexible branchlet from each side : in
the female the antennae are eleven jointed, and
deeply serrated on both sides. The thorax is of a
pale brownish yellow, marked with three blackish

176 NATURAL HISTORY OF

spots, of which the central one is longest and some-
what triangular. The elytra are very thickly co-
vered with minute punctures ; the colour blackish,
except the outer margin, the suture, and a broad
streak extending from each shoulder rather beyond
the middle, which are of a light yellowish brown.
The wings are black. It is found in Brazil and
other inter tropical countries of South America.

The genus Lycus is distinguished by having the
snout longer than the hinder part of the head, and
the antennae serrated. The elytra are often remark-
ably dilated at the sides, and usually reticulated on
the surface. They are likewise enlarged at the hin-
der extremity, and rounded, particularly in the fe-
males.

LYCUS FESTIVUS.

PLATE VIII. FIG. 4.

Lampyris festiva, Donovan's Brit. Ins. xvi. pi. 544.

The length of this insect is about three lines and
a half The colour is a tawny orange, with the apex
of the elytra, a spot on the middle of the thorax, and
the under side of the body and legs, brownish black.
Each elytron has four elevated lines, the spaces be-
tween which are deeply punctured. It is said by
Donovan to have been found in England, but is
considered a doubtful native.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 177

MALACHIUS MARGINELLUS.

PLATE VIII. FIG. 5.
Fabricms Olivier, ii. No. 27, pi. 3, fig. 18, 0, b.

This insect affords an example of the family Me-
lyridce*, which is characterised by short and filiform
palpi, mandibles notched at the point, a narrow
elongated body, undivided joints in the tarsi, and
claws furnished with a single tooth. The genus
Malachius* generally has the joints of the antennas
a little produced on the inner side ; the thorax is
wider than the head, and has a vesicle, capable of
being dilated and contracted, beneath each of the
anterior angles. The radical joints of the antennae
are often irregular in the male. The species are
numerous, amounting to more than a hundred, but
only fifteen of these occur in Britain. They are
chiefly European, but a few are found in every
quarter of the world. The species above refer-
red to (which is represented as it appears under
a powerful magnifier) is a native of France and
England. It is of a brassy-green colour, with the
sides of the thorax and tips of the elytra of a blood
red. The under parts of the body and legs are like-
wise green, and the antennae black.

Another tribe of malacodermatous insects consti-

• From pet*.**!*, referring to the softness of the body.
M

178 NATURAL HISTORY OF

tute the family Tillidce of Dr Leach. Its principal
characters are found in the beautiful species which
we have selected to represent it. It was first de-
scribed by Mr Kirby, under the name of

PRIOCERA VARIEGATA.

PLATE VIII. FIG. 6.
Kirby, Linncean Trans, xii. p. 392, pi. 21, fig. 7.

In this genus the upper lip is emarginate, the ter-
minal joint of the maxillary palpi compressed and
oblong, while the same joint in the labial palpi is
hatchet shaped ; the body is convex, and the thorax
much contracted behind. The colour of the only
species known is brownish black on the body. The
head and thorax are deeply punctured, and the an-
tennae are somewhat reddish. The elytra are of a
fine red, with four large quadrate yellow spots, one
on each shoulder, and two behind the middle form-
ing a band, with several small yellow spots in the
space between : behind the yellow band there is
another of a brown colour, and the apex is unspotted.
The legs are dusky black. It is a native of Brazil.

CLAVICORNES.

The name of this family, like most of those that
have preceded it, refers to the structure of the an-
tennae, which become thicker at the extremity, and

COLEOPTE110US INSECTS. 179

often form a nearly solid club or knob. The spe-
cies are provided with only two pair of palpi, one of
them affixed to the maxillae, the other to the under
lip. The joints of the tarsi are for the most part
undivided. The most conspicuous and interesting
genus which it contains is named NECROPHORUS,
a term nearly corresponding in meaning to the
English one Bury ing -beetle, and both of them re-
ferring to a remarkable peculiarity in the manners
of the insects. The females deposit their eggs in
the decaying carcasses of moles, mice, and other
small animals, which they previously bury for this
purpose. To effect this operation, seemingly sc
disproportionate to their size and strength, two or
three beetles generally unite their labours, and re-
move the earth from beneath the dead body, which
gradually sinks into the excavation. During this
process they may be seen dragging at the object
from below, and even mounting upon it as if to tread
it into the grave. They labour at their task of inhu-
mation with the most unwearied industry. According
to Mr Gleditsh, who was the first to give an accurate
account of the proceedings of these grave-diggers,
four beetles were observed to inter in a very small
space of earth, to which they were confined, no
fewer than twelve carcasses, few of which were in-
ferior in size to a mole. The object of all this so-
licitude is the security and comfort of their young,
as the carcass, which forms a nidus for the eggs, if
left exposed, would run the risk of being devoured

ISO NATURAL HISTORY OP

by beasts of prey, or the juices would be speedily
evaporated by the heat of the sun, and the maggots
thus deprived of their appropriate nourishment.
The Necrophori are distinguished by the form of
the antennae, which are very little longer than the
head, with the four last joints forming a perfoliate
club, as represented in the following figure. The
mandibles are without teeth, and
the elytra are of an oblong-quad-
rate form, leaving three or four of
the segments of the abdomen un-
covered. The species, amounting
to near thirty, are confined, as far
as is yet known, to Europe and the
northern parts of America. They are almost in-
variably of a brownish-black colour, frequently va-
riegated with spots and bands of orange yellow.
Seven different kinds occur in Britain, one of which
is represented on the accompanying plate.

NECROPHORUS HUMATOR.
PLATE IX. FIG. 1.

Silpha Humator, Olivier. — Marskam^s Entom. Brit. — Do-
novan's British Insects, ii. pi. 537, fig. 1.

This species is entirely of a brownish-black co-
iour, except the three last joints of the antennae, which
are orange yellow. The head and thorax are very
fjiintly punctured, and the surface of the latter is

PLATE 9.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 181

rattier unequal. The elytra are. more deeply punc-
tured ; each of them with three slightly elevated
lines, and a tubercle towards the hinder extremity
near the outer angle. The breast is clothed with
yellow hairs, and those on the legs are of the same
colour. It is frequently met with in England and Scot-
land, and most of the northern countries of Europe.

NECROBES LITTORALIS.
PLATE IX. FIG. 2.

Silpha littoralis, Linn — Mar sham.— Curtis' Brit. Ent. vii.
334.

In this genus the antennae are considerably longer
than the head, but shorter than the thorax, thick-
ening gradually from the fifth joint to the apex.
The thorax is nearly orbicular, and the mandibles
have a tooth near the middle. The only species
found in Britain is that referred to above. It is
entirely of a black colour, with the three terminal
joints of the antennae orange yellow. There are
three elevated lines on each elytron, the spaces be-
tween which are very thickly punctured : the se-
cond line is angulated a little behind the middle,
and connected with the third by a tubercle. The
hinder thighs are very thick, and dentate on the
under side. It is found on the shores of the sea
and the banks of rivers, under sea-weed, carrion,
&c. occurring not unfrequently.

182 FATUEAL HISTORY OF

SILPHA QUADRIPUNCTATA.
PLATE IX. FIG. 3.

Linn — Donovan — Marsham — Silpha 4-maculata, Samou-
die's Useful Compend. pi. 2, fig. 7.

This genus, as originally constituted by Linnaeus,
was of great extent, and included both the preced-
ing genera, besides several others. In its modern
application it comprehends such insects as have the
antennae slightly compressed, and thickening gradu-
ally from the seventh joint to the apex. The body
is nearly in the form of a shield, depressed or very
slightly convex, and the thorax is semicircular, with
the anterior part truncated or very obtuse. The
species feed chiefly on decaying animal matter, and
are of great service in freeing the surface of the
earth from putrid substances which might otherwise
infect the air. Owing to the reason formerly as-
signed, few or none of these creatures are found in
tropical countries.* They are chiefly confined to the
temperate regions of America, and to Europe. Up-
wards of thirty kinds are named in our entomologi-
cal catalogues, and about a dozen of these inhabit
Britain. S. quadripunctata, one of the most orna-
mental of the tribe, is not unfrequent in France and
England and has been found in Scotland as far

* Page 96.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 183

north as Sutherlandshire. It is black and shining,
with the sides 6f the thorax and elytra pale yellow,
the latter with two rounded spots of black on each.
The length is from five to six lines.

ANTHRENUS SCROPHULARI/E.
PLATE IX. FJG. 4.

Fdbriciut. — Byrrhus scrophularise, Linn. — Anth. Scroph.,
Olivier -, ii. No. 14, pi. 1, fig. 5, a, &.

This insect scarcely exceeds two lines in length,
the accompanying figure is therefore magnified to
show its structure and markings with greater dis-
tinctness. The head is black, and sometimes has
a small white spot on the forehead. The antennae
are reddish near the base, but black towards the
tip. The thorax is black, with the sides whitish,
and the hinder edge frequently of a deep-red colour.
The elytra are black, with three bands of white,
which are interrupted towards the suture: the latter
is deep red. The under side is clothed with white
scales, and the legs are brownish black. It occurs
in Britain and almost every country of Europe. The
larvae feed on dried animal substances, and are some-
times very destructive in museums, by attacking the
skins of preserved specimens. The perfect insects
frequent flowers, a circumstance to which the gene-
ric name bears reference

184 NATURAL HISTORY OE

HISTER RENIFORM1S.
PLATE IX. FIG. 5.

This genus is readily recognised by the peculiar
form of the body. It is almost square, and the ely-
tra are short and truncated at the extremity. The
legs are contractile, that is, they are short and com-
pressed, and capable of being drawn close to the
body. The lower joint of the antennae is very long,
and forms an angle with the upper portion which
terminates in a rounded knob. All these insects
are of small size, and find their nourishment in ca-
daverous and excrementitious matters. The outer
covering is very rigid, and when the legs are con-
tracted, they can bear a great degree of pressure
without injury. When alarmed, they lie perfectly
still, and often deceive their enemies by simulating-
death with great accuracy and perseverance. About
120 species are known to entomologists, and of these
upwards of 30 inhabit this country. The species
figured as an example, is of a glossy black colour,
with two spots of red on the elytra. The latter have
two or three longitudinal ridges, and are rather
thickly punctured at the sides. The under side of
the body and legs are likewise black, the latter den-
tate on their outer edge. It is found in various
Darts of Europe.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS.

LAMELLICORNES.

This important section of the pentamerous bee-
tles is so designated, because the antennae terminate
in a club or large knob, composed of several laminae
or thin plates, disposed somewhat like the leaves of
a book, and which the insects can open and shut at
pleasure. They are inserted in a deep excavation,
under the lateral edges of the head, and usually con-
sist of nine or ten joints. The anterior pair of legs
are somewhat adapted for digging, as the tibiae are
rather broad, and armed with strong spines on the
terminal angles and outer sides. As many of these
insects feed on substances in a state of decomposi-
tion, which scarcely require any further trituration
to fit them for food, the mandibles are sometimes
of a membranous substance, — a peculiarity not ob-
servable in any other Coleoptera.

This division is of great extent, the most recent
enumeration of its species making them amount to
upwards of 2000. Scarcely more than 1 20 occur in
Britain, but several of these are the most conspicu-
ous and best knowrn of our native Coleoptera, such,
for example, as the Stag-beetle and the Cockchafer.
The tropical kinds are distinguished by their mag-
nitude, and are by far the most remarkable-looking
of their tribe, owing to the variety of form assumed
by the head and thorax, and the extraordinary horn-
like processes with which these parts are sometimes
furnished. Such of the species as feed on flowers

186 NATURAL HISTORY OF

and living vegetation are frequently adorned with
very beautiful and brilliant colours, but those that
derive their nourishment from decomposed vegeta-
bles are usually of a sombre hue.

The larvae of these insects are long, soft, semicy-
lindrical worms, divided into thirteen segments in-
cluding the head, which is of a scaly texture, and pro-
vided with powerful mandibles. The feet are six
in number, and placed on the three segments im-
mediately behind the head. Nine of the rings or
segments have a conspicuous stigmatic opening, or
air hole, on each side. The hinder portion of the
body is much thicker than the other parts, and is
usually curved inwards beneath the belly, even when
the insect is in motion. Its movements are conse-
quently slow and awkward, and the short scaly feet
proving inadequate to support the equilibrium of
the arched back, it frequently rolls over, or falls on
one side. The general
appearance of these grubs
will be better understood
from the annexed figure of
that of the common Cock-
chafer. Many of them live
among excrementitious
substances, or decomposed

vegetables ; others consume the roots of plants, and
often occasion very great injury to agricultural pro-
duce. Before undergoing the metamorphosis by
which they are converted into perfect beetles, the

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 187

iarva forms for its protection an oval cocoon, con-
structed of earth and the gnawed fragments of other
materials, agglutinated by a viscous secretion which
exudes from its body.

The lamellicorn insects may be regarded as con-
stituting two great groups or tribes, corresponding
to the two comprehensive genera of Linnaeus, Sca-
rabaeus and Lucanus. In the former the antennae
terminate in a foliated mass, generally capable of
being alternately closed or expanded ; but it is
sometimes composed of joints that fit into each other,
either in a globular form, or in the shape of a re-
versed cone : the mandibles are nearly alike in both
sexes, and the males are frequently distinguished
by horns or prominences on the head and thorax.

The first generic group among the SCARAB^ID^E,
which requires to be noticed, has been named

ATEUCHUS.

The term is probably derived from the Greek
privative a, and nu^«f, a weapon or implement of
war, in allusion to the head being without horns,
contrary to what is observed in most of the allied
genera. The antennae consist of nine joints, the
three next the apex forming a foliaceous knob. The
body is somewhat rounded, and usually rather de-
pressed, and there is scarcely any appreciable mark
of distinction in the external appearance of the two
sexes. The maxillae terminate in a membranous

188 NATURAL HISTORY OF

lobe, which is dilated considerably at the tip, and
bent inwards. The terminal joint of the labial pal-
pi is longer than the others, and nearly cylindric,
but slightly thickened in the middle. The external
margin of the elytra is straight without any sinuosity,
a character which distinguishes the true Ateuchi from
the species that constitute the genus Gymnopleurus.
There is no perceptible scutellum, nor any opening
at the base of the sutural line indicating its place.
The four hinder legs are slender, elongate, and
fringed with long hairs ; the tibiae are scarcely thick-
ened at the tip, where they are truncated obliquely,
and armed with a strong acute spine. The dilated
anterior part of the head is divided into six teeth,
and an elevated process of the cheek (strictly the
cantlius) runs nearly across the eye, dividing the
upper portion from the lower.

The genus, as above defined, contains about
twenty-six species. They are confined to the old
world, in which however they have an extensive
range of distribution.

ATEUCHUS SACER.— SACRED EGYPTIAN
BEETLE.

PLATE X. FJG. 1.

Scarabseus sacer, Linn. — Fabrlcius — Olivier^ Entom. pi. 8,
fig. 59, a, k

The colour is entirely black, and the surface ra-

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 189

tlier shining, except the elytra, which are somewhat
obscure. The anterior part of the head is rough with
shallow punctures, and there are two small approxi-
mating tubercles placed in the middle of the fore-
head between the eyes. The thorax is somewhat
convex, marked with numerous minute points ante-
riorly, and entirely surrounded by a narrow margin,
which is crenulated behind. The elytra are usually
more obscure than the other parts of the body, and
without any other impressions on their surface than
a few scattered punctures. The anterior tibiae are
armed with four long teeth on their outer edge, and
the posterior pair are slightly bent inwards. All of
them are pretty thickly clothed with fine hairs.

This species is very common in all the southern
countries of Europe, especially in those that lie
along the shores of the Mediterranean. It likewise
occurs in the east, and seems to be diffused over all
Africa, from Egypt to the Cape of Good Hope.

This renowned insect has been singularly exempt-
ed from the obscurity and neglect which have fallen
to the lot of most of its tribe. It was one of those
"creeping things" to which the Egyptians paid di-
vine honours, and appears to have constituted one
of the favourite deities of that remarkable people.
If it enjoyed an inferior degree of veneration to the
snake-devouring Ibis, it certainly far surpassed in
virtue the sacred leeks and onions, from which Ju-
venal takes occasion to congratulate the nation on
account of the number and dignity of its gods :

190 NATURAL HISTOEY OF

Porrum et csepe nefas violare, et frangere morsu.
O sanctas gentes, quibus hsec nascuntur in hortis
Numina !

It was consecrated to the sun, and representations
of it are of frequent occurrence in their hieroglyphi-
cal writings ; it was likewise sculptured on their rings,
bracelets, necklaces, and other ornaments, and even
enclosed in their coffins along with the embalmed
bodies of the dead. As typical of the luminary
which is the fountain of light and heat, and the
source of all abundance, it came likewise to be re-
garded as the emblem of fertility ; and we are in-
formed by Dr Clarke that it is eaten by the Egyp-
tian women, even at the present day, under the idea
that it is of efficacy for this purpose. As natural
objects were regarded with religious veneration in
Egypt, either in consequence of their being of uti-
lity to the inhabitants,* or because they were con-
ceived peculiarly adapted to symbolize some higher
nature, and bring it by means of its representative
more immediately under the influence of the senses,
we are likely to find in one of these causes the rea-
son of this species being raised to such distinguished
honours.

Many of the Scarabaidce or larger kinds of dung-

* Ipsi qui irridentur Egyptii nullam belluam, nisi ob
aliquam utilitatem, quam ex ea caperent,consecraverunt;
velut Ibes max imam vim serpentium conficiunt, &c. C»-
cero de Nat, Deorum.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 191

chafers, exhibit some very remarkable instincts in
forming a proper nidus or receptacle for their eggs,
and providing for the welfare of their progeny. This
is witnessed to a certain extent in the common dor
or clock ( Geotrupes stercorarius) — an insect whose
" drowsy hum" falls so often on our ear during a
walk in the country in the stillness of an autumnal
twilight — which digs a cylindrical hole in the earth,
often of considerable depth, and conveys a small
quantity of dung to the bottom, in which she de-
posits her eggs. But the habits of the group now
under consideration, which is extensively diffused
over Africa and the south of Europe, but has no
representative in Britain, are greatly more fitted
to attract attention. These insects, like our own
Geotrupidce, or earth-borers, as the term signi-
fies, likewise deposit their eggs in dung ; but each
egg is placed in the centre of a small ball or pellet
carefully prepared for this purpose. When the pel-
let is dry, it has generally to be transported to a
considerable distance, that it may be buried in a
deep hole previously dug for its reception. To a
creature so imperfectly provided with members that
can be employed as instruments of prehension, the
conveyance of an object of some size must obvi-
ously be a task of considerable difficulty. Unable
to raise the load from the ground, its only resource
is to roll it along the surface ; but instead of using
its head for this purpose, as some birds are said to
do when obliged to remove their eggs from one

192 NATURAL HISTORY OF

place to another,* the beetle has recourse to its op-
posite extremity, and pushes the pellet backwards
with the tip of its abdomen and hind legs. When
the surface of the ground is unequal the labour is
greatly increased; both the beetle and its charge
sometimes tumble over a declivity, or it may be
seen struggling, like the Sisyphus of heathen my-
thology, to push its ball to the summit of an emi-
nence that obstructs the line of road. But when
an obstacle of this kind occurs to an individual, his
associates never fail to hasten to his aid, and their
united efforts are generally successful.

The incessant and arduous labour which these
insects undergo, led the Egyptian priests to regard
them as symbolical of the labours of Osiris or of the
Sun. A singular account of them is given by some
ancient authors, particularly H. Apollodorus and
P. Valerianus. All these Scarabaei, according to
the former of these authors, have thirty fingers,
corresponding to the number of days which the sun
takes to traverse each sign of the zodiac. There
are three distinct kinds of them ; the first, or scara-
baeus properly so called, presents the appearance of
rays, and has on that account been consecrated to

* We have been assured by an intelligent gamekeeper
in the south of Scotland, that he has seen pheasants re-
move their eggs to a place of safety by rolling them along
the ground by means of their head and bill. The same
thing has been observed of an Emu or Cassowary kept in
the Zoological Gardens in London.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS IPS

the sun. All the individuals of this scarabaeus are
of the male sex : when the insect wishes to pro-
duce others, it seeks for the dung of cattle, and
forms it into a ball — the figure of the world ; this
it rolls with its hind feet, going backwards, and
in the direction from east to west, as the world is
so conveyed by its movements. The scarabaeus
buries this ball in the earth, where it remains con-
cealed for twenty-eight days, a period equal to a
lunar revolution, during which the young scarabaeus
becomes animated. On the 29th day, which the
msect knows to be that of the conjunction of the
moon with the sun, and of the birth of the world,
it opens the ball and throws it into the water. The
animals which then issue from it are the scarabaei.
It is for these reasons that the Egyptians, when
they wish to designate a being produced by itself,
or to express the idea of a birth, a father, the world,
£c. represent a scarabaeus.

The thirty fingers mentioned in the above ac-
count are no doubt the joints of the feet or tarsi,
which being five to each of the six feet, amount ex-
actly to that number. The rays alluded to are re-
presented by the six teeth or angular projections of
the head, a character which is often expressed with
great accuracy on the Egyptian monuments and en-
graved stones. As the male of this species, con-
trary to what is observed in the generality of co-
prophagous beetles, scarcely differs in external ap-
pearance from the female, and appears to share with

N

104 NATUBAL HISTORY OF

her the labours requisite for the preservation of their
race, it is not surprising that the Egyptians, at a
period when such erroneous notions prevailed re-
garding the generation of the lower animals, should
have imagined that there was only one sex, and that
they should have preferred to consider it as the
one which has most privileges attached to it, or,
as grammarians call it, the more worthy gender
Admitting the doctrine of spontaneous generation,
it was necessary, according to their principles, that
the insects should disinter their balls and bring them
into contact with water, as that element was conceiv-
ed to produce, with the concurrence of heat, all
those animals that were without living progenitors.*
In more recent times the industrious habits of
these little insects appear sometimes to have ex-
cited nearly as much admiration as they did in
Egypt. In the earliest entomological work pub-
lished in Britairi,f remarkable for the extent of
its cumbrous erudition, the species of which we
speak, or another closely allied to it, forms one of
an extensive series of figures, a few of which bear
some resemblance to the objects they are designed
to represent, and several folio pages are devoted to

* See an interesting .memoir by Latreille, in the Ann:
du Mut. for 1819, entitled Des Insectes prints ou sculptes sur
hs monuments antiques de VEgypte.

•f- Moufeti Insectorum sive minimomm animalium
Theatrum, London, 1C34

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 19-")

the exposition of its virtues and uses both to our
minds and bodies. This invaluable beetle, accord-
ing to the author of that work, stimulates us to the
acquisition of every good quality ; for although no-
thing but a crust, it yet surpasses us in numerous
virtues, and invites us to modesty, temperance, la-
bour, magnanimity, justice, and prudence: "etiamsi
nihil sit nisi crustum, variis tamen virtutibus nos
vincit, et ad modestiam, temperantiam, laborem,
magnanimitatem, justitiam, prudentiamque incitat
atque impellit." It teaches us humility by living
contented in its stercorareous abodes, and delight-
ing in them more than in the perfume of roses !
So fortunate is it in renewing its youth every year,
that there can be little doubt that man himself
would willingly share in its privileges ! It is guilty
of no crime in using the dung of animals for its own
purposes, since agriculturists and others do the
same, and probably were led to the practice by ob-
serving the scarabseus ! We greatly err if we despise
the animal for employing this material ; for so
highly was it esteemed in ancient times, that, ac-
cording to the testimony of Macro bius, trie term
Sterculeus was given to Saturn as an honorary cog-
nomen ! &c. — The medical virtues of this admir*
able insect are eulogized in a similar strain, and
several recipes are given, which are said to have
been of wonderful efficacy.

These insects are frequently alluded to by ancient
authors under the various names of Coprion, Can-

196 NATURAL HISTORY OF

tharus, and Heliocantharus. " It should seem from
the name," say Messrs Kirby and Spence, " derived
from a word signifying an ass, that the Grecian
beetle made its pills of asses' dung ; and this is con-
firmed by a passage in one of the plays of Aristo-
phanes, the Irene, where a beetle of this kind is in-
troduced, on which one of the characters rides to
heaven to petition Jupiter for peace. The play be-
gins with one domestic desiring another to feed the
cantharus with some bread, who afterwards orders
his companion to give him another kind of bread,
made of asses' dung."*

Various insects of similar habits are found in dif-
ferent quarters of the world, and they form a fa-
vourite subject of observation with travellers. One
of these abounds in America, where it is known by
the name of the Tumble-Dung Beetle. An inte-
resting account of its proceedings is given by a wri-
ter on Carolina. " I have attentively admired their in-
dustry," he says, " and mutual assisting of each other
in rolling their globular balls from the place where
they made them to that of their interment, which
is usually the distance of some yards, more or less.
This they perform breech foremost, by raising their
hind parts, and forcing along the ball with their hind
feet. Two or three of them are sometimes engaged
in trundling one ball, which, from meeting with
impediments on account of the unevenness of the

* Intro, to Eni. vol. »• 255, note.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 19/

ground, is sometimes deserted by them. It is,
however, attempted by others with success, unless
it happens to roll into some deep hollow or chink,
where they are constrained to leave it ; but they
continue their work by rolling off the next ball in
their way. None of them seem to know their own
balls, but an equal care for the whole appears to
affect all the community. They form these pellets
while the dung remains moist, and leave them to
harden in the sun before they attempt to roll them.
In their moving of them from place to place, both
they and the balls may frequently be seen tumbling
about over the little eminences that are in their
way. They are not, however, easily discouraged ;
and, by repeating their attempts, usually surmount
the difficulties.

" They find out their subsistence by the excel-
lency of their noses, which direct them in their
flight to newly fallen dung, on which they imme-
diately go to work, tempering it with a proper mix-
ture of earth. So intent are they always on their
employment, that, though handled or otherwise in-
terrupted, they are not to be deterred, but imme-
diately on being freed, persist in their work with-
out any apprehension of danger. They are said to be
so exceedingly strong and active as to move about,
with the greatest ease, things that are many times
tb"ir own weight. Dr Birchell was supping one
evening in a planter's house of North Carolina,
when two of them were conveyed, without his

198 NATURAL HISTORY OF

knowledge, under the candlestick. A few blows
were struck on the table, and, to his great surprise,
the candlesticks began to move about, apparently
without any agency ; and his surprise was not
much lessened when, on taking one of them up, he
discovered that it was only a chafer that moved."*

"An insect of the size of a May-bug," says
another writer, evidently in relation to one of these
beetles, " is of the greatest utility in so hot a cli-
mate ; it is the scavenger and dustman of the whole
country. It labours with indefatigable industry to
collect all the filth that might infest the air, and
makes small balls of it, which it hides very deep in
holes which it has dug in the earth. It breeds in
sufficient numbers to keep the town and the villages
clean."f

The next genus which has been selected to illus-
trate the lamellicorn tribe of beetles is named

ONTHOPHAGUS,

a term that has reference to their habits, being
composed of the two Greek words ev0os, dung, and
payof, an eater or consumer. It consists of a con-
siderable number of species, which are inferior in
size to the generality of their dung-devouring
confederates, excepting the Aphodii, which form

* Catesby's Carolina.

f Proyart's History of Loango.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 100

such a prominent group in temperate and northern
countries, and compensate their want of bulk by
the extent of their numbers. The males of seve-
ral of the Onthophagi are strikingly distinguished
by two slender horns rising from the hinder part
of the head. One of the most remarkable in
this respect has been named O. Taurus, from the
resemblance these appendages
bear, in form and curvature, to
the horns of a bull. This will
be seen from the annexed figure,
which represents a front view of
the head.

These insects are common both to the new and
old world, and extend from the tropics to the north-
ern temperate zone. Several kinds likewise inhabit
New Holland, where, however, they are by no means
of frequent occurrence, although they form the prin-
cipal coprophagous group found in that country.
The rarity of these insects in New Holland, as Mr
Macleay observes, may be regarded as the natural
consequence of that great peculiarity of the Austra-
lian continent, namely, the want of all large herbi-
vorous mammalia, except of the marsupial kind.
Ten different species occur in Britain, but the
southern part of the country seems to be nearly the
limit of their extension northwards, as they become
rare in the northern counties of England, and we
have heard of no in stance of their occurrence in Scot-
land. Like many of their associates, they are ver-

200 NATURAL HISTORY OF

nal insects, and their appearance is agreeable, as in-
dicating the grateful return of spring.

The Onthophagi are known by having the ter-
minal joint of the maxillary palpus attenuated at
each end, and truncate — the same joint in the labial
pair being somewhat kidney-shaped and truncate ;
by the short thick body, with the thorax wider than
long, and nearly orbicular, with a wide and deep notch
in its anterior margin ; and by having the contour of
the head entire or slightly emarginate. There is
no perceptible scutellum. As in the following ge-
nus, the four posterior tibiae are always dilated at
their extremities, and nearly in the form of an elon-
gate triangle. The sexes are distinguished by some
horn-like process or tubercles, which rise from the
head or thorax of the male.

ONTHOPHA.GUS DILLWYNII.
PLATE X. FIG. 2.

Onthoph. Dillwynii, Kirly — Stcph. Illus. of British En-
tomology, vol. iii. 174, pi. 18, fig. 6.

This insect is closely allied to the better known
species named O. nuchicornis. It has been found
near Gravesend, and in the neighbourhood of Swan-
sea, by L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. after whom it was
named by Dr Leach. It is of a brassy-black colour,
and more or less covered with fine short hairs. The
thorax is thickly covered with minute granulations,

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 201

and there are two tubercles towards the middle, and
two others, one on each side, near the margin. The
elytra are of a dull greyish yellow thickly clouded
with black, and marked with longitudinal lines or
striae. The under parts of the body and legs are
black, slightly tinged with a metallic lustre. The
male has an elongate, slightly nutant, horn on the
hinder part of the head ; the female has two ele-
vated cross ridges, which are somewhat arched. The
length of the insect is about three or three and a
half lines.

The next important genus that presents itself to
our notice, was established by Mr Macleay in his
valuable work on the lamellicorn Coleoptera, and is
named

It is distinguished from all the allied genera, ex-
cept Onitis, by the structure of the antennae. These
organs consist of nine joints, the three last forming
a mass of which the basal joint (or the seventh of
the whole) is excavated and receives the following
one within it, which is partly concealed and nearly
of the figure of a horse shoe ; the terminal one is
small and in the form of a reversed cup. The ra-
dical joint of the labial palpi is larger than the others,
and dilated on its inner side. There is no apparent
scutellum, but a small opening is perceptible at the
base of the sutural line, indicating its place. The

202 NATURAL 'HISTORY OF

thorax is very large, and, like the head, usually pre-
sents some sexual differences in the form of its ap-
pendages.

The genus comprehends about fifty large and
finely coloured species, which belong exclusively to
the tropical regions of the new world. They dig
holes in the earth in a diagonal direction, sometimes
to the depth of two or three feet. They frequent
the dung of quadrupeds, and are often observed to fly
about in the evening, producing a rather loud noise.
The fine species figured is found in Cayenne, and
is named

PHAN^US LANCIFER.
PLATE X. FIG. 3.

Scarabaeus lancifer, Fab. — Linn. — Olivier, Entom. vol. i
No. 3, pi. 4, fig. 32.

This conspicuous insect is about an inch and a
half long, and upwards of an inch broad. The
body is very thick and massive, and the half of it at
least is occupied by the thorax. The head is black,
and armed with a long, recurved, angular horn ;
the clypeus or anterior portion is furnished with
two distinct projecting teeth. The colour of all the
upper side, except the head, is a fine violet, with
greenish reflections in certain lights, especially on
the elytra. The thorax is deeply excavated or con-
cave, and dilated at the sides anteriorly ; the hinder

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 203

part rises into a broad quadrate prominence, which
has its sides reflexed, and a pretty deep notch cut
out of the middle of its anterior edge, as if to re-
ceive the occipital horn when bent backwards. The
elytra are rather deeply furrowed, and rough with
transverse elevations and tubercles. The under
parts are shining black, slightly tinted with violet,
and fringed with short hairs. The anterior tibiae
have four strong teeth on their outer edge.

PHAN^US CARNIFEX.
PLATE X. FIG. 4.

Scarabaeus carnifex, Fab — Drury's Illus. of Insects^ i. pi.
35, fig. 3, 4, 5 — Olivier, i, p. 135, pi. 6, fig. 46, a, b.

In this finely coloured species the head is of a
golden green, and armed with a long slender black
horn which is curved backwards. The thorax
is large, flattened above, and terminates on each
side behind in an acute angle ; the sides golden green,
the disk bright copper-colour, and rather rough.
There is a small impressed mark on each side, rather
before the middle. The elytra are of a beautiful
green, sometimes glossed with blue ; the surface
rather rough, and marked with several raised lines.
The under side and thighs are brilliant bronzed
green ; the other parts of the leg black. Found
in various countries of North America, in consider-
able plenty.

204 NATURAL HISTORY OF

The genus GEOTRUPES* has antennae with the
three last joints dilated and transverse, forming a
lamellate club, as in the following figure. The
mandibles stand out from the head,
and are notched at the apex. The
eyes are divided by the margin of
the head, and touch the thorax. The
latter is as broad as the elytra, and
very convex. The elytra are short
and oval. Ten different kinds are
met with in Britain. That repre-
sented is the most common in the northern parts of
this country ; it is named

GEOTRUPES STERCORARIUS.

PLATE X. FIG. 5.
Scarabaeus stercorarius, Linn.

It is entirely black above, tinted on the margins
with violet or brassy : the thorax is without punc-
tures on the disk, but has a few impressed points
towards the sides, and a short line in the middle
behind. The elytra are marked with deep striae,
the spaces between which are smooth and somewhat
convex. The under side and legs are steel blue,
glossed with purple or green in a very beautiful
manner.

* Derived from y»», the earth, and <rgu<rouiv, to lore.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 205

The extensive and very remarkable genus SCA-
RABJEUS is distinguished by having ten joints in the
antennae, the three last forming a foliaceous mass,
of which the middle joint is never entirely concealed
by the two others — by possessing a distinct scutel-
lum — by the legs being inserted at equal distances
— by the upper lip being almost entirely concealed
— and by having the mandibles of a hard or horny
consistence, and sinuated or dentated on their outer
side. The body is usually thick and convex, and
often of large size. None of these insects are na-
tives of Britain, and only two appear to inhabit Eu-
rope. By far the largest proportion occur in Ame-
rica, particularly in the southern division of that
continent, and in the adjacent islands ; indeed so nu-
merous are they in these countries, and so remark-
able for their size and appearance, that they may be
regarded as constituting one of the most distinctive
and characteristic features in the entomology of the
new continent. The largest kinds are found chiefly
in Guiana and the Antilles ; a considerable number
occur in the vicinity of Rio Janeiro ; and they ex-
tend in some plenty as far as the 28° of south lati-
tude. Those found in the neighbourhood of Mon-
te-Video, Buenos- Ayres, and Tucuman, are gene-
rally of inferior size.

According to M. Lacordaire, who has had many op-
portunities of observing these insects in their native
haunts, the habits of all the species are very much
alike. During the day they conceal themselves in

206 NATURAL HISTORY OF

noles dug in the earth or in the decomposed trunks
of trees, or they are observed running along the
pathways in the woods. On the approach of night
they issue from their retreats, and fly around the
trees at a considerable height above the ground,
producing at the same time a loud noise. It is then
that they seem to procure their food ; and they are
sometimes found in the morning under the leaves
or clinging to the branches of trees. Although their
flight is dull, it is rather rapid, and can be prolonged
for a considerable time. They all produce a shrill
noise by rubbing the elytra against the abdomen.
The females are in general more common than the
males, and are almost always without horns. Among
the few exceptions to this rule may be mentioned
S. Pan, the most common species in Brazil, the fe-
male of which has a horn of some size on the head,
and an excavation on the thorax. The latter sex is
common, while the male is rare.

The first species selected to illustrate this genus
is the largest, and in some respects one of the most
remarkable that it contains. It is named the Her-
cules Beetle * —

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 207

SCARAB.EUS HERCULES.

PLATE XI.

Olivier, 1. pi. 1, fig. 1, a, 6, male ; pi. 23, fig. I, c, female —
Drunfs 1 1 lug.

The head and thorax of the male are deep black,
highly polished, and shining ; the former with a long
thick horn armed with two or three strong teeth,
the latter produced into a very long horn, which is
bent downwards near the outer extremity : it bears
a strong triangular tooth on each side rather behind
the middle, and is densely clothed with reddish-
brown pile. The elytra are somewhat glaucous, 01
of a sea-green colour, but inclining to ash-grey, and
marked with scattered spots of black : they are stri-
ated and wrinkled across. The under parts of the
body and the legs are black ; the anterior tibiae
armed with three strong spines externally.

Found in greatest plenty in the Antilles and
Guiana ; it extends as far as Rio Janeiro, but be-
comes very rare in that neighbourhood. It likewise
occurs in the American islands.

208 NATURAL HISTORY OF

SCARAB.EUS TIT Y US.

PLATE XII.

Linn- $y*t. Nat. p. 542 — Olivier, i. No. 3, p. 9, pi. 4, fig.
31, and pi. 10, fig. 31, ft, c — Say's American Entom. i.

This insect is about two inches in length : the
prevailing colour glaucous, inclining to grey. The
head is black, and armed with a strong horn which
• is curved backwards. The thorax is variegated
with black and grey, and has three horns projecting
from its anterior part, one in the centre slightly
curved downwards and hairy on the under side, and
two lateral ones which are short and acute. Elytra
glaucous-grey, with numerous large spots of black.
The under side of the body, and legs, are wholly
black.

The female is without horns, and differs from the
other sex in the colour of the elytra.

Inhabits Carolina, Virginia, and other North
American states. " It is so extremely rare in
Pennsylvania," says Mr Say, from whose handsome
work on American Entomology the accompanying
figures have been taken, " that the late Rev. F. V.
Melsheimer, the parent of Entomology in this coun-
try, and a very industrious collector, found but two
individuals in eighteen years. An instance has
however occurred, in which the appearance of a
considerable number of then? occasioned no little

PLATE 12.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 209

surprise in the neighbourhood where they were dis-
covered. A mile or two south of Philadelphia, and
near the river Delaware, an old cherry-tree was
blown down by a violent current of wind, and my
informant saw the remains of numerous individuals,
in and about the cavity of the tree laid open by the
shock of its fall. That there might be no mistake,
he exhibited the thorax of a male he had chosen
from the mutilated fragments. I think it highly
probable that the Tityus is more especially a native
of the southern states, as my friend Mr J. WilHams
presented me with several specimens in high pre-
servation, collected by himself in Maryland, and
from them the drawings for the annexed plate were
made/'

SCARAB.EUS ATLAS.
PLATE XIII.

Linn. Syst. Nat. p. 542 — Fabricii Syst. Entom. 7,8 Sea-

rabaeus Hector ? Dejcan.

This very singular and conspicuous inseo* is en-
tirely of a black colour, tinted with greenish bronze,
especially on the elytra, the whole surface being
smooth and glossy. The head is armed with a very
long acute horn, which is slightly recurved, and has
a double row of serratures on its inner side. Two
similar horns project, one from each side of the tho-
rax, which are without teeth, acute at the tip, and

0

210 NATURAL HISTORY OP

slightly curved towards eacn otner. from the a» -
terior part of the thorax, immediately over the head,
there issues a short triangular horn, which is direct-
ed forwards. The scutellum is very large and tri-
angular ; the elytra are smooth and shining ; and the
under side of the body, and legs, black. The ant'erior
tibiae have three acute teeth on their outer edge to-
wards the apex.

It is a native of Java, where it is considered rare,
although we have seen six or eight specimens in a
single collection of insects from that country. It
likewise occurs, but much less frequently, on the
continent of Asia, the individual figured having
been taken at Rangoon in India.

SCARAB^EUS MACROPUS.
PLATE xiv. FIG. i.

Kanguroo beetle, Shaw's Naturalist's Miscellany, ccclxxx. 4.

This very remarkable-looking insect was first made
known to the public by Mr Francillon, who is sup-
posed to have received it from South America.
The individual which he described appears to be
the only one that has occurred, and it is now said
to be preserved in the rich cabinet of Mr Macleay.
Until the discovery of the insect next to be de-
scribed, there was no lamellicorn beetle that bore
much resemblance to it ; but that species partakes
in some measure of its peculiar characters. Of

PLATE 14.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 211

these, the most singular are the length of the hinder
legs, and the extraordinary thickness of the thighs,
which exceeds any thing that is observed in such as
exhibit a structure of this kind. The whole of the
upper surface is smooth, and of a bright green
colour, and the under side is golden yellow and
copper coloured. The antennae and tarsi are brown-
ish black.

CHRYSOPHORA CHRYSOCHLORA.
PLATE XIV. FIG. 2.

Melolontha chrysochlora, Latr — Voy. de MM. Humk. et
Bonpl. ii. 15, I fern. 2 male.

Latreille assigns as the distinguishing marks of
this genus, which was first proposed by Count De-
jean, the great size of the hinder legs, the thicken-
ed hinder thighs, and the curved tibiae, which ter-
minate in a strong projecting point at the internal
angle. It contains only two or three species, of which
that above referred to is the most remarkable. It
was discovered by MM. Humboldt and Bonpland
in Peru. It is of a brilliant green on the upper
side, but on the under parts of the body coppery red
is the prevailing hue. The thighs and posterior
tibiae are of the latter colour ; and the tarsi, which
have the joint that bears the claws very large and
club-shaped, are brownish. The elytra are thickly
covered with large excavated points, but the head

212 NATUEAL HISTORY OF

and thorax are comparatively smooth. The female
is much smaller, and the hinder thighs are not so
thick as in the male. Like the common Cockcha-
fer, this species lives in society, and was sometimes
observed in great numbers by the distinguished tra-
vellers who first brought it to Europe.

RUTELA PULCHELLA.

PLATE XV. FIG. I.
Kirby, Linn. Trans, xii. p. 405, pi. 21, fig. 10.

This genus includes such insects as have the hin-
der thighs scarcely differing in the two sexes ; the
scutellum rather small, and the pointed process of
the sternum short, and not reaching to the insertion
of the forelegs. The terminal joint of the maxillary
palpus is large and ovate. The body is of an oval
form. The species given as an illustration of this
generic group is a native of Brazil. It is about
eight lines and a half in length, of a fine yellow co-
lour inclining to green. The thorax is green in the
middle, and yellow on the sides and anterior edge.
The elytra are thickly covered with small punctures,
which have a tendency to form lines : the colour is
yellow, with the region of the scutellum, and a curv-
ed band behind the middle, green.

'LATE 15.

\

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 213

MACRASPIS FUCATA.

PLATE XV. FIG. 2.
C«tonia fucata, Fabr — -Cetonia quadrivittata, Olivier.

The most obvious character in this genus is that
which has suggested the name,* viz. the great size
of the scutellum, which equals at least a third of
that of the elytra. The projecting point -of the
sternum reaches to the insertion of the anterior
legs, and in many instances extends beyond that
point. The form of the body is in general shorter
and more rounded than in Rutela. The species
amount to near thirty, and they are confined to the
tropical regions of the New World. The most com-
mon in the interior of Brazil is M. clavata, which
is often observed in the morning, suspended in
great numbers to the leaves of trees, around which
they fly during the day, and consume the flowers.
The species figured has the same habits, but it is
much rarer, and appears later in the year. It is
about ten lines in length, of a deep black colour,
very highly polished on the surface, and thickly co-
vered with very minute punctures. The thorax is
margined with deep yellow, and there are two broad
stripes of the same colour on each wing-case, which
unite behind.

From fixKgos, long, and a<rr/;, a

214 KATUEAL HISTORY OF

MELOLONTHA FULLO.

PLATE XV. FIG. 3 and 4.
Scarabaeus Fullo, Linn — Donovan'* Brit. Iniectt,\v p

The genus Melolontha,* of which the common
Cockchafer affords a familiar example, has anten-
nae consisting of ten joints, with five or seven of the
uppermost produced into thin leaflets in the male,
while in the females only four (sometimes six) are
a little produced. All the claws are of equal size,
and terminate in a simple point, with a small tooth
on the under side near the base. As constituted
by the older Entomologists, it formed a very exten-
sive genus ; but in its present restricted acceptation,
it scarcely includes more than a dozen species. Of
these, by far the most common is M. vulgaris (com-
mon Cockchafer), which occurs abundantly in many
parts of England, Ireland, and the Continent, but is
comparatively rare in Scotland.f The perfect insect

* The term is derived from ^Xia, on apple-tree, and
etv^ws, a flowering or inflorescence, because the insects it an-
ciently denoted, either were supposed to be produced from
the flowers of fruit-trees, or were accustomed to resort to
them for food.

•f- The common cockchafer sometimes abounds in Dum-
friesshire : many hundreds of the grubs were turned up
while digging the foundation of the Mansion-house of
Jardine Hall — ED.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 215

subsists on the leaves of trees, out in the state of
grub it consumes the roots of grass and other her-
baceous plants. Its ravages, both in the early and
final stage of its life, have often been described, and
are unhappily better known than any efficient re-
medy of easy application. The beautiful species
represented (fig. 3, male ; fig. 4, female) is either
not of such destructive propensities, or, what is
more probable, too limited in numbers to accomplish
much mischief. In this country especially, it is of
very rare occurrence, and as the few examples that
have occurred were generally found on the sea*
shore, it has been questioned whether its appear-
ance ought not to be ascribed to accidental causes,
rather than to its being strictly a native of this
country. It is nearly an inch and a half in length,
of a dark-brown colour, having the whole upper
surface irregularly marked with patches and spots
of white. There is a pretty regular line of white
down the middle of the thorax, and another, less
regular, on each side of it. The antennae and
legs are reddish brown. It is found occasionally
in France, and in the more southern countries of
Europe.

216 TTATUKAL HISTORY OP

GOLIATH US MAGNUS.
PLATE XVI.

Cetonia goliata, Fair — Cetonia Goliathus, Olivier, i. N»,
6, pi. 5, fig. 33 — Drury's Illustrations, i. pi. 31.

This genus, which was established by Lamarck, con-
tains a few very large and striking species belonging
to the family Cetonidae. The most obvious mark
by which it may be recognised is the anterior part
of the head, which is dilated and divided into two
broad divergent lobes in front, in the form of obtuse
or truncated horns ; and there are two smaller late-
ral ones near the middle of the head. The thorax
approaches to orbicular, but is somewhat narrowed
in front. Of the species represented, the only spe-
cimen with which we are acquainted is that pre-
served in the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow. It
was found on the west coast of Africa, and is pro-
bably the same from which Olivier and Drury made
their drawings. The latter states that the insect
which he figured was found floating dead in the
river Gaboon, opposite Prince's Island, near the
equinoctial line. The antennae and head are nearly
black, but the surface of the latter is thickly cover-
ed with whitish scales. The thorax is dark brown,
with the sides dirty white, and five broad waved
lines of the same colour along the disk, the two la-
teral ones uniting with the white margin. The ely-

PLATE 16.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 217

*ra are reddish brown, with a streak ot white acrosi
*he base: the scutellum is likewise margined with
white, and has a narrow patch of the same down
the middle. The under side and thighs are black,
with a mixture of green ; the other parts of the leg
are black.

Many of the most ornamental of the lamellicorn
beetles are arranged in the extensive genus Ceto-
nia, and others closely allied, which have recently
been separated from it. The true Cetoniae present
the following characters : — body nearly ovate, ra-
ther obtuse behind, the back somewhat depressed :
thorax gradually widening towards the hinder mar-
gin, which forms the base of a triangle with the
apex truncated : scutellum distinct : mentum never
transverse, and more or less emarginate in the mid-
dle of its upper edge : terminal lobe of the maxillae
ending in a tuft of fine hair. In the perfect state,
these insects feed on vegetable juices and the honey
of flowers. Rosel informs us that he kept the species
known in this country by the name of Rosechafer
alive for upwards of three years, by feeding it with
fruit and moistened white bread. The species are nu-
merous, amounting to upwards of 130, and in many
of them, as Mr Macleay has remarked, nothing can
exceed the beauty and lustre of the polish, or the
admirable variety of ornament, with which their ely-
tra are adorned. They occur in almost every coun-
try, except in the colder parts of the temperate
zone, and the regions verging towards the poles,

218 NATURAL HISTORY OF

Only two are known to inhabit Britain, and thest
may almost be said to be confined to the southern
division of the island ; for although the most com-
mon ( C. aurata) has been noticed in Scotland, its
occurrence is extremely rare. A few fine species
inhabit the south of France and the eastern coun-
tries of Europe, and a considerable number are
found in America, particularly in Mexico. They
are rather scarce, however, in Brazil, and such as
are found there do not seem to multiply to the same
extent as they do in most other places. Java and
the East Indies are likewise rich in these insects,
and the former contains a generic group {Macro-
nota, Weid.) very nearly related to the true Ceto-
niae, which is peculiar to the country. But their
metropolis, or characteristic locality, appears to be
the southern parts of Africa, in the neighbourhood
of the Cape of Good Hope. New Holland also
produces several beautifully marked species.

CETONIA FASCICULARIS.
PLATE XVII. Fie. 1.

Scarabseus fascicularis, Linn — Drury'* lllus. pi. 33, fig. 2.—
Olivier, ii. No. 6, pi. 11, fig. 108.

The head, scutellum, and thorax of this beautiful
insect are deep black and shining : the latter with
four deeply impressed longitudinal lines, which are
filled with very minute white scales. The elytra

PLATE 17.

COLEOPTEROUS INSEC.TS. 219

are of a fine deep green, not shining, the surface
somewhat rough and corrugated. The under side
of the body is thickly clothed with tawny hairs, dis-
posed in tufts round the sides of the abdomen.
The legs are black. It is a native of the Cape of
Good Hope.

CETONIA MACLEAYI.

PLATE XVII. FIG. 2.
JTirfy, Linn. Trans, xii. p. 408, pi. 21, fig. 11.

This insect is depressed, very smooth and shin-
ing, of a golden green, approaching to emerald green.
The head and antennae are black, and the thorax
has a large discoidal spot of the same colour, which
is narrowed in front. The elytra have a large
quadrate spot of black on each side of the scutel-
lum, and there are two others towards the apex
which nearly meet and form a broad band. The
tibiae and tarsi are of a chestnut colour, and the
segments of the abdomen are margined with black.

u This beautiful insect," says Mr Kirby, in the
paper above referred to, which has supplied us with
the annexed figure, " was brought from Manilla by
Mr Simon Davidson, Surgeon in the Royal Navy,
who purchased several of them in a shop, where
its elytra, and those of some splendid I3uprestest
were sold as ornaments for ladies head-dresses."

NATURAL HISTORY OF

CETONIA DISCOIDEA.
PLATE XVII. FIG. 3.

Cetonia velutina, Olivier, ii. pi. 12, fig. 114.

The length of this species is between seven and
eight lines. The head, thorax, and scutellum are
velvet black, and unspotted. The elytra are like-
wise velvet black, with the whole of the base red,
except the region of the scutellum ; the outer mar-
gin is of the latter colour from the shoulder to a
little beyond the middle, where there is a broad
band of red interrupted at the suture. The under
parts and legs are shining black. It is found at the
Cape of Good Hope.

CETONIA AUSTRALASIA.

PLATE XVII. FIG. 4.
Schyzorhina Australasia, Kirby — Dejean's Catal.

This curiously marked species is a native of New
Holland. The surface is depressed, and remark-
ably smooth and glossy. The anterior part of the
head is yellow, with two small spots of black. The
head from before the eyes, and the thorax, are
black ; the latter having a stripe of yellow running
along the sides and front, a line of the same down
the middle, and an arched stripe across the base,

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 221

which is not united with the others : there is a
small spot of black in the yellow margin before the
middle. The scutellum is black, with an oblong
patch of yellow. The elytra are deep chestnut-red,
approaching to black at the apex, with two curved
lines of yellow down the middle of each, which are
attenuated behind, and generally united to a? cross
stripe of the same colour, from the suture : there is
also a stripe of yellow round the hinder margin of
each wing-case, which terminates before the middle,
where it is dilated into a triangular spot with the
apex directed inwards. The under side is black,
curiously variegated with yellow. The legs are
chestnut-red, the hinder thighs striped with yellow.

GYMNETIS NERVOSA.
PLATE XVII. FIG. 5.

This genus is easily distinguished from Cetonia,
by having the thorax produced in the middle behind
into an angle which occupies the place of the scu-
tellum. About fifty different kinds are known, by
far the greater part of which belong to tropical
America. The species named nervosa is entirely of
a reddish-brown colour, having the upper surface
variegated with linear and angular patches of black.
The under side and legs are black.

222 NATURAL HISTOEY OP

GYMNETIS MARMOREA.

PLATE XVII. FIG. 6.
Cetonia marmorea, Olivier, ii. pi. 2, fig. 110.

The prevailing colour is fine yellow, the surface
polished and shining. The whole body is variegated
with black markings, arranged in a manner some-
what similar to those in the preceding species, but
having a greater tendency to run together and form
patches. The under parts of the body, and the legs,
are deep black and very glossy. It is a native of
Brazil.

Having now illustrated at considerable length the
first tribe or principal division of the lamellicornes,
we shall proceed to give some examples of the se-
cond, which corresponds, as was already mentioned,
to the genus Lucanus of Linnaeus. The LUCANID^?
have ten-jointed antennae, the club or thickehed
portion of which consists of long teeth or leaflets
arranged on an axis in the manner of a comb (Plate
XVIII. left-hand Jig.). The mandibles are usually
of very large size in the male, and furnished with
strong teeth, which renders their appearance rather
more formidable than that of most other beetles.
The tarsi terminate in two simple claws, having
two strong bristles placed between them.

PLATE 18

COLEOPTEROUS IK SECTS. 223

CHIASOGNATHUS CHILOENSIS.
PLATE XVIII. FIG. 1.

Tetrophthalma chiloensis, Lesson's Jllus. de Zoologic, pi. 24
— Chiasognathus Grantii? Cambridge Phil. Trans, iv.
pi. 9 and 10.

This singular genus is characterised by the length
of the mandibles, which equals or exceeds that of
the whole body, and by the extraordinary elonga-
tion of the lowest joint of the antenna, which is
ornamented with a tuft of hairs at its tip. It was
established by Mr Stephens on an insect received
from the island of Chiloe, and its characters pub-
lished in the Cambridge Philosophical Transactions
for 1831.* More recently M. Lesson has figured
an insect which obviously belongs to the same ge-
nus, although he has thought proper to distinguish
it by a new name. Indeed it is extremely probable
that it is the same species as that described by Mr
Stephens ; but as it differs in a few minute particu-
lars, it will be better in the mean time to retain its
distinctive name. Lesson's insect is represented
by the accompanying figure. The mandibles are
bronzed green ; the head violet blue ; the thorax

* The generic name refers to the form of the mandibles,
which are incurved at the tip, and cross over each other,
being derived from x<«?«, to lie crosswise, and yvafas, the
jav.

224 NATURAL HISTOEY OF

green, with coppery and violet-blue reflections on
the sides ; the elytra bright chestnut red ; the legs
green, with the under side of the thighs reddish.
As with other lucanideous insects, its food consists
of the flowing sap of trees, and it is said to frequent
the araucarias and other green trees in the island
of Chiloe.

LUCANUS CERVUS, OR STAG BEETLE.
PLATE XVIII. FIG. 2.

Donovan's Brit. Insects, i. pi. 13 — Lucanus inermis, Don.
xii. pi. 400 — Marxham's Entom. Brit.

In this genus the four terminal joints of the an-
tennae are produced on one side ; the eyes are not
divided by the margin of the head ; the latter is as
wide as the thorax, and in some instances wider ; and
the maxillae terminate in a slender lobe without cor-
neous teeth. The species figured is the well-known
Stag-beetle of this country. It occurs in consider-
able plenty in several of the southern counties, but
has not been observed in the north of England, nor
in Scotland. It is likewise found on the Continent,
and the larva is considered by some to be the Cos-
sits of the ancient Romans, which is described as a
white worm living in the interior of oak trees, and
which was much coveted as a delicious food by
these refined epicures. The male is about two
inches in length, including the mandibles. It is

COLEOPTEROVS INSECTS 225

entirely of a brownish -black colour, the surface
shining and thickly covered with small punctures.
The female is considerably less, the mandibles are
quite short, and the head is proportionally much
smaller.

" I believe it has been supposed by several wri-
ters," says Mr Waterhouse, " that the mandibles
of the stag-beetle are designed for perforating the
bark of trees, and thus causing the sap to flow, on
which the insect is said to feed ; but I do not re-
collect ever seeing this confirmed on positive au-
thority. During the past summer I kept a stag-
beetle alive for several weeks: I allowed him to
bite my finger with his mandibles, which he did
with great strength and perseverance for some se-
conds ; and immediately, on relaxing his hold, ap-
plied alternately one of his antennae, and the galea
of his maxillae, to the indentation, as if to ascertain
whether any moisture was flowing from the wound.
The stag-beetle has a small patch of golden coloured
hair near the base of the fore leg, the use of which,
I believe, has never been pointed out ; — it is evi-
dently for the purpose of cleaning the antennae,
which, after touching saccharine fluids, become
sticky. The insect does this in the most adroit
manner, bending back the antenna and placing it
beneath the leg, and then drawing it out slowly.
The specimen which I had became after a time
tame and playful, sometimes amusing himself by
tossing about a ball of cotton with his horns. He

226 NATURAL HISTORY OF

was very fond of sugar moistened, and the juice of
raspberries."*

The second primary section of the order Cole-
optera, as established on the number of joints in
the tarsi, includes all the kinds which have five ar-
ticulations in the first four tarsi, and four in the
hindmost pair ; it is named

HETEROMERA.f

As an example of this section, we shall first
mention the genus Horia, of which the characters
are so distinct that it forms a tribe by itself. It
is easily known by the structure of the claws, which
are deeply serrated on the under side, and each of
them accompanied by a long narrow ap-
pendage, as represented by the adjoining
) figure. The mandibles are strong, and
stand out from the head. The palpi are
filiform, and the thorax is square.

* Entomological Magazine, No. C, p. 59.
•j* From trt^of, different, and ^sgof, a joint.

PLATE 1<).

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTs

HORIA MACULATA.
PLATE XIX. FIG. 1.

It is about sixteen lines in length, of a uniform
reddish-yellow colour, with seven spots of black on
each wing-case, six of which are arranged in pairs,
and the seventh occupies the apex. The mandibles
and antennae are shining black, and the legs are of
the same colour, except the base of the thighs,
which is the same as the body. According to the
observations of Lansdown Guilding, this insect de-
posits its eggs in the nest of the carpenter-bees
(chiefly in that of Xylocopa Teredo), arid when the
larvae are excluded, they consume the food which
the bee provides for its proper offspring. It is not
rare in the vicinity of Rio Janeiro and other parts
of tropical America, and is usually found under the
bark of trees. It moves but slowly both when
walking and flying, and when handled emits a yel-
lowish liquid from its mouth of a peculiar odour.

MELOE VARIEGATUS.
PLATE XIX. FIG. 2, FEMALE.

Donovan, ii. pi. 67- — Linn. Trans, xi. 37, pi. 6, fig. 1, 2. —
Meloe scabrosus, Marsham — M. mayalis, Olivier. *

This and the following genera are two of the most

228 NATURAL HISTORY OP

conspicuous in the tribe of CANTHARIDJE, or blis-
tering beetles, many of which are so much cele-
brated for their vesicatory properties. The group
is well distinguished by the hooks of the tarsi, which
are so deeply divided that they appear double. The
present genus is destitute of wings, and the elytra
are of an oval or triangular form, the one overlap-
ping the other at the base, and they diverge widely
from each other at the tip. They leave a consider-
able portion of the abdomen uncovered, especially
in the female, which has that part of the body
unusually large. The most singular circumstance
in the natural history of these insects, is the sup-
posed parasitical nature of the larvae, which are said
to adhere to the bodies of flies and bees, and to live
upon their juices, which they extract by suction. But
the observations on which this opinion is founded
are far too inconclusive to establish its truth. They
are characteristic of European countries, the greater
number occurring in Spain and Britain. Among the
latter is the species figured, which is of a brassy
lustre, variegated with tints of purple and violet.
The thorax and elytra are dark copper colour,
glossed on the sides with violet ; the former covered
with punctures, and the latter with small tubercles
which often run together and make the surface
rough. The abdomen is likewise rough ; the co-
lour dark green, with the hinder margin of the seg-
ments coppery and violescent. The under side is
golden colour and purple ; the legs black, inclining

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 229

to violet. It is the most beautiful of the genus,
and is found in the South of England, but not fre-
quently. The most common species is M. prosca-
rabaeus.

CANTHAIUS VESICATORIA, on BLISTER
BEETLE.

PLATE XIX. FIG. 3.
Meloe vesicatorius, Linn — Lytta vesicatoria, Fab.

This is the well-known Blister-beetle, or Spanish
fly. It is entirely of a golden green, with the an-
tennae black. The head has a deeply impressed
line in the middle behind, and the surface of the
thorax is rather unequal. The elytra are corru-
gated like the surface of a piece of leather, and two
or three raised longitudinal lines are observable on
each. The length is from six to ten lines. Ac-
cording to Latreille, they appear in France about
the period of the summer solstice, and are found in
greatest abundance on the ash and lilac, on the
leaves of which they feed. In Spain, where they
are rather more plentiful than in other parts of Eu-
rope, they are usually collected for commercial pur-
poses in the month of June, when they assemble in
order to pair. They are shaken from the branches
of the shrubs which they frequent, and received in
sheets spread on the ground. They are killed by
being held in hair sieves over the fumes of vinegar,

230 NATURAL HISTORY OP

and afterwards dried, either by exposure to the sun,
or by being placed on hurdles covered with cloth or
paper in a well-ventilated apartment. The blister-
ing property has been ascertained to reside in a pe-
culiar principle, on which chemists have bestowed
the name of Cantkaradine.

CANTHARIS NUTTALLI.

PLATE XTX. FIG. 4.
Lytta Nuttalli, Say's American Entomology.

Head and thorax deep green tinted with golden
yellow, the latter with unequal scattered punctures,
a longitudinal line in the middle, and another across
the base. The elytra are deep red or purple with
a golden gloss, the surface rough ; having two slight-
ly elevated lines along the disk of each, and another
near the margin. The under parts of the body are
bright green, the legs, antennae, and palpi nearly
black.

" This noble species," says the American Ento-
mologist, to whom we have been indebted for the
accompanying figure, " which far surpasses the far-
famed Vesicatoria, has, I understand, been labelled
in a British cabinet with the name I have here
adopted, in honour of Mr Thomas Nuttall, who dis-
covered it. It seems to be limited to the western
region. In company with Major Long, I observed

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 231

it, for the first time, near the base of tne Rocky
Mountains. A very numerous flock had there taken
possession of the few diminutive bushes that oc-
curred within the space of a hundred yards, every
spray of which was burdened with their numbers.
After passing this limited district, not an individual
was seen during the remainder of the journey. On
the recent expedition of the same officer to the
river St Peter, I obtained but a single specimen,
which was found one evening at an encampment in
the North- West Territory."

The next primary division of this order contains
all beetles which have four joints in each foot, and
is accordingly named

TETRAMERA.

An extensive family of this division have the
head elongated into a kind of snout or beak ; these
constituted the Linnaean genus Curculio, and in this
country are named weevih. They are very nume-
rous, amounting to nearly three thousand. They
invariably feed on vegetable substances, and many
of them commit much injury to the produce of our
fields and gardens. The genus APODERUS is distin-
guished by the length of the neck, which is united
to the thorax by a kind of rotula. The rostrum is

232 NATUEAL HISTORY OF

short and thick, and somewhat widened at the ex-
tremity. The species are generally of small size,
but many of them are ornamented with agreeable
colours.

APODERUS LONGICOLLIS.
PLATE XX. FIG. 1.

Olivier, v. No. 81, pi. 1, fig. 25 — Attelabus longicollia,
Fair. Syst. Elcuth.

The ordinary length is between four and five
lines. The colour of the upper parts of the body
is reddish yellow, the under side of a paler hue.
The neck is remarkably long, and brownish black.
The elytra are very convex behind, marked with
punctured lines, and numerous impressed points of a
considerable size. It is found in the East Indies.

APODERUS GEMMATUS.
PLATE XX. FIG. 2.

O/tt/iffr, v. No. 81, pi. 1, fig. 16 — Attelabus gemmatus.
Fabr.

The figure in the accompanying plate represents
this insect considerably enlarged, its natural length
seldom exceeding three lines. The colour is rust-
red inclining to yellow, the antennae black. The
thorax and elytra are pretty thickly covered with

PLATE 20

.

Of Ti-f r

UNIVEES1

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 233

black tubercles, of which several of those on the
elytra are rounded, and arranged in rows. The
under side and legs are pale yellow. It occurs in
the vicinity of the Cape of Good Hope.

APODERUS RUFICOLLIS.

PLATE XX. FIG. 3.

Olivier, v. No. 81, pi. 1, fig. 15 — Attelabus ruficollis,
Fair, Spec. Insect.

The head of this species, which is said to be a
native of Siberia, is reddish in front and black be-
hind ; the antennae are of the latter colour, with the
base red. The thorax is red and unspotted. The
elytra are smooth and shining, of a fine blue, faintly
marked with punctures which form indistinct lines.
The under side of the abdomen is black, with the
margin reddish. The legs are of the latter colour.
It is between two and three lines long.

In the genus RHYNCHITES the head is inserted
into the thorax as far as the eyes, and the rostrum
is a little enlarged at the extremity. The abdomen
is nearly square. About seventeen different kinds
inhabit Britain, and many of these are insects of
great beauty, especially R. Bacchus, which is found
chiefly in the county of Kent.

234 NATURAL HISTOEY OP

RHYNCHITES POPULI.

PLATE XX. FIG. 4.
Curculio populi, Linn. Degeer. — Attelabus populi, Fabr.

In this well-known species the body is smooth
and shining, of a golden-green or bluish tint on the
upper side, and dark violet colour beneath ; the an-
tennae and tarsi black. The elytra are rather irre-
gularly punctured. In one of the sexes there is an
acute spine on each side of the thorax, projecting
forwards. The ordinary length of the insect is nearly
three lines. It is found on poplar and birch trees,
in England and on the Continent of Europe.

JIHYNCHITES PUBESCENS.

PLATE XX. FIG. 5.
Attelabus pubescens, Fabr.

The body is rather more elongate in proportion
to its breadth than in the preceding species. The
whole body is of a deep violet colour, and clothed
with rather long hairs. The snout is shorter than
the thorax, and, together with the antennae, black.
The elytra are marked with regular punctured lines.
The legs are the same colour as the body, but the
tarsi are black. Length three lines. It inhabits
France. Germany, and England.

S^-Dommgo.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 235

RHYNCHITES COLLARIS.

PLATE XX. FJG. 6.
Antribus collaris, Fabr. Syst. Eleuth.

The body of this small insect is covered with
short pubescence : the snout is rather long, de-
pressed at the apex, and of a black colour, as well
as the antennae. The thorax is very smooth, and
reddish : the elytra deep blue, pretty regularly stri-
ated : the under side and legs black. Found in
Carolina.

The very remarkable genus BRENTUS has filiform
antennae, occasionally with the last joint thickened
— the rostrum very long and advanced — the whole
body unusually narrow, and the penultimate joint
of the tarsi bilobed.

BRENTUS ANCHORAGO.

PLATE XXI. FIG. 1.
Curculio Anchorage, Linn — Degeer^ Mem. Insect, v. 273.

Body very narrow and elongate, shining black ;
the markings differing a little in the two sexes. In
the male the head has a groove in front, which is
wanting in the female. In the latter the thorax is
somewhat contracted in the middle, and in both
sexes it has a groove extending from the middle to

236 NATURAL HISTORY or

the base. The elytra are scarcely wider tnan the
base of the thorax, deeply grooved near the suture,
and marked with punctured lines on the sides, each
of them with two narrow lines of reddish yellow.
The anterior thighs are furnished with a small tooth
on the under side. Like all the other species of the
genus, this insect lives under bark, and is often found
on the stems of old trees congregated in hundreds.

RHINA BARBIROSTHIS.
PLATE XXI. FIG. 2.

Latreille, Hist. Nat. des Crust, et des Ins, 1 1, p. 102 — Cur-
culio barbirostris, Fair.

The species given as an example of this genus —
which may be briefly characterised by the elongate
shape of the terminal joint of the antennae, and the
length of the fore legs — is found at the Cape of
Good Hope. It is entirely of a black colour, ex-
cept the hairs on the rostrum, which are reddish
yellow. The rostrum or snout is longer than the
thorax, trifid at the point, and tuberculated above.
The thorax is rough with deeply impressed punc-
tures, and bears yellowish hairs on the sides and
beneath. The elytra are marked with closely placed
lines of deep square punctures, the spaces between
which have a few short hairs. The anterior legs
are much longer than the others, and all the tibiae
are armed with a few remote spines.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 237

Although now much restricted in its application,
the genus CURCULIO still contains a great variety of
species. In all of them the penultimate joint of the
tarsi is deeply bilobed, and the antennae are com-
posed of eleven joints, of which the three last form
a club. The grooves on the sides of the rostrum,
for receiving the antennte, are oblique, and converge
towards each other on the under side. Many of
the species are of large size, and such as frequent
the foliage of trees are often adorned in the most
sumptuous manner. This is particularly the case
with several South American kinds, which are co-
vered with a coating of scales of the most sparkling
brilliancy, equal to the " illumination of all gems."
These are accordingly highly prized by collectors,
a single specimen of C. regalis having been once
sold at Paris for L.23 sterling. The British weevils
that present most analogy to these favoured crea-
tures belong to the genera Phyllobius and Polydru-
sus ; but though of great beauty, their comparatively
small size renders them less striking.

CURCULIO CUVIERII.

PLATE XXI. FIG. 3.
Geonemus Cuvierii, Guerin, Voyage de la Coquillc.

Of a fine green colour, with a stripe of black
down the middle of the rostrum and thorax. The
elytra are suddenly narrowed at the apex, and have

238 NATURAL HISTORY OF

a band of black in the centre of each, which does
not reach the extremity. The under side and legs
are green.

CURCULIO GEOFFROYII.

PLATE XXI. FIG. 4.
Geonemus Geoffroyii, Voyage de la Coquille.

Brilliant green, glossed with violet. The rostrum
has a narrow impressed line down the middle, and
there is a similar one in the centre of the thorax.
The elytra are striated, and marked with four cross
bands of deep black, of which the second from the
base and that next the apex are abbreviated, and
the third dilated on each side of the suture. This
and the preceding species were obtained in a recent
French voyage of discovery round the world.

CURCULIO VITTATUS.
PLATE XXI. FIG. 5.

Fabriciu*, Ent. Syst — Linn. Syst. Nai.

Rostrum and thorax black, the surface smooth
and shining : elytra with punctured lines, a broad
white stripe at the side of the suture, a broader one
of a red colour in the middle of each, and a third
narrower than the others, towards the outer mar-
gin : the apex greyish : the legs and belly black ;

PLATE 22.

S .America..

SJW:

\.Curculio Ltur&uia. m ^

_ / 'en/if ,i •?. C(l(ji:('tft/>iwotatus. J)

.1. Curculw inri-nit>,\-(init.\'.-^.rtj?'<-n/ui br/t/nieus ^.CalqndrcLJunM

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 239

the sides of the latter white or greenish. The lon-
gitudinal stripes vary considerably in tint ; the cen-
tral one is generally rose-colour, and the outer one
is frequently greenish. The insect occurs in Ja-
maica, and others of the West Indian islands.

CURCULIO SPHACELATUS.
PLATE XXI. FIG. 6.

Herlit. Coleopt., vi. pi. 67, %• 12 — Olivier, v. No. 83,
pi. 20, fig. 253.

The antennae, rostrum, and thorax, are black; the
latter, with the sides and four spots on the back,
white. The elytra are likewise black, irregularly
punctured, and marked with two or three spots,
composed of yellowish scales, which are very irre-
gular both in form and colour, often running toge-
ther and forming large patches. The body beneath,
and the legs, are black, more or less covered with
white scales. Found in St Domingo, and else-
where.

CURCULIO LATREILLII.

PLATE XXII. FIG. 1.
Cyphus Latreillii, Schanhcrr.

This beautiful insect is entirely of a light green
glossed with golden yellow, and of great brilliancy,

2-40 NATURAL HISTORY OF

The thorax has a groove down the middle. The
elytra are prominent at the shoulders, marked with
punctured lines, and having several rounded tuber-
cles which are brownish or golden-yellow. It is a
native of Brazil, and, like most of its brilliant allies,
is invariably found on trees, principally those of the
genus Mimosa. It is named in honour of the cele-
brated French entomologist.

CURCULIO SEXDECIMPUNCTATUS.

PLATE XXII. FIG. 2.
Linn, Syst. Nat. p. 618, No. 92 — Fabr. Ent. Sytt.

The whole body is of a fine blue, a colour very sel-
dom observed in this tribe. The thorax is generally
marked with four, sometimes with five black spots,
and there are six others on each wing-case, of which
two at the suture, a little behind the middle, are
somewhat crescent-shaped and united. The under
side is blue spotted with black ; the antennae are
of the latter colour. A native of South America.

CURCULIO MYRMOSARIUS.

PLATE XXII. FIG. 3.
Rhigus myrmosarius, Schcenherr.

Black, densely clothed with long black hair.
Head and thorax unspotted ; elytra with a streak

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 241

across the base, and several large spots of reddish
yellow on each, two of which approximate at the
suture, a little behind the middle, and form a heart-
shaped spot. Legs b-ownish. It is found in South
America.

CURCbiJO BRUNNEUS.
PLATE XXII. FIG. 4.

The body of this insect, which belongs to the
modern genus Rhigus, is entirely reddish brown,
and marked with numerous small black spots. The
elytra are acute at the apex, and the legs are black.
Not having met with any description which could
be regarded as applying to this species, we have
distinguished it by the above specific name. It was
received from Brazil.

The genus CALANDRA is known by its nine-joint-
ed antennae, inserted at the base of the rostrum, with
the two last joints forming a mass. It contains
many conspicuous insects, several of which have
attracted, the attention of agriculturists by the injury
they occasion to corn and other vegetables. The
best known in Europe is C. granaria> one of the
smallest of the genus, the larva of which takes up
its abode in the interior of a grain of corn, and
speedily consumes it. Many large and remarkable
kinds are found in tropical countries, where they
dwell by preference in the interior of monocotyle-

242 NATURAL HISTOET OP

donous plants. The most common is C. Palma-*
rum, of which the larva, known by the name of ver-
palmiste, is esteemed a delicious food. It is so
abundant in Guiana, that shortly after a palm-tree
is cut down, especially the Maripa palm, which fur-
nishes the chou-palmiste, of which a great quantity
is consumed in the colony, crowds of these insects
may be seen collected upon its stem, and occupied
in penetrating into its interior.* The species re-
presented is rather larger than the Palm-weevil,
and is named

CALANDltA HEROS.

PLATE XXII. Fie 5
Fair. — Olivier, v. No. 83, pi. 20, fig. 410.

The rostrum is black and cylindrical, with a
small recurved piece on each side at the apex. The
thorax is brownish black, clothed with a velvety
pubescence. The elytra are likewise velvety, but
of a browner hue than the thorax, much shorter
than the abdomen, and slightly striated on the sur-
face. The under parts of the body, and the legs,
are black, the anterior tibiae somewhat curved on
ihe interior edge. It inhabits the East Indies.

* Lacordairee.

:

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 243

LONGICORNES.

One of the most extensive and important families
of the tetramerous section has received the above
name, on account of the great length of the anten-
nae. Many of the species are of large size, and
otherwise remarkable for their forms and habits.
The larger and typical kinds are found only in the
interminable forests of the tropics, where they fre-
quent the oldest and largest trees. The larvae live
in the interior of the stems, which they perforate
in all directions, and hasten the process of decay.
In that state they resemble a large white worm,
which is destitute of feet, but is furnished with
means of locomotion much better adapted to the ha-
lts of animals which pass their lives in cylindrical
:cavations not much exceeding their own bodies
in width. The upper and under sides of most of
the segments are covered with small prominences
or asperities. When the insect wishes to advance,
it contracts its body by bringing the two extremities
towards each other, and, fixing its hinder end to the
walls of its hole by means of these asperities, it ex-
tends the anterior part of its body forwards. This
operation is repeated at each successive advance-
ment. When the larva has attained its full size, it
forms a large cocoon, composed chiefly of saw-dust
and gnawed portions of wood, in which it changes
into a chrysalis. Before assuming that state, it

244 NATURAL HISTORY 0?

never fails to approach the mouth of its hole, that
there may be no obstacle to the development and
escape of the perfect beetle, which is of much larger
size than the larva, and not furnished with instru-
ments of equal efficiency for penetrating wood.*

These insects lay a considerable number of eggs,
which they deposit in the crevices and fissures of
trees. They are of an oblong form, and usually of
a dirty -yellow colour. Those of some of the larger
species are nearly equal in size to the eggs of many
of the smaller birds. The following figure on' the

left represents those of
P.giganteus; but as the
specimens from which
they are taken have
been long preserved,
they have no doubt shrunk considerably from their
original dimensions.

Like the generality of insects that deposit their
eggs in holes and narrow fissures, into which the
extremity of the body could not readily be intro-
duced, the female Prioni are provided with an in-
strument which issues from the terminal segment
of the abdomen, and forms a canal along which the
egg slides in security to the place destined for its
reception. This instrument is of a horny consist-
ence, and generally bears a few small teeth or angu-
lar projections at the point on the outer side, which

*Olivier's Entom. iv. p. 4.

I'LATH 27,

Brazil.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 245

probably serve to render it more steady by adher-
ing to the substance, into which it is inserted. The
right-hand figure represents this ovipositor as it
appears in P. armillatus.

The largest and most striking of these insects
compose the genus PRIONUS. Their antennae are
longer than the head and thorax, and sometimes
serrated or pectinated ; whence the generic name,
from itpuov, a saw. The terminal lobe of the max-
illae is as long as the first two joints of the palpi,
and the body is depressed, with the thorax square
and spined or dentate on its edges.

PRIONUS CERVICORNIS.
PLATE XXIII.

Olivier, 66, pi. 2, fig, 8, a, b. — Cerambyx cervicornis, Linn.
—Merian. Surin., pi. 48.— Macrodontia cervicornis, Lepel.
et Serv.

Although this insect is surpassed in size by one
or two other species of Prioni, it is the most re-
markable of the larger kinds, owing to its conspicu-
ous projecting mandibles, and the curious markings
of the elytra. The prevailing colour of the head
and thorax is rust-brown; the former bears two
elevated longitudinal lines, and the latter has three
strong acute spines on each side, the two anterior
ones being rather remote from each other, and the
margin between them dentate. The mandibles of-

246 KATURAL HISTORY OP

ten exceed the length both of the head and thorax
they are strong, and bent towards each other, especi-
ally at the tip; their internal edge is deeply serrated,
and one of the teeth near the middle is considerably
longer than the rest : they have likewise a strong tooth
or salient angle on the outer edge towards the ante-
rior extremity. The elytra are dark brown, varie-
gated with numerous longitudinal stripes of reddish
yellow, which are often interrupted, and united with
each other. The under parts of the body, and the
legs, are of a ferruginous colour ; and the latter are
without spines. This species varies much in size,
some of the specimens which we have seen measur-
ing upwards of five inches, while others do not ex-
ceed two and three quarters. It is an inhabitant
of Brazil and Cayenne, where it is universally known
by the name of Mouche scieur de long. '£ his ap-
pellation refers to a very peculiar habit which the
insect is recorded to practise. It is said to seize a
branch of a tree or shrub between its long and
powerful mandibles, and to fly round the enclosed
twig till it has succeeded in sawing it off. " Al-
though I have not myself been a witness of this oc-
currence," says M. Lacordaire, " I am inclined to
believe it, both because I have been assured of its
truth by individuals worthy of credit, and because
I have seen on several occasions branches cut in
the manner alluded to, and bearing the evident
marks of mandibles which must have belonged to
an insect of the size of this species." A like prao

I'l.ATK 1>4.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 247

tice has been noticed in a large species of Oncy de-
res found in Brazil ; and it is conjectured that simi-
lar observations will soon be made in relation to
others of the long-horned beetles. The larva of
F. cervicornis is said to live in the wood of the
Gossampinus, and is frequently used as an article
of food.

PRIONUS CORTICINUS.
PLATE XXIV. FIG. 1.

The body of this species is rather depressed. The
head and antennae are brown, the former having a
deep furrow between the eyes, and a dense tuft of
hair in front covering the base of the mandibles.
The thorax is brown, having a few tubercles in the
middle, and several spines on the sides, of which
that next the hinder angle is longest. The elytra
are elongate, and nearly of equal width throughout
their whole length ; they are of a brown colour, and
have a small spine at the apex of each. The un-
der side of the body, and the legs, are brown. It
is a native of Cayenne.

The tribe of Cerambycid& bears a considerable
resemblance to the preceding in the general ap-
pearance of the body; but they differ in having
mandibles of ordinary size, and nearly alike in the
two sexes. The eyes are notched on the inner side,
and partly surround the base of the antennae ; — and

248 NATURAL HISTORY OF

the latter are at least as long as the body. The
upper lip is very large, and occupies the anterior
portion of the head. This tribe is of great extent,
but a very small proportion of the species occur in
Britain, their characteristic localities being in warm
countries. They are much esteemed by collectors
for their handsome proportions, and the beautiful
combination of colours with which many are adorn-
ed. Some are remarkable for emitting a strong
odour of roses, especially that named moschatus,
which occurs in considerable abundance on willow-
trees in the vicinity of London. In C. phyllopus,
a native of Brazil, this scent is so strong that it is
felt in walking through the woods to a great dis-
tance. They are usually found in woods and on
the trunks of trees, being very rarely seen on flow-
ers, and they appear to derive their chief nourish-
ment from the sap that exudes from the stems.
The species figured as an example of this tribe is
named

LOPHONOCERUS BARBICORNIS.
PLATE XXIV. FIG. 2.

Cerambyx barbicornis, Olivier, iv. No. 67, pi. 7, fig. 48.—
Linn. Fab.

This genus is chiefly distinguished by the circum-
stance from which it derives its name,* viz. the
* From A00«, a tuft, and x^

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 249

fascicles or tufts of hair with which stvera of the
ii'-ierniediate joints of the antennae are garnished.
The species represented has the five lowest joints
thickly clothed with these hairs, which are of a black
colour; the apex of the joints and the six naked ones
e; She extremity are yellow. The head and thorax
are also yellow, the latter having a few spots of
black on the sides, which are armed with a strong
spine and several tubercles. The elytra are varie-
gated with black and reddish yellow. The middle
of the abdomen is yellow, and the legs are entirely
of that colour. It is a native of Cayenne, and not
of Asia, as erroneously stated by Linnaeus and Fab-
ricius.

The next important tribe of the long-horned
beetles that presents itself to our notice, is that
named LAMIARI^, in which the head is nearly ver-
tical, the palpi almost filiform, and terminating ir
an oval joint, which tapers to a point. The outer
lobe of the under aws is narrowed at the extremity,
and curved upon the inner one. The most re-
markable insect belonging to the tribe is that
named

250 NATURAL HISTORY OF

ACROCINUS LONGIMANUS, oa HARLEQUIN
BEETLE.

PLATE XXV. FIG. 1.

Cerambyx longimanus, Linn — Prionus lorrgimanus, Fal.
—Olivier, iv. No. 66, pi. 3, fig. 12, pi. 4, fig. 12.

It is distinguished generically by having a move-
able tubercle on each side of the thorax terminating
in a spine. This is certainly one of the most singular of
coleopterous insects, whether we regard the propoi -
tionsof its parts, or the curious colouring and variega-
tion of the body. The figures on the elytra, formed
of strongly contrasted colours, are so regularly drawn
that they may be conceived to be the result of some
artificial process. As the wings of several moths
and butterflies are inscribed with characters repre-
senting with great accuracy letters of various lan-
guages, and figures corresponding with several dates
of the Christian era, these grotesque delineations in
like manner seem to resemble, as has been remarked
ot them, certain hieroglyphic symbols pourtrayert by
the mysterious hand of nature. Its party-coloured
dress has caused the insect to be very generally
known by the name of Harlequin Beetle.

The ground colour is black, and the whole sur-
face is clothed with a dense silky pubescence. The
antenna? are about twice the length of the body, and
of a black colour, except the base of the joints, which

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 251

is greyish. The head is ornamented with two tri-
angular patches of red, and two lines of the same
hue are placed in the centre of the thorax, which
converge in front: from each side of the thorax
behind there projects a strong spine, which can be
moved in different directions at the will of the in-
sect ; and two others, of small size, and incapable of
motion, issue from the back, one towards each side.
The elytra are variegated with undulated lines and
angular figures of red and grey : towards the base
the surface is pretty thickly covered with impressed
points, interspersed with small black shining tuber-
cles ; and each elytron bears an acute spine on the
shoulder, 'and two others at the hinder extremity.
The under parts are likewise covered with silky
pubescence, but it is of a grey colour. The thighs
are smooth and black, each of them surrounded by
a red ring near the apex. The anterior thighs and
tibiae are of great length, the latter much incurved
at the tip, where they are armed with a spine, and
covered with small points and granulations on the
under side ; tLese parts in the other legs are smooth,
and more or less ash-coloured. This insect is of fre-
quent occurrence in Brazil, Guiana, and other tropi-
cal countries of America. It is known to the natives
by the name of Mouche bagasse, a term taken from
a free which has lately been described under the
botanical appellation of Bagassa Guyanensis. The
wood of this tree is of a bright yellow, and when it
is felled, there issues from it a white viscid juice of

252 NATURAL HISTORY OP

a peculiar and penetrating odour, of which the in-
sects are so fond that they seldom fail to be attract-
ed by it. The negroes, who often employ them
selves in searching f6r the rarer and more beautiful
kinds of insects, that they may dispose of them to
collectors, avail themselves of this propensity, and
sometimes cut down these trees, as the most ready
means of obtaining a supply of beetles. It is gene-
rally found on the trunk or at the bottom of trees,
rarely under the bark, and never on the leaves.
Its motions are so sluggish, that it may be said to
drag itself along rather than walk. It occasionally
takes wing on the approach of evening, but its
flight is slow and unsteady, scarcely appearing un-
der the guidance of the animal, as it strikes against
any object that happens to be in the way, and falls
to the ground. A rustling sound accompanies its
flight, and it often betrays its retreat by a rather
loud noise, which is produced by the friction of the
thorax. It varies greatly in size and colour. Spe-
cimens from the interior of the country are usually
of a much paler tint than such as are obtained in
the neighbourhood of Rio Janeiro, and other places
towards the coast.*

The genus Lamia, from which the present tribe
derives its name, is constituted by a variety of finely-
coloured species, some of which are of considerable
size. They are extensively diffused over the earth,

* Anal, des Sciences Naturelles, torn. xxi. 180.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 253

and a considerable number occur in Europe. Only
two kinds appear to inhabit Britain.

LAMIA SUBOCELLATA.
PLATE XXV. FIG. 2.

Cerambyx subocellatus, Olivier, iv. No. 67, p. 69, pi. 2,
fig. 12,o, 6.

The colour of the body is brownish black, and it
is covered with dense silky pubescence. A broad
stripe of yellowish white runs along the middle o~
the head, and is continued down the centre of the
thorax ; the latter is armed with an acute spine on
each side. The elytra are marked with numerous
rounded spots of yellowish white, which are vari-
able in size. We received the specimen figured
from Brazil.

LAMIA ORNATA. >

PLATE XXVI. FIG. 1.
Cerambyx ornatus, Olivier, iv. No. 67, pi. 4, fig. 24, fl, ft.

The head of this pretty insect is golden yellow,
glossed with green about the eyes, and having two
black lines anteriorly. The thorax is of the same
colour as the head, and has two narrow cross bands
of black: the hinder margin green. The elytra
are yellow, marked with regular patches of black

254 NATUEAL HISTORY 0*

which are surrounded with green ; the suture and
hinder extremity of the elytra are of the latter co-
lour. The middle of the abdomen and the legs are
glossed with green. It is said to be a native of
Africa.

LAMIA FORMOSA.

PLATE XXVI. FIG. 2.

Olivier, iv. No. 67, pi. 20, fig. 153.

In this insect the head is black, with the front
rust-red, the thorax black, having a large red spot
on each side ; the elytra are likewise black, with
two broad bands of red interrupted at the suture,
and a few white punctures towards the hinder ex-
tremity, which is itself red. The legs are black,
spotted with white at the base.

LAMIA TRICINCTA.
PLATE XXVI. FIG. 4.

This very fine species is about an inch and a half
in length. The antennae are steel-blue, with dense
tufts of hair on the third, fourth, and fifth joints.
The head and thorax are covered with short de-
pressed hairs of a brassy green or bluish tint ; the
latter has two small tubercles on each side. The
elytra srje similar in colour to the thorax, the back

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 255

usually somewhat shining, and the whole surface is
'"lickly punctured : there are three remote bands of
black composed of soft hairs, and having the . ap-
pearance of velvet, the hairs of the anterior band
longer than in the others, and frequently forming
a considerable tuft towards the suture. The un-
der side of the body and the lower half of the thighs
are closely covered with depressed hairs of a deep
and beautiful red ; the other parts of the leg are
steel-blue, glossed with green above. An exten-
sive series of specimens have lately been procured
from Java.

Of the last tribe of the long-horned beetles,
termed LEPTURID^E, the example figured is named

DESMOCEKUS CYANEUS.

PLATE XXVI. FIG. 3.
Stenocorus cyaneus, Fair. — Olivier, iv. No. 69, pi. 3, fig. 26.

It is of a dark-blue colour, somewhat shining,
roughly punctured and pubescent. The head has
a longitudinal groove, and there is a similar im-
pression down the centre of the thorax ; the latter
is in the shape of a truncated cone, with the hin-
der angles very acute, and almost forming a spine.
The anterior half of the elytra is yellow, the other
dark blue, with violet reflections. The under parts
of the body, and the legs, are dark blue. It is said
to inhabit India and other eastern countries of Asia,

256 NATURAL HISTORY OF

The fifth family of tetramerous beetles, accord-
ing to the system of Latreille, comprehends the ge-
nus .SAGRA, which has the palpi terminated by an
oval joint, the thorax cylindrical, and the antennae
filiform, with the four lowest joints shorter than
the others. The hinder thighs are very thick, es-
pecially in one of the sexes. The species are con-
fined to Africa, the island of Ceylon, and China.

SAGRA BUQUETII.

PLATE XXVII.
Lesson's Illustration* de Zoologie, pi. 30.

The male is about thirteen lines long and six
broad. The surface of the body is perfectly smooth
and polished, of a brilliant green, with purple and
coppery reflections of the highest resplendency,
especially on the elytra. The hinder thighs are
remarkably long and thick, and armed beneath with
a few acute teeth ; the hinder tibiae are garnished
with long rust-red hairs. The female does not ex-
ceed eleven lines in length. The body is not so
much narrowed behind as that of the male ; the thighs
of the hinder legs are oval, and the tibiae naked. It
inhabits Cochin China, and is probably synonymous
with S. Boisduvalii (Dejean), of which we have seen
a multitude of specimens from Java.

The CASSID^B, or Tortoise-beetles as they are
sometimes called, are chiefly remarkable for a habit

ri. ATI; U

4. echinatn*

/>f;-rff>?Yifrt .

257

\vhich they practise in common with several allied
kinds, that of covering their bodies, when larvae,
with their own excrements. In order to enable
them to do this with facility, they are provided with
a forked process issuing from the anal extremity,
which can be turned upwards, and laid along the
back. Upon this they deposit their excrement,
and support the load in such a manner as to cover
the body. This singular covering is probably de-
signed to shelter the tender body of the larva from
the air and sun, and at the same time to conceal it
from birds. The outer shell of the perfect beetle
considerably overlaps the body, and the legs can
be drawn completely within it. The species are
very numerous, and many of them highly ornamen-
tal, as will be seen from the adjoining figures.

CASSIDA BICORNIS.

PLATE XXVIII. FIG. 1.

Fair. Ent. Sytt — Olivier, vi. No. 97, pi. 4, fig. 59.

The colour of this insect is bluish green, except
the antennae, which are black with the radical joints
bronzed. The thorax has two or three small im-
pressions ; and the elytra, which are punctured, have
a long obtuse spine projecting sidewise from each
shoulder. It occurs in Cayenne, Surinam, and
other parts of America.

258 NATURAL HISTORY OT

CASSIDA SCALARIS.

PLATE XXVIII. FIG. 2.

Fdbr. Syst. Eleuth — Olivier, vi. No. 97, pi. 4, fig. 94.

Thorax rounded anteriorly, yellow, with a portion
of the middle red, in which are two yellow points.
The scutellum is red. The elytra are pale yellow,
with three broad longitudinal black stripes, of which
that on the suture is broken into square spots, and
the lateral ones have each a square piece separated
from the apex. The under parts are yellow. Said
to be found in Sumatra.

CASSIDA MICANS.

PLATE XXVIII. FIG. 3.

Fdbr. Syst. Eleuth Olivier, vi. No. 97, pi. 5, fig. 83.

In this insect the antennae are yellow, with the
two last joints black ; the thorax yellow, and nearly
transparent ; the elytra yellowish brown on the disk,
a stripe of that colour extending to each of the an-
terior angles, and two others from the hinder ex-
tremity across the dilated margin, which, as well as
the under parts of the body, is pale yellow. Found
in Java.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 259

CASSIDA ECHINATA.

PLATE XXVIII. FIG. 4.
Fabr. Syst. Ekuth — Olivier, vi. No. 97, pi. 5, fig. 86.

This curious species has the thorax very much
dilated on each side into a thin foliaceous membrane,
which is dentate round the margin. A similar ex-
panded portion, likewise dentate on the edge, sur-
rounds the elytra ; the latter have the anterior half
green, and the hinder part reddish brown. The
under side of the body is dull yellowish red. Like
the preceding species, it is a native of Java.

CASSIDA PERFORATA.

PLATE XXVIII. FIG. 5.
Fabr. Syst. Entom. — Olivier, vi. No. 97, pi. 4, fig. 08.

The colour is yellowish red, dull above, but shin-
ing beneath. The thorax is short and transverse,
the sides drawn out into a kind of spine. The ely-
tra are nearly triangular, the basal angles advanced
on each side of the thorax in the form of an acute
point ; and there is an oval perforation observable
near the base of each. It is found in the tropical
parts of America.

260 NATURAL HISTORY OP

CASSIDA LUCTUOSA.

PLATE XXVIII. FIG. 6.

Olivier, vi. No. 97, pi. 4, fig. 54.

Head and thorax black, the latter short, and ter-
minating in an acute point at each of the hinder
angles. The elytra are likewise black, with all the
outer edge, a small portion of the suture, and a
short line near the middle of each, reddish ; the un-
der side and legs are also of that colour. It is found
at Surinam.

CASSIDA SIX-PUSTULATA.

PLATE XXIX. FIG. I.
Fabr. Syst. Entom — Olivier, 97, pi. 3, fig. 36.

This well-known species is bluish green above,
and shining black beneath. The elytra are gibbous
on the back, the surface thickly punctured, and each
of the wing-cases marked with three spots of red.
It is found in Brazil, where it is rather common.

ALTJRNUS MAK INATUS.
PLATE XXX. FIG. 1.

The Alurni have antennae of equal thickness

PLATE 29.

V

PLATE 30.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 261

throughout their whole length, with the second
oint shorter than the following, and they are di»
rected forwards ; the body is oblong ; the head not
concealed within the thorax, and the mandibles are
furnished with only two or three teeth. A. margi-
natus is very common in Brazil, and always frequents
the leaves of plants. It is of a dull brownish-black
colour above, with the sides of the thorax, outer
edge of the elytra, and the suture, margined with
blood-red. The head, and all the under parts of
the body, are likewise of that colour, the apex of
the thighs, the tibiae, and tarsi, being black.

CLYTHRA HIRTA.

PLATE XXIX. FIG. 2.

Fabr. Syst. Ekuth — Olivier, No. 96, pi. 2, fig. 18.

The head, thorax, and scutellum, as well as all
the under parts of the body, are blue, and covered
with rather long ash-coloured hairs. The elytra are
brownish red, with three black spots on each, one
on the shoulder and two others behind the middle*
It occurs in Barbary.

262 KATURAL HISTORY OP

CHLAMYS MONSTROSA.

PLATE XXTX. FIG. 3.
Fabr. Ent. Syst — Olivier, vi. No. 96, pi. 1, fig. 1, a, b.

In this singular genus, the thorax rises in the
middle into a tuberculated protuberance, and is
produced behind in the form of a triangle ; the su-
ture of the elytra, except at the base, is armed with
little teeth, alternating with each other like the cogs
of a mill-wheel j* and in certain species the palpi
are forked. A considerable number of these insects
are known, and all of them are proper to the new
world. They are found on leaves, over which they
walk very slowly, and simulate death when attempt-
ed to be seized. They appear never to make use
of their wings, but are usually observed adhering
to a leaf, and continuing quite stationary. When in
this posture, they bear a much greater resemblance
to a piece of withered fungus, or some gelatinous
substance shrivelled by the sun, than to any living
creature. The species figured is about five or six
lines long, of a uniform violet blue, the thorax with
a somewhat silky gloss, and the elytra much wrin-
kled, tuberculated, and punctured. The segments
of the abdomen are drawn within each other like
the tubes of a telescope, and the penultimate one
has a deep rounded impression in the middle.
• Introd. to Ent. iii. 597-

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 263

EUMOLPUS CUPKEUS.
PLATE XXX. FIG. 2.

The Eumolpi differ from the allied genera in hav-
ing mandibles of ordinary size, and the second joint
of the antennae much shorter than the following.
The species are pretty numerous, and many of them
are insects of great beauty. They are usually found
on the leaves of plants, sometimes associated in con-
siderable numbers. This is the case particularly
with E. fulgidus, one of the largest kinds and the
most common in Brazil. The species represented
is a native of America. The head, thorax, and
scutellum, are greenish blue, of a very beautiful
tint, especially when moistened. The elytra are
closely but distinctly punctured, of a rich coppery
red glossed with green. The under side and legs
are bluish green, the latter somewhat pubescent to-
wards the foot,

The extensive genus CHRYSOMELA is character-
ised by the body being ovate and very convex, —
by the antennae thickening slightly towards the
apex, — and by the dilated and somewhat hatchet-
shaped terminal joint of the maxillary palpi. The
name, which signifies an apple of gold, has been
suggested by the rounded form and rich colouring
of the species. In the last particular, they are not
inferior to any of our native insects many of them

264 NATURAL HISTORY OF

being embellished with agreeable combinations of
sc'arlet, azure, and golden green, with a high de-
gree of lustre. They are strictly herbivorous ; and
as many of them are gregarious in their habits,
they sometimes occasion much injury to herbaceous
plants, by stripping them of their leaves. About
thirty diiferent kinds inhabit this country ; of these
perhaps the most beautiful is named

CHRYSOMELA CEREALIS.
PLATE XXX. FIG. 3.

Linn. Syst. Nat. — Fair. Syst. Entom — Donovan's Brit. In-
sects, iv. pi. 115.

It is of a brilliant coppery red above, with parallel
stripes of blue along the thorax and elytra. The
under side of the body and the antennae are usually
brownish, at other times inclining to purple. The
wings are of a fine scarlet colour. It is found on
the common broom, and is not uncommon in some
parts of the Continent. In this country it is very
scarce, and was long regarded as a doubtful native ;
but the recent occurrence of several examples in
Wales has removed all uncertainty on this point.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 265

CHRYSOMELA FASTUOSA.

PLATE XXX. FIG. 4.
Linn. Fair.— Donovan's Brit. Insects, vi. pi. 194.

Brilliant golden green, with the suture and a
stripe along each elytron violet blue. The length
is about three lines. It is found on the White
Dead Nettle (Lamium album), and occurs not un-
frequently both in England and Scotland.

DORYPHORA TESSELLATA.

PLATE XXIX. FIG. 4.
Olivier, v. No. 91, pi. 1, fig. 6.

This genus is well discriminated from the other
chrysomelinae by the character which has suggested
the name,* viz. the long conical horn projecting
from the breast. The species are peculiar to South
America, in some countries of which they are much
more numerous than the chrysomelae properly so
called. They are usually observed walking slowly
on the leaves of plants, and they permit themselves
to fall to the ground when one approaches. When
handled they discharge from the mouth a yellow
liquor of a foetid smell. The species above refer-

* From 3«{vf dg«f , a fike-bearer.

266 NATURAL HISTORY OF

red to, is very convex, smooth, and glossy. The
head and thorax are glossy black, with a brassy lus-
tre, and without punctures. The elytra are punc-
tured, of a yellow colour, with five cross rows of
large quadrate black or brown spots, that next the
apex consisting of only two. The under side and
legs, as well as the outer margins and suture of the
elytra, are black. The length is nearly nine lines.

(EDIONYCHIS CINCTA.
PLATE XXX. FIG. 5.

CEdionychis is one of the sub-genera into which
the extensive genus Haltica of Linnaeus has re-
cently been divided. The species are distinguish-
ed from most other tetramerous beetles, by the
thickened hinder thighs, by which they are enabled
to leap to a considerable height into the air. Most
of them are of small size, but they are finely co-
loured, and very destructive in their habits. The
species named cincta is of a yellow colour on the
head, thorax, and scutellum. The elytra are violet
blue, shining, with a band of white across the mid-
dle, which widens at the suture. The under side
and antennae are pale yellowish red, the legs being
of a similar colour, except the hinder thighs, which
are bluish. It occurs in St Domingo.

The only remaining family of the tetramerous
beetles that requires to be noticed, is named CLA-

COLEOPTEBOUS INSECTS. 267

VIPALPI, on account of the large size of the termi-
nal joint of the maxillary palpi. It includes only a
few genera, some of which consist of small insects
with a hemispherical body, which they have the
power of contracting into a ball. The larger kinds,
which do not possess this property, are chiefly re-
ferrible to the genus Erotylus of Fabricius. The
latter well exemplify the distinctive character of the
family, as the last joint of the maxillary palpi is un-
usually large, transverse, and attached by the middle
to the stalk of the palpus, bearing considerable re-
semblance to a hammer. The species are nume-
rous, amounting to nearly one hundred and thirty ;
and they occur chiefly in the tropical countries of
America, if indeed they are not confined to these
regions. They are said to frequent leaves, and are
observed flying about in the woods during the day.
They are solitary in their habits, with the exception
of E. sphacelatus (Fab.), which is usually found con-
gregated in considerable numbers on the trunks of
fallen trees. The species figured is not rare. It is
named

EROTYLUS HISTRIO.

PLATE XXIX. Fio. 6.
Fabr. Enl. Syst — Olivitr, v. No. 89, pi. 2, fig. 12, a, b.

It is about an inch long ; the head, antennae, and
thorax black ; the elytra, which are very much ele-

268 NATURAL HISTORY OF

vated in the middle, are likewise black, with irre-
gular bands formed of yellow confluent spots ; two
of these spots, one on the shoulder of each elytron,
and another at the apex, are reddish ; the surface is
marked with dark impressed points, which form ir-
regular lines anteriorly. The under side and legs
are black. The markings vary much, in some in-
stances the black bands on the elytra being almost
obliterated.

SPHENISCUS EROTYLOIDES,

PLATE XXIX. FIG. 6.
Kirly, Linn. Trans, xii. pi. 22, fig. 4.

This genus was established by Mr Kirby on an
insect from Brazil, very closely related to Helops.
The head and thorax are black and shining, the latter
sparingly punctured. The elytra are very gibbous
in the centre, marked with punctured lines, of a
pale-yellow colour spotted with black, and having a
broad band over the middle, and the apex black.
The under side and legs are likewise black. The
figure of this insect has been accidentally placed
among the tetramerous insects, but it belongs to the
heteromerous section, as will be seen from the num
ber of joints in the tarsi.

COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 269

The fourth general division of the Coleoptera,
named TRIMERA, includes the kinds with three
joints in all the tarsi. As an example of this division,
which is comparatively of limited extent, we have
figured a beautiful species of the well-known genus
Coccinella.

COCCINELLA VIGINTIDUO-PUNCTATA.
PLATE XXX. FIG. 6.
Donovan, Brit. Insects.

It is entirely of a light-yellow colour, having five
black spots on the thorax, and eleven on each ely-
tron. It is of frequent occurrence in England.

UNIVERSITY

THE END.

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