380 THE CUCUJO, OR FIRE-FLY OF BRAZIL. 



A VERY fine Laraellioorn is the ATLAS BEETLE, a native of the Philippines and part of 

 India. Its colors are as follows : The male is of a brilliant metallic olive-green, brightly 

 polished and shining ; but the female is of a much duller hue, having the thorax and the base 

 of the elytra rough, and the green of a blackish cast. The length of the male is about three 

 inches. 



A VEBY odd-looking beetle is the CHRYSOPIIORA. It belongs to the family Rutelidse, the 

 members of which belong entirely to the hot countries of the globe, and are most plentiful in 

 the tropics. They do not seem to attain the gigantic dimensions which are found among the 

 allied families, such as the Dynastidae, but are all very beautiful insects, on account of the 

 extreme brilliancy of their coloring. The Chrysophora is quite remarkable for its curious 

 form and glowing colors. The hind legs are extraordinarily developed, and seem dispro- 

 portionately long and stout when compared with the moderately sized body. Another point 

 of interest in this beetle is the structure of the "tibia" of the hind leg, i. e., the joint imme- 

 diately preceding the jointed foot. The lower part of this joint is prolonged into a stout and 

 sharp spur, not unlike that on the leg of most gallinaceous birds. The object of this curious 

 modification is not known. 



THE HERCULES BEETLE, which is represented in the accompanying full-page illustration, 

 is an example of the family termed Dynastidse, or powerful beetles, on account of their 

 enormous size and strength. They are the giants among insects ; for, although many others 

 exceed them in length or width, these creatures are so stoutly made, that any other insect 

 becomes dwarfed when placed by their side. 



In this family, the males are remarkable for the strange and often grotesque horny 

 processes which are developed from the head and thorax, the females being destitute of these 

 ornaments. Most of the Dynastidfe inhabit tropical regions, only a very few species being 

 found in the moderate climates. They are generally night-fliers, ascending to considerable 

 elevations, and during the day they hide themselves in holes in the earth, in hollow trees, or 

 similar situations. Their food seems to be nearly, if not wholly, of a vegetable nature. 



We have one example of the Dynastidce, the family that embraces the giant Dt/nastes 

 Tiercules, a beetle about six inches in length. Our species is found in the Southern States, 

 and measures about two inches. 



PASSING by one or two families of more or less importance, we arrive at the Buprestidse, 

 a family of beetles remarkable for the extraordinary gorgeousness of their tints, almost every 

 imaginable hue being found upon these brilliant insects. 



They are found in many portions of the globe, but, as is generally the case with insects, 

 their colors take the greatest intensity within the tropics. They fly well, and seem to exult 

 in the hottest sunshine, where the bright beams cause their burnished raiment to flash forth 

 its most dazzling hues. They are, however, slow of foot, and, when alarmed, have a habit of 

 falling to the ground with folded limbs, as if they were dead. 



The CHRYSOCHROA is one of the finest of this splendid family. The sides of the thorax are 

 covered with little round pits, something like the depressions on the head of a thimble, and 

 are of a fiery copper hue. The head and middle of the thorax are light burnished blue, like 

 that of a well-tempered watch-spring, and the elytra are warm cream -colored, diversified with 

 a patch of deep purple-blue at each side, and another at the tip. The Chrysochroa is a 

 native of India. 



WE now come to the celebrated CUCIT.TO, or FIREFLY OF BRAZIL. Each side of the base 

 of the thorax shows two light patches, which in the living insect are of a pale yellow, and at 

 night burn with a lustre far surpassing that of the common glow-worm. When the insect 

 expands its wings for flight two more fire-spots are seen beneath the elytra ; and when the 

 creature approaches near the observer, the whole interior of its body seems to be incandescent. 

 These insects are nocturnal in their habits, and at night in the forests, when the air is filled 



