ORDER I. COLEOPTERA. 



49 



tree, that it is infinitely more noxious than any of those thatliore into 

 ^ the wood: and such is its vitahty, tliat thoui^h the hark he hattered 

 i and the trees plunged into water or laid upon the ice or snow, it re- 

 mains alive and unhurt. The leaves of the trees infested hy these in- 

 sects first hecome yellow; the trees themselves then die at the top, 

 and soon entirely perish. Their ravages have long heen known in Ger- 

 many under the name of Wurm trohiiss (decay caused by worms); and 

 . in the old liturgies of that country the animal itself is formally men- 

 i tioned under its vulgar appellation of ' The Turk.' This pest was par- 

 i ticularly prevalent and caused incalculahle mischief about the year 

 I 1GG5. In the beginning of the last ceuturv it again showed itself in the 

 ; Ilartz forests ;— it reappeared in 17.57, redoubled its injuries m 1769, 

 and arrived at its height in 17B3, when the number of trees destroyed 

 by it in the above forests alone was calculated at a million and a half, 

 and the inhalntants were threatened with a total suspension of the 

 ( working of their mines, and consequent ruin. At this period these 

 j Bostric/ii ^^•ere arrived at their perfect state, and migrated in swarms like 

 i bees in Suabia and Franconia. At length, between the years 1781 

 • and 17oP, in consequence of a succession of cold and moist seasons, 

 I the munl^ers of this scourge were sensibly diminished. It appeared 

 I again however in 1790, and so late as 179(3 there was great reason to 

 i fear for the few fir-trees that were left." , 



Genus 4. Ptinus. 



Anienniv filiform {PL l.fg. G.a..); the last articulations the largest: 

 thorax nearly round, not margined, receiving the head under it. 



Sp. 1. Pt.impcriaiis. Brown: thorax subcarinate : elytra elegantly va- 

 ried with white hair. {PI. X.jig. G.) 



inhabits Europe, in decayed trees. 



Genus 5. IIister. 

 Ahlenna clavated {PI. 1-fig- 1. a.); the club solid; the lowest articula- 

 tion compressed and bent : haul retractile within the body : elytra 

 shorter tlian the body : the forc-tibite dentatcd. 



The insects of this genus are generally found in dung, in sprinsr, 

 summer, and a great part of the year. Like the Dcrmestides and 

 Byrrhi, they contract their antennae and legs when touched, and coun- 

 terfeit death. 



Sp. 1. Hist, semipunctaliis. Brassy-black, polished: shells obliquely 



striate at the base. (PL 2. fig. 1.) 

 Inhabits dung, and is very common in this country. 



Gemis 6. Gyrinus. 



Antemw cylindrical, and very short {PL Q.fg. 2. a.) : maxilla horny and 

 very acute: eyes divide, so as to appear as four: the four kindtr feet 

 compressed, and formed for swimming. (P/. 'ifg. '2- b.) 



D 



