€6 BEETLES. 



front and middle cox?e are cylindrical, and the posterior 

 coxae are flattened, transverse, and approximated. They are 

 very convex beetles, which may be found crawling slowly 

 about sandy roads in the daytime. They feed on moss. 



Genus Byrrhus, Linn. 



Hind legs fitting into sharply -defined grooves. All the 

 tarsi fit closely into the tibiae. The head is so retractile, 

 that the maxillae and half the eyes may be covered. The 

 markings on the wing-cases are generally formed of fii>e 

 velvety hairs, in consequence of which they are very difficult 

 to identify if rubbed. They are found in pastures, in dry 

 sunny places, on roads, and in dry ditches. 



B. gigas, Fabr. (Plate VI., Fig. 29). Elytra red or brown, 

 with a short, yellowish-grey, silky pubescence, and a pale, 

 more thickly-pubescent, transverse spot beyond the middle, 

 which is bordered with brownish hairs behind. It is wingless. 

 The third segment of the tarsi is lobate. Length, 12-13 mm. 

 It inhabits the mountains of Eastern Europe. 



B. ornahis, Panz. (Plate VI., Fig. 30). This species is also 

 apterous. The elytra have regular, fine, and rather deep longi- 

 tudinal striae, which in fresh specimens are marked with black, 

 velvety spots. It inhabits the mountains of Switzerland and 

 Bavaria. 



* B. pilula, Linn. (Plate VI., Fig. 31). This insect is pro- 

 vided with wings. The upper surface is brown, with felt -like 

 pubescence, and the finely-striated elytra have dark, velvety 

 spots. It is not uncommon in ruts in May. 



* B.fasciatus, Fabr. (Plate VI., Fig. 32). It is winged. The 

 elytra have a yellow waved band, and there are two spots of 

 the same colour on the thorax. It is fairly common in dry, 

 sandy places. 



