ORDER T. COLEOPTERA. 



49 



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

 the wood : and such is its vitality, that though the bark be battered 

 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 by these in- 

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

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

 many under the name of Wtmn tjvkniss (decay caused by worms); and 

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

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

 ticularly prevalent and caused incalculable mischief about the year 

 ^665. In the beginning of the last century it again showed itself in the 

 Hartz forests ; — it reappeared in 17 j7, redoubled its injuries in 17G9, 

 and arrived at its height in 1783, when the number of trees destroyed 

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

 ahd the inhabitants were threatened with a total suspension of the 

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

 Bostrichi \s'ere arrived at their perfect state, and migrated in swarms like 

 bees in Suabia and Franconia. At length, between the years 1784 

 and 1789, in consequence of a succession of cold and moist seasons, 

 the numbers of this scourge were sensibly diminished. It appeared 

 again however in 1790, and so late as 179G there Was great reason to 

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



Genus 4. Ptinus. 



Anfenme filiform {PL 1. fig. 6. a..); the last articulatioiis the largest: 

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



Sp. 1. Ft.imperialis. Brown: thorax subcarinate : elytra elegantly va- 

 ried with white hair. (P/. l.^g. 6.) 



Inhabits Europe, in decayed trees. 



Genus 5. Hister. 

 j4/(^f«H« clavated (PL 'i-fig- 1. a.); the club solid; the lowest articula- 

 tion compressed and bent: Iietid retractile within the body: e/y^ra 

 shorter than the body : the fore-tibiie dentated. 

 The insects of this genus are. generally found in dung, in spring, 

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

 Bi/irhi, they contract their antennas and legs when touclied, and coun- 

 terfeit death. 

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



striate at the base. {PL ^.Jig- 1.) 

 Inhabits dung, and is very common in this country. 



Genus 6. Gyrinus. 

 Antenn(E cylindrical, and very short {PL l.fig. 2. a.) : maxilla horny and 

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

 compressed, and formed for swimming. {PL '2- fig- 1. b.) 



