50 tlNNEAN SYSTEM. 



Sp. 1. Gyr. Natator. Oval: elytra with punctured striae: the inflected 

 margin testaceous. (P/. 2./jg-. 2.) 



Inhabits stagnant waters, running swiftly in circles on the surface, 

 and when it dives carrying along with it a bubble of air which appears 

 like quicksilver. These insects live in society, and often in their brisk 

 motions strike against one another. In the evenings they betake them- 

 selves to still places under bridges, or under the roots of trees which 

 grow at the water's edge. 



Genus 7. Byrrhus. 

 Antenna: a little shorter than the thorax, with the four or five terminal 

 joints gradually thicker, compressed (PI. 2. Jig. 3. a.): pa//;* short, 

 the last joint longest; thick, somewhat ovate : bodj/ somewhat ovate, 

 very convex above: scutellurn minute. 



When touched, they apply their antennae and feet so close to the 

 body, remaining at the same time motionless, that they resemble a seed 

 more than an animated being. They are found in sand-pits and road- 

 ways in the spring months, and are very common. 

 Sp. 1. %r. Pilula. Brown; the elytra with black internipted stris. 

 {PL 2. Jig. 3.) 



Genus 8. Anthrenus, Fahrieius. 

 Antenns shorter than the thorax, with the club solid (PL I.Jig. 4. a.): 

 jKilpi filiform, short : body orbiculate, ovate : scutellum very minute : 

 maxilla; and lip bifid. 



These insects are found on flowers ; they are small, but in general 

 prettily coloured. Thev contract on the appearance of danger, and ap- 

 pear as if dead. Their larvce are found in carcases, skins, and dried 

 animal substances. They pass nearly a year in that state before chang- 

 ing into a pupa; the perfect insects are found chiefly in spring. 

 Sp. 1. Anth. Scrophularice. Black; sides of the thorax and three trans- 

 verse bands on the elytra, grey; suture and external margin of the 

 elytra and hinder margin of the thorax, red-lutescent. {PL 2.fg. 4.) 



Genus 9. Silpha. 

 ^»<e?i«<c gradually thickening towards tlieir extremities (P^. ".fg- 7. a.), 

 or terminated by a solid or perfoliated club {fg. 6. a.) : elytra cover- 

 ing the greater portion of the abdomen and marginated : head pvo- 

 ^ecimg: thorax flattish and margined: body oval or parallelepiped. 

 The Silpha; feed on dead carcases and the excrements of animals ; 

 they have generally a fetid smell, and when taken they discharge by 

 the mouth or the anus a drop of black liquor of a very disgusting 

 O'lour; this liquor serves to accelerate the putrefaction of the matters 

 on which they feed. The larvcB live in the earth in dung-hills and 

 dead carcases; they have six short feet; the head is small, armed with 

 strong jaws; they undergo their transformations underground. 



