114 BCRMA, ITS PEOPLE ASD PRODUCTIOXS. 



Family Dytiscidse. 

 DrsEtTTES LATERALIS, Leacli. 

 DrTiscus, sp. 



The large water beetle, with a pale marg:in to its olTtni, belongs to this genus, 

 and freelj- takes flight by night. It will, when attraeted by liglits on a table, 

 alight in a tumbler of water, and I once saw it perform this descent into a glass 

 of beer. It is, in its native element, a savage and destruetivc animal, killing young 

 trout and other fish, as well as destroying their ova. 



Famili/ Carabidse. 



CsLiENIAS, 2 sp. 



Omasseus. 

 Haepalus. 



To this order belong the ' bombadier beetles,' as they are called, from their 

 spurting from beneath their elytra, which they slightly elevate for the purpose, 

 a penetrating acid vapour and fluid, which, should it enter the eye, causes severe 

 pain. One common species is a large dark beetle, with four white spots on its elytra, 

 and incautiously seizing one once, I was nearly blinded by a jet of fluid it discharged 

 into my eye. Horresco referens ! 



Famihj Cicindelidae. 

 Ctcdtdela chlohis, Hope. 



,, HniALEYICA, lledt. 



,, FLAVOMACULATA, Kollar. 



The C'icindelida, or ' tiger beetles,' as they are called, are among the most 

 predatory of their order, being well armed with powerful jaws, and being swift botli 

 on foot and on the wing. They commonly freijuent river banks, where they chase 

 and devour any insects smaller and weaker than themselves. Dr. Mason writes : 

 " A short time ago I observed one- leap on a cockroach four times its own size and 

 weight, like a lion upon an elephant." 



Dr. Mason also enumerates the following beetles as found at Toung-ngoo by 

 Capt. L. Smith ; — 



CoccinellidiB, 4 ; Cassididffi, 61 (Cassida, 6); Hispidre, 1 {Alurnun) ; Chiysomelidn;, 

 36 (Fiimolpiis 6); Halticida;, 15 [QLdioni/chis); Crioceriche, 4 (Sayra); Lamiidic, 4; 

 Cerambycidse, 23; Prionidffi, 29 (Pn'otitis 3); Curculiouidaj, 73 {Ilhijia-htlcs 1, 

 Brenthus 1, Apoderus 1, Rhina 10, Calandra 3); Cautharidaj 3 {Iluria 2); Ehiterida>, 

 10; Buprestid;e, 9; Scarabieidie, 16 {Atruchm 3, OiMophagus 11, rhanaus 2); 

 Cetoniidoe, 35 (G'ywwe^/s 2) ; Telephoridic, 5 {l.i/cns 2) ; Sta])hyliniihr, 16; llydro- 

 philida;, 1; Carabidaj, 34 {Brac/iinus 3); Cicindelida", 4; or 383 species, not one of 

 which is named specifically. 



The following remarks are condemsed from Dr. Mason's chapter on Entomology. 

 Under the head Chameleon beetles Dr. Mason remarks: "This changeable beetle is 

 a species of Jliiprestis, an elegant insect with one uniform hue of variable copper 

 and green, burnished with transparent golden bronze. The elytra, or wing cases, 

 of these ' living jewels ' are in great demand by the Sgau Karen maidens for 

 necklaces and chaplets, and wreathed witli a few wild flowers around their ebon 

 locks, they have really an ajjpearance of elegance. There is a still more brilliant 

 and larger species of Biiprexfis which the Karens call the male of the preceding." 

 Above, grass green, with blue, j-ellow, and golden reflections. Below, copper, 

 bronzed with green. A crimson band runs down each wing cover, and a crimson 

 spot at the base of the thorax. In general form it resembles B. hicnlur. " J[iidame 

 Merriam represented the larva of B. giguntia as a grub found underground, feeding 

 on roots, but Westwood says, ' As it is, however, so ditterent from the larvie of the 



