VARIATIONS. 99 



shaped projections from which the genus derives its name are 

 represented by three little teeth, none of them larger than the 

 saw-like scoopings on the jaw of the large insect. But the most 

 conspicuous example of all is one in which the entire jaw is not 

 much more than one-third of an inch in length, is scarcely 

 thicker than a common worsted needle, and has only one very 

 slight and blunt tooth near the middle. 



It is rather remarkable that, however small may be the 

 insect, however feeble its jaws, and however destitute these 

 organs may be of the branch-like teeth which render the jaws of 

 the fully-developed insect so formidable, the rounded projection 

 near the base is never absent. It differs in size according to the 

 dimensions of the jaw ; but whether the latter be large or small, 

 the rounded knob is always there. 



The genus Cladognathus contains an astonishing number of 

 species. Major Parry enumerates and describes no less than 

 fifty-four, and it is almost certain that others wall be discovered 

 as the habits and haunts of the Beetles become better known. 

 In order to show how different are these species in colour, form, 

 and size, I will briefly mention one or two of them. There is 

 Cladognathus cinnamonca, the largest specimen of which is not 

 half the size of the ordinary giraffa, the elytra of whicli are 

 entirely of that peculiar warm yellow-brown which is so familiar 

 to us in the cinnamon, the thorax and head being black-brown. 

 Then there is Cladognathus vittatus, quite a small insect, scarcely 

 as large as our common Ground Beetles, Like the preceding 

 insect, it has the elytra cinnamon yellow, but upon each of them 

 is drawn a bold black band, or vitta, in consequence of which the 

 name vittata has been given to the species. 



Another is Cladognathus occipitalis, which in point of colour 

 is perhaps the most conspicuous of the species. It is almost 

 entirely yellow, but on the thorax there are two bold oval spots 

 of shining black, each spot rising to a ridge ; there is a similar 

 spot, but diamond-shaped, on the middle of the thorax, and a 

 black line is drawn along the sutures and round the edges of 

 the elytra. 



Although not the most striking in colour, yet, in my opinion, 



the handsomest in that respect is Cladognathus inquinatus. In 



this species the head and thorax are shining black, and the 



elytra are warm, ruddy cliestnut. But each of the elytra is 



H 2 



