38 



INSECTS ABROAD. 



with green. Tliis latter colour does not extend to the legs, 

 which are entirely brown. The elytra are covered with bold 

 parallel ridges, an arrangement which gives the green gloss a 

 wider play than if the surface were entirely smooth. 



The tribe Lebiadas comes next in order, and we will take but 

 one foreign example of it. This is Agra Megcera, which is 

 represented in the accompanying illustration. The Beetles 

 belonging to this genus have the last joint of the labial palpi 

 very broad, flattish, and axe-shaped. The body is much elon- 

 gated, and the head is narrowed behind. The name Agra is 



Greek, and signifies hunting, 

 or the chase, in allusion to 

 the predacious character of 

 these Beetles. 



This is a very odd-looking 

 insect, its thorax alone being 

 nearly as long as the body, 

 and its head being also elon- 

 gated. The legs are elongated 

 in proportion to the body, 

 and so are the antennre. The 

 general colour is very dark 

 green, the elytra are squared 

 and deeply pitted, and the thorax is covered with wrinkles 

 interspersed, with large punctures. In this genus there is a 

 bold distinction between the two sets of palpi, the maxillary 

 palpi being simple and thread-like, while the labial palpi have 

 the last joint flat and axe-shaped. All the insects of this genus, 

 which is a tolerably large one, are natives of South America. 



The habits of the Agree are rather remarkable. They are tree- 

 lovers, sitting motionless on the leaves, with their long fore-legs 

 and antennae stretched out in front of them. It is rather a 

 remarkable fact that the leaves on wliich tliey are most fre- 

 quently found are those which have been attacked by the leaf- 

 rolling caterpillars, the roll forming a convenient couch whereon 

 to sit. 



They are very wary Beetles, and have that habit which is so 

 detested by entomologists ; namely, spying a foe at a distance, 

 and instantly dropping from the loaf to the gronud, where 



Fig. 13.— Agra Megrera. 

 (Dark green.) 



