80 



INSECTS ABROAn. 



dDor-handles. The generic name Mrgalops, or "large- eyed/' is 

 given to tlie Beetle on account of this enormous development. 

 Tt is the more striking because, as a rule, the eyes of the 

 Brachelytra are small, and scarcely project at all from the head, 

 as may be seen by looking at our largest and commonest species, 

 the well-known "Devil's Coach-horse." What may be the use 

 of such huge eyes is quite uncertain. At first sight it appears 

 as if, like those of the Dragon- 

 flies and many other predacious 

 insects, they are intended to aid 

 the Beetle in chase of prey. But 

 the jaws are so slight and feeble 

 that such an object seems scarcely 

 possible. The specific name of 

 cephalotes signifies "large-headed," 

 and is given to the insect on 

 *■ account of its shape. Without 



the eyes the head is not remarkable in point of size, but the 

 head and eyes together are so enormous in proportion to the 

 rest of the body that the epithet of " large-headed " is quite 

 appropriate. 



The general colour of the insect is brownish black, the head 

 and thorax being very rough and wrinkled. The elytra are 

 yellow, and the legs and antennoe are red, the latter being tipped 

 with a knob-like club. This curious insect is a native of 

 Columbia. 





Fig. 34. — Megalops ceplialotes. 

 (Black, with yellow elytra, and red legs.) 



