56 



INSECTS ABROAD. 



" downy." Some writers employ the generic name Graspcdo- 

 phorns — i.e. " hem, or edge-bearing," — on account of the downy 

 clothing which projects on all sides and forms a sort of edging 

 or fringe round the body. There are several species of Eudema, 

 and one of them, Eudema eximius, has five little round yellow 

 &pots on each elytron, set like the number five on a die. This 

 IS in itself nothing extraordinary, but the remarkable point is, 

 that there is a small variety of Eudema fomentostis which re- 

 t<embles the last-mentioned insect not only in size, but in having 

 five little yellow round spots on each elytron. 



The many insects that belong to the group of Chheniides are 

 remarkable for possessing very similar shapes, colours, and 

 habits, no matter in what part of the world they may exist. 

 Their general shape can be seen by reference to the accompany- 

 ing illustration. Their colour is some shade of silky green or 

 brown, with a light edge, and their habits are to haunt moist 

 spots. The sea-shore is the great gathering-place of these 

 Beetles, which love to hide under heaps of decaying seaweed, 

 M'here they find shelter and food. 



The present species is selected principally because it is nearly 

 ^ the largest of all the Chlseniides. 



It inhabits Senegal, and, wdien 

 viewed among the long ranks of 

 its kin, seems to be a very giant 

 among them, so small are they in 

 general. Some, indeed, may almost 

 be ranked among the minute species, 

 and the average size is barely one- 

 fourth of the Epomis Grcesus. The 

 name Epomis is a Greek word sig- 

 the point of the shoulder-blade," and is given to 

 these insects in consequence of the pointed hind angles of 

 tlie thorax. 



This is a handsome insect, the thorax being deep polished 

 green, and the elytra black-green, surrounded with a broad 

 yellow edge. The legs are pale yellow, something like the 

 colour of the band round the elytra. Thijs is, as I have already 

 mentioned, the typical colour of these insects ; but there are 

 exceptions to every lule, some species being black, some entirely 



Fio. 21. - Epoini.j Orciesus. 

 (Greon, yellow edge.) 



nifyinr 



