54 INSECTS ABROAD. 



various Beetles which are found in such situations. It has even 

 been seen to fall upon the Beetles themselves, though of great 

 size, to pull them in pieces, and devour them. 



Like many other Beetles which are adorned with brilliant 

 metallic hues, this insect seldom displays its beauties to the sun, 

 but remains hidden in some dark place during the day, and only 

 issues from its den after dark in search of prey. It is said to 

 feed largely on cockchafers, which, like itself, are mostly noc- 

 turnal in their habits. 



The sub-family or tribe of the Panagreinffi is represented by 

 several species, the first of whicli is the curious and rare TcJ/ivs 

 Mcgcrlci of Guinea. 



This insect is the largest of its tribe, though not the hand- 

 somest in point of colour, as we shall presently see. Its colour 

 is black, but of different quality in the thorax and abdomen. 

 The former is covered with a whole network of small and intri- 

 cate wrinkles, like those in the faces of Eembrandt's old women. 

 The latter, whicli is rotund and much depressed towards the 

 end, has the elytra covered with bold longitudinal rounded 

 ridges, set widely apart, and having between each ridge a double 

 row of squared knobs, rather longer than wide. These knobs 

 break up the light in a very artistic manner, and, in spite of the 

 uniform black of the colour, give a variety of light and shade 

 that could hardly be expected from so simple a device. 



