50 INSECTS ABROAD. 



regular intervals by cross ridges, so as to form a series of bold 

 deep cells, six rows on each elytron, each cell surrounded by a 

 wall of strong, shining black, horny material. These cells are, 

 as it were, stamped so deeply into the elytra that their floors are 

 exceedingly thin and fragile, and it is scarcely possible even to 

 touch them with the point of a needle and not to break through 

 the floor of the cell. 



Each cell is paved with a dusky-looking substance of a rust- 

 red colour. At first I took this substance to be formed of yellow 

 down like that on Anthia thoracica, which has recently been 

 described. The magnifier, however, soon showed, that it was 

 not down, and then I thought that it might be a mere powdery 

 deposit, such as often settles on insects which have been ke]ii 

 for some years. Mr. F. Smith, of the British Museum, kin(]]y 

 undertook to examine the insect more thoroughly than I could 

 venture to do with specimens not my own property, and found 

 that, though the powder could be removed by friction, it could 

 not be touched by either water, spirits of wine, or benzine, and 

 was clearly a natural growth on the insect. This is the only 

 species of its genus, but there are Beetles belonging to allied 

 genera which are formed after the same manner, and have their 

 elytra similarly covered with deep cells paved with reddish 

 powder. 



The family of the JVIorionidre is represented by the insect 

 called Hyperion ScJirocteri, an inhabitant of New Holland. 



At a first glance this Beetle does not seem to be particularly 

 worthy of notice, but a short inspection shows that it is too 

 remarkable to be passed over without description. 



Its colour is wholly black, that of the head and thorax being 

 of a satiny texture, owing to the innumerable punctures with 

 which it is covered, and which are too minute to be seen by the 

 unaided eye. There is a deep longitudinal line along the middle 

 of the thorax, and a large, bold, deep impression on either side 

 of the back of the head. There is also a deep impression on the 

 forehead. The jaws or mandibles of this Beetle are very strong 

 and powerful, and are remarkable for a very large tooth on the 

 inner side near their bases. 



Like the thorax, the elytra are black, but are covered with 

 bold longitudinal ridges, each of which is well rounded and 



