HABITS OF THE GOLIATH BEETLES. 141 



our own Eose Beetles. They are mostly taken on the wing, 

 and, as is the case with the Eose Beetles, the males are much 

 more numerous than the females. In flight the elytra are not 

 raised, and, indeed, are scarcely opened at all, the wings pro- 

 jecting at the sides of the nearly closed wing-cases. 



They feed upon the liquid juices of various plants, mostly of 

 trees. In some parts of Africa there is a sort of vine whicli 

 climbs to the tops of trees, and is so full of sap that it affords 

 plenty of drink for a thirsty traveller. This vine is frequented 

 by several species of Goliath Beetles, which wound the vines 

 with their horny jaws, and so drink the juices. Some species 

 inhabit certain trees when they renew their buds and blossoms, 

 the juices being then easy of extraction. 



Thus, as is remarked by Dr. Harris, of Harvard University, 

 " the food of the Goliath Beetle is fluid, like that of the Trichii 

 and Cetonke, insects belonging to the same natural family ; but 

 the latter live chiefly on the nectar of flowers, and the former on 

 the sap of plants. The long liooks on their maxillae and the 

 diverging rows of hair that line their lower lips are admirably 

 fitted for absorbing liquid food, while their horny teeth afford 

 these Beetles additional means of obtaining it from the leaves 

 and juicy stems of plants when the blossoms have disappeared. 

 Thus every new discovery in Natural History, even when least 

 expected, serves to increase the evidence of skilful contrivance 

 and perfect adaptation of structure in all organized beings." 



Some species of Goliath Beetles are eaten by the natives of 

 the country in which they live. They are gathered together, 

 boiled over a fire, and are said to be very sweet and good. I 

 suspect that if entomologists could only see some of the insects 

 which are thus ignorantly eaten instead of being preserved for 

 the benefit of science, they would feel Hke that well-known 

 naturalist who, on finding that a savage had just eaten an 

 animal until then unknown to science, could hardly refrain 

 from cutting the man open on the spot. 



We now pass to the true Cetoniides, the typical insects of this 

 splendid family. The rare insect which is figured on tlie next page 

 belongs to the sub-family, and is a native of Northern India. It 

 is briefly described in Westwood's " Oriental Entomology" under 

 the title of Jumnos Rv.cke.rii. The generic name of this and 



