148 



INSECTS ABROAD. 



fastened above each other, and a little gourd suspended from 

 the middle of them, A few small stones are in the gourd, and, 

 to judge from analogies, such a toy must be very pleasing to a 

 Guianan child, especially as it can easily be pulled to pieces. 



The first sub-family of the Buprestidae is the Julodides, a 

 beautiful example of which is the insect shown in the accom- 

 panying illustration. Before proceeding to the description of the 

 various Buprestidae, we will ascertain the meaning of the name. 



Fig. G9.— Stemocera steniicornis. 

 (Shining green, white spots.) 



It is formed from two Greek words signifying "ox-burner," from 

 an idea that it scorched or injured oxen whenever they happened 

 to eat it as it lay concealed in the herbage on which they fed. 

 That some poisonous insect was signified by the Buprestis is evi- 

 dent, because the references to it are so numerous and so specific. 

 For example, a special law was made against its use in the 

 Pandects of Budaeus : " Qui Buprestem . . . aut mortiferi quid 

 veneni ad necem accelerandam dederit, judicio capitali et poena 

 legis Cornelise afficiator." (Whosoever shall administer a Buprestis 

 or any other poison for the purpose of destroying life, shall be 

 held guilty of a capital offence by the Cornelian law.) 



