200 INSECTS ABROAD. 



specific name o^ giraffa is due. The generic name is Greek, and 

 signifies " neck-bearer," in allusion to the elongated thorax. 



Although only one specimen of this particular species is 

 known, there are plenty of species belonging to the genus, 

 scattered over many hot parts of the globe. For example, there 

 are specimens in the British Museum from Java, India, Ceylon, 

 the Philippines, Burmah, and China. None of them are so large 

 as that wliich has been described, and many of them are quite 

 small. As a rule, dusky red is the principal colour, but thei^e is 

 one little species from the Philippines, TrachelojjJiorus contractus, 

 which is quite black. 



Of the typical genus there are not many species, and their 

 colour is, with one or two exceptions, rather dull. One of the 

 exceptions is Attelabus sumjjtiwsus, which is really a splendid 

 little insect, blazing out in beaut}^ 

 far beyond any of its fellows. It 

 is, as are so many of the bril- 

 liantly coloured Beetles, a native 

 of Mexico. 



At first sight this insect re- 

 minds the observer of the com- 

 mon but splendid Fire-tail bees 

 of our own country. The whole 

 hi< io- vnt-hiiussuii itu.sus upper surface is covered with 



punctures, and shining as it made 

 of burnished steel or enamel. The head and thorax are crimson, 

 and along the middle of the elytra runs a broad band of ultra- 

 marine blue. The sides of the elytra are shining crimson, and 

 round their edges runs a narrow band of golden green. The legs 

 are of the same gold-green as that of the elytra, and the whole 

 of the under-surface is either blue or green according to the 

 angle at which the light happens to fall on it, so that this insect 

 very well deserves its sj)ecific name of sumptuosus. 



The wings of all the species are large and ample. The only 

 other species which even approaches this beautiful insect in 

 colour is one that was brought from China and has not yet been 

 described. It is very small, and of a dark blue colour, much 

 like that of some of our well-known little Chrysomelas. 



AVhy the name of Attelabus has been given to these insects I 



