714 INSECTS ABROAD. 



Some specimens have a large black oval spot on the two 

 upper angles of the scutellum, while others have the ground 



colour brown or dun. 

 But, no matter what 

 may be the colour of 

 the upper surface of the 

 elytra, the under surface 

 is always red. 





The insect which is 

 here given is a native 

 of Para, and the speci- 

 men from which the 

 , , figure was drawn was 



" 'f^ --f^ ])rought to England by 

 ^ ' I I i('^;/'-*^^'-"'fea.\ ^\' \ I I ^ - ivJ-r. jjates. 



"" ^ " It derives its spe- 



FiG. 452. — Edessa cornuta. . 



(Grey, brown, and yellow.) CIHC name COmuta, Or 



" horned," from the 

 shape of the thorax, which is prolonged on either side so as to 

 look like a pair of horns. The colour of the thorax is rather 

 variable, being in some specimens pale brown and in others 

 greyish olive. The scutellum is yellow, and the upper part of 

 the body azure. The upper wings are brown with a purple 

 gloss, edged with golden yellow on the upper margin. Below it 

 is yellow pencilled with black. 



The genus is West Indian, and is a very large one, more 

 than one hundred and thirty species being known. 



Both names of the accompanying insect are descriptive, one 

 of its form and the other of its colour. The name Brachystdluis 

 is Greek, signifying " short-breasted," and is given to the insect 

 on account of the shortness of the thorax. The Latin name 

 rubromaculatus signifies "red-spotted," and refers to the large 

 red spots upon the black surface. 



These indeed are the only colours. The ground hue is shining 

 black with a green gloss, and the other portions are bright 

 scarlet. The scutellum is very deeply punctured, and the rest 

 of the surface slightly so. The colour below is exactly the 

 same as it is above. The insect is a native of Brazil. 



