BEETLES. ly 



night, though they may frequently be seen in the day-time, or at 

 dusk, especially in spring. They are apterous, but the elytra are 

 not soldered together. 



The largest of the European Carubidce belong to the genus 

 Procerus, Dej., which much resemble Carahi in shape, but are double 

 the size, sometimes measuring two inches in length. They are 

 black and strongly punctured, and are peculiar to South-Eastern 

 Europe and AVestern Asia. 



Damaster, Koll, is a genus remarkable for its peculiar shape, 

 which will be seen in our figure. It only includes a very few 

 black species, closely resembling each other, and all peculiar to 

 different islands in Japan. 



Calosoma, Web., is a widely-distributed genus, including several 

 very beautiful species. The thorax is transverse, much narrower 

 than the abdomen, and more or less convex ; the wings are well 

 developed. The commonest species, C. Inquisitor, Fabr., is about 

 half an inch long, of a dull coppery green, with three rows of 

 golden-green i>unctures on each elytron. C. Sycophanta, Fabr., 

 which is much larger, is a great rarity in England, though com- 

 mon on the Continent ; it is of a splendid golden green, and is 

 generally met with on oaks, where it feeds on the destructive 

 Processionary Caterpillars {Cnethocampa Frocessionea, Linn.) and 

 other insects. 



Casnonia, Latr., is a tropical genus found in marshy places, 

 which is remarkable for its very long slender thorax. The species 

 are black and rugose, sometimes with pale yellowish spots. 



The genus Brachlnus, Web., includes several reddish beetles, 

 with bluish or greenish elytra. They are about a quarter of an 

 inch in length, and are found under stones. Many species of 

 Geodephaga and other beetles will attempt to defend themselves 

 by discharging a disagreeable acrid fluid when handled, but the 

 Brachini possess a much more curious method of defence. If 

 they are alarmed, they discharge a slightly acid fluid, which 

 instantly volatilises into smoke, with a slight explosion ; and this 

 manoeuvre they can repeat several times. 



The genus Agra, Fabr., includes a great number of slender 

 species, peculiar to tropical America, which are entirely arboreal 

 in their habits, like many other Coleoptera Avhich inhabit the same 

 countries. A. Variolosa, Klug, is bronzy-brown. 



One of the most remarkable genera of the Geodephaga is Mormo- 

 lyce, Hagenb., which has extraordinary dilated elytra, and scarcely 



