BEETLES. 65 



minent lateral spines on the thorax, but with rather small 

 mandibles. Er gates Faber, Fabr., is an allied but much larger 

 species found in many parts of the Continent, but not in England. 



Macrodontia, Serv., is a South American genus, remarkable for 

 its pale brown colour (resembling that of dead wood), and for its 

 enormous mandibles, which are more or less strongly toothed. 



One of the largest beetles known is Titanus Giganieus, Linn., a 

 native of Cayenne. It is nearly seven inches in length, and two 

 inches across the elytra ; the mandibles are short, but very thick 

 and strong, and the thorax has a strong spine on each side, near 

 the front. The head, thorax, and legs are black, and the elytra 

 and abdomen of a dark reddish brown. 



Acanthinodera Cumingii, Hope, is a Chilian species, remarkable 

 for its very small head ; the female is dark brown, and about two 

 inches in length ; the male is yellowish brown, and much smaller. 



The, genus Pyrodes, Serv., includes species of moderate size, but 

 of a green or violet colour; it is confined to South America. 

 Several other genera from the same country likewise include green 

 or blue species, sometimes of large size, but generally of deep 

 rather than brilliant colours. Some are of a rich golden green, 

 but the l)right metallic green colour met with in the polished 

 BupresiidcB, etc., is always wanting in this family, probably because 

 the surface of the insect is too strongly rugose or punctured to 

 reflect such colours. 



Family II. — Cera m hjcidcc. 



Mandibles rather small, nearly alike in both sexes; labrum 

 well marked, occupying the whole width of the head; eyes 

 always concave, and more or less surrounding the base of the 

 antennae ; head produced in front, but never vertical. 



An extensive family, including a great number of species of 

 different sizes, shapes, and colours. In several genera the eyes are 

 completely divided in two by the base of the antennse, so that the 

 insect appears to have four eyes, as in Gyrinus. 



Spondylis Buprestoides, Linn., is a black beetle, about three- 

 quarters of an inch in length, which is common in many parts of 

 Europe. It has a small head, and comparatively short antennse, 

 and scarcely looks like one of the Longicorns. Like most of the 

 species of this family, it is found in rotten v;ood. 



The typical genus Cerambyx, Linn., includes several large anci 

 conspicuous European species, which are, however, believed not to 



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