68 COLEOPTERA. 



Tragocerus Fasciatus, Don., an Australian species, resembles the 

 two last mentioned ; the head and thorax are black, and the elytra 

 of a yellowish orange, with black markings. 



The curious genus Vesperus, Latr., inhabits South Europe and 

 the Mediterranean district generally. The species are of a 

 yellowish-brown colour, and measure half an inch or more in 

 length. The male is a slender Longicorn beetle, with antennae 

 about as long as the body, and elytra reaching to the extremity of 

 the abdomen ; but the female, which is considerably larger than 

 the male, has short antennae, very short and divergent elytra, 

 rudimentary wings (if any), and a thick heavy body ; in fact, it 

 has a very considerable resemblance to Meloe, except in its legs 

 and antennae. These beetles are nocturnal in their habits. 



Family III. — Lamiidce. 



Head vertical, flattened in front ; mandibles of moderate size,, 

 nearly alike in both sexes ; labrum nearly as broad as the lower 

 part of the head ; antennae setaceous ; wings occasionally absent. 



The Lamiidce are fully as numerous and varied as the 

 CerambycidcB, from which they may generally be easily distinguished 

 by the position of the head. Many species far surpass the largest 

 of the Cerambijcidce, both in size and in the length of their antennae ; 

 but none of then^ equal the largest of the Prionidce (Titanus, for 

 example) in bulk. 



Dofcadion, Dalm., is an extensive genus of moderate-sized 

 species, the great majority of which inhabit the countries bordering 

 on the Mediterranean. The species are found running about roads 

 and walls. I). Pedestre, Poda, common throughout South-Eastern 

 Europe, including Austria, etc., is black, more or less clothed with 

 brownish or whitish down ; the antennae and legs are reddish. 



The type of this family is Lamia Textor, a dull black, thickly- 

 punctured insect, about an inch long. It is found in osier-beds, 

 but is not very common in England. 



Monohammus, Serv., is a rather large genus, which has repre- 

 sentatives in most quarters of the globe. Two species, M. Sartor, 

 Fabr., and Sutor, Linn., are common on the Continent, and are 

 reputed British, though some writers think that all the British 

 specimens have been accidentally introduced ; they are black, with 

 yellowish down ; the first is three-quarters of an inch in length, 

 and the second an inch and a quarter ; they frequent pine forests. 



Tcemotes, Serv., includes a number of handsome species found 



