274 TRAXSFORMATIONS OF INSECTS. 



preventing the wanton destruction of the birds that keep down 

 these insect pests. 



The engraving describes the metamorphoses of the cockchafer. 

 The larvae are seen in different stages, and there is a nymph 

 underground also, whilst the perfect insects are crawling above. 



There was at one time a speculation by which people hoped to 

 make money by extracting oil from cockchafers, which was supposed 

 to have extraordinary virtues, and to be useful in many ways ; but, 

 unfortunately, the expense of manufacturing the oil was too great, 

 and the effort came to nothing. 



The species which most resemble the common cockchafer are 

 not very widely distributed in Nature, and the mischief they 

 perpetrate is not much feared or cared for. One of them may be 

 noticed on account of its great size, and its favourite locality. 

 Melolontha fullo is a fine beetle whose general colour is brownish, 

 and it has little white spots scattered here and there over the whole 

 of its surface, especially on the elytra, on which they produce 

 curious designs. The males of this kind are always admired on 

 account of the great size of the lamellae of their antennae, which 

 resemble beautiful feathers. These cockchafers are not found in- 

 Jand, but choose the seaside for their residence, and they may be 

 found on the dunes or sand-hills of Dunkirk and the environs of 

 Ostend, and they have been noticed on different spots by the sides 

 of the Baltic Sea and the neighbouring ocean, as well as all 

 round the Mediterranean. They fly with great velocity, and make 

 much buzzing ; and they appear so fond of noise, that they con- 

 stantly produce a sharp sound when they are on the ground or 

 amongst the leaves, by rubbing the elytra against the body. 



In the engraving the males may be seen with their great 

 antenna, and the female on the left-hand side of the picture shows 

 the white markings on the elytra very distinctly. 



The Riitdidce are beautiful beetles, and are intermediate between 

 the Mclolonthidce and the Scarahceida. The species of some of the 

 genera of this tribe have magnificent colours, which hint at their 

 existence where the sun shines in all its glory, and where the climate 

 is most genial. Some of them live in the hottest countries of the 

 world, others in tropical America, and some in Australia. There 

 are no Colcoptera in Europe as br-'lliant as these. The prettiest of 



