NOTKS OX COLKOPTEIiA. 116 



find the surface, and also be cognisant with the fact that, did it not 

 do so, it would assuredly die, since its jaws in the perfect state are far 

 less formidable than in the larval, and, indeed, these beetles acquire 

 nutriment for the most part by means of the ligula or tongue, rather 

 than by their mandibles. That they can make very good use of the 

 latter upon occasion is abundantly evidenced by their extreme pug- 

 nacity, and by the free use they make of these small, sharp jaws upon 

 any less hardy insect that may happen to cross their path — sometimes 

 even upon their own species. I have put a dozen Sapcrda iiopulnea 

 into a large box, and taken only one whole specimen from it an hour 

 later. 



Some pupae, as in Hha/iiuui, form a cocoon from chips of wood; 

 this, however, unlike that of Dicranura, is of very flimsy consistency, 

 and to take the pupa unhurt from it is a matter of much difficulty ; 

 others, as Sapcrda, make a chamber by filling up the entrance with 

 fragments of wood. The pupa is always found upright, that is to say, 

 in a vertical position, as it were standing on its tail, though isolated 

 cases of inversion have been recorded — a constant position almost 

 unique among Coleoptera. One of those species which can be con- 

 sidered as really harmful is Hi/lotrupes bajidus, which is most injurious 

 to posts and rails, but fortunately this species is rare and local. 

 Another, Sajwnla carcharias, is known to destroy young poplars, but, 

 according to some Continental authorities, never touches trees of more 

 than twenty years' growth. Canon Fowder says the beetle is found 

 " in and about old willows." Personally I have never taken it any- 

 where but upon poplar, in which also, as a close ally to the preceding, 

 it would naturally occur. S. populnea is very common locally on 

 aspen, among which it undoubtedly does much damage by boring into 

 the young stems of saplings, and into the branches of older trees. 

 Callidium violacewn, a by no means rare species throughout the 

 country, is taken in some numbers every spring in the New Forest, 

 where I secured a fine series, in May, from a fence about six feet long, 

 dividing the front from the back garden of the house at which I was 

 staying. Cli/tus arietis and Acanthocinun aedilis, together with the 

 foregoing species, are celebrated for their tenacity of life in the larval 

 state. There are many records of these beetles emerging from 

 branches, used in mounting birds and other natural history objects, 

 in our museums, after retarded development, lasting several years. 

 The baking to which such branches are treated, and the often powerful 

 disinfectants and insecticides inserted in the hermetically sealed cases 

 having apparently little effect upon them. 



Who has not, at least, heard of the Musk Beetle, Aroiiiia jiioschata, 

 which emits so powerful an odour, like that of the sweet plant, its 

 namesake, that the insect may often be detected, like the larva of 

 Cossus, by its smell ? Most people who know anything of entomology 

 must also be familiar with its beautiful metallic body, which for 

 brilliance and richness of colouring vies with little disadvantage with 

 that of the Brazilian Diamond Beetle. It is said that this is a somewhat 

 common insect in the fens and marshes where willows, upon wdiich 

 only, I believe, it is found, grow in profusion. There is fear, however, 

 that with, alas ! so many other species throughout the whole gamut 

 of the British insect world, this lovely beetle is yearly becoming 

 scarcer. It once occurred not unconnuonly throughout England 



