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BRITISH BEETLES. 



tions — the upper^ or mesonotum, and lower, or mesoster- 

 num. In Fig. 8, b is the mesonotum, seen from above, 

 a being the scutellum referred to in descriptions. Strictly 

 speaking, there is a scutellum to each of the three seg- 

 ments of the thorax ; but it is the scutellum of the 

 mesonotum which is invariably meant by this word, when 

 no other reference is made. The mesonotum is also seen 

 sideways at /, in Fig. 8, a, with one of the elytra, of which 

 g^ is the base, g~ the apex, y'^ the lateral margin, g^ the 

 suture, and g^ the disc. On the other side is the alula, or 

 winglct, h, Avhich is attached to the body and the under 

 side of the base of the wing-case : it is a thin membrane, 

 exposed in flight, and either covering, or a continuation 

 of, the mesothoracic spiracle. 



"The mesosternum, to which the middle pair of legs is 

 attached, is composed of similar pieces to the proster- 

 num, viz. (8, a), a, sternum ; b b, episterna ; and c c, 

 epimera (the two last being the thin side-pieces of b in 

 Fig. 8) ; d is the coxa, and e the trochanter of one of the 

 legs. 



The metathorax, likewise divided into upper [metano- 

 tum) and lower [metasternuni) surfaces, carries the wings 

 and hinder legs. 



Fig. 9. — Metanotiim of thorax of J), marginalls. 



The metanotum (Fig. 9) is composed of the usual four 

 dorsal pieces, and bears one of the wings on each side ; 



