﻿THE LONGICORNES. 205 



armed with a lateral spine, the femora slender, almost 

 cylindrical, and the shoulders of the elytra rectangular) 

 are here represented by Aromia moschata, often found 

 in the London district on old willows (which are much 

 damaged by its larvse), and generally known as the 

 " Musk-beetle," on account of its sweet smell ; which is, 

 however, much more like otto of roses than musk. 



This scent is so strong as to be readily noticed at 

 some distance from trees frequented by the insects ; 

 which may be seen in June flying strongly in the hot 

 sunshine : the males, in which the antennse are very 

 long, are by far the most active ; and it has been re- 

 marked that the peculiar odour, — which is strongest in 

 the female, and especially at the coupling time, — acts 

 probably as an attraction to them. A live specimen, im- 

 prisoned for a short time in a handkerchief, will impart 

 an agreeable and enduring scent to it. 



This insect, which is rather narrow, long, blue or 

 coppery-green in colour, and somewhat shagreened in 

 texture, possesses in a marked degree a habit found in 

 most Longicornes, viz. that of making a loud, sharp, 

 squeaking noise, by moving the head and prothorax 

 briskly up and down, the inner part of the hinder margin 

 of the latter rubbing against the smooth part of the 

 front of the mesothorax. 



The CalUdiades are somewhat depressed, and have the 

 head inserted in the thorax almost up to the eyes, the 

 labrum small, the thorax with no lateral spine, the fe- 

 mora nearly always clavate, and the front and hind coxae 

 usually somewhat approximated. 



Three genera are found in England, viz. Callidium, 

 Hylotrupes, and Asemum. The species of the former 

 are of considerable brightness : they frequent fir-wood. 



