COLEOPTERA. ' 25 



III their winged state, these beetles, with several other spe- 

 cies, act as conspicuous a part in injuring the trees, as the 

 grubs do in destroying the herbage. During the month of 

 May they come forth from the ground, whence they have 

 received the name of May-bugs, or May-beetles. They pass 

 the greater part of the day upon trees, clinging to the under- 

 sides of the leaves, in a state of repose. As soon as evening 

 approaches, they begin to buzz about among the branches, and 

 continue on the wing till towards midnight. In their droning 

 flight they move very irregularly, darting hither and thither 

 with an uncertain aim, hitting against objects in their way 

 with a force that often causes them to fall to the ground. 

 They frequently enter houses in the night, apparently attracted, 

 as well as dazzled and bewildered, by the lights. Their vaga- 

 ries, in which, without having the power to harm, they seem 

 to threaten an attack, have caused them to be called dors, that 

 is darers; while their seeming blindness and stupidity have 

 become proverbial, in the expressions, " blind as a beetle," and 

 *' beetle-headed." Besides the leaves of fruit-trees, they devour 

 those of various forest-trees and shrubs, with an avidity not 

 much less than that of the locust, so that, in certain seasons, 

 and in particular districts, they become an oppressive scourge, 

 and the source of much misery to the inhabitants. Mouffet 

 relates that, in the year 1574, such a number of them fell into 

 the river Severn, as to stop the wheels of the water-mills; and, 

 in the Philosophical Transactions, it is stated, that in the year 

 1688 they filled the hedges and trees of Galway, in such infinite 

 numbers, as to cling to each other like bees when swarming ; 

 and, when on the wing, darkened the air, annoyed travellers, 

 and produced a sound lilce distant drums. In a short time, the 

 leaves of all the trees, for some miles round, were so totally 

 consumed by them, that at midsummer the country wore the 

 aspect of the depth of winter. 



Another chafer, Anomala vitis F. is sometimes exceedingly 

 injurious to the vine. It prevails in certain provinces of France, 

 where it strips the vines of their leaves, and also devours those 

 of the willow, poplar, and fruit-trees. 

 4 



