84 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO VEGETATION. 



of sight, and the use of the legs and wings with which it is 

 provided. 



The Capricorn-beetles have been divided into three families, 

 corresponding with the genera Prionus, Cerambi/x, and Leptura 

 of Linnaeus. Those belonging to the first family are generally 

 of a brown color, have flattened and saw-toothed or beaded 

 antennae of a moderate length, projecting jaws, and kidney- 

 shaped eyes. Those in the second have eyes of the same 

 shape, more slender or much longer antennae, and smaller 

 jaws; and are often variegated in their colors. The beetles 

 belonging to the third family are readily distinguished by their 

 eyes, which are round and prominent. These three families 

 are divided into many smaller groups and genera, the peculi- 

 arities of which cannot be particularly pointed out in a work 

 of this kind. 



The Prionians, or Prionid.e, derive their name from a Greek 

 word signifying a saw, which has been applied to them either 

 because the antennae, in most of these beetles, consists of flat- 

 tened joints, projecting internally somewhat like the teeth of a 

 saw, or on account of their upper jaws, which sometimes are 

 very long and toothed within. It is said that some of the 

 beetles thus armed can saw off" large limbs by seizing them 

 between their jaws, and flying or whirling sidewise round the 

 enclosed limb, till it is completely divided. The largest insects 

 of the Capricorn tribe belong to this family, some of the tro- 

 pical species measuring five or six inches in length, and one 

 inch and a half or two inches in breadth. Their larvae are 

 broader and more flattened than the grubs of the other Capri- 

 corn-beetles, and are provided with six very short legs. When 

 about to be transformed, they coUect a quantity of their chips 

 around them, and make therewith an oval pod or cocoon, to 

 enclose themselves. 



Our largest species is the broad-necked Prionus, Prionus 

 laticollis* of Drury, its first describer. It is of a long oval 

 shape and of a pitchy black color. The jaws, though short, 

 are very thick and strong; the antennae are stout and saw- 



* Prionus brevicornis of Fabricius. 



