and antennae close to the body, and falling, appa- 

 rently dead, to the earth. The females have a 

 coriaceous appendage at the posterior part of the 

 abdomen, composed of three pieces ; this is pro- 

 bably the oviduct, by means of vs^hich, they de- 

 posit their eggs in old wood, where the larvae 

 lives until its change into the perfect state. Their 

 existence in the perfect state is but short, appear- 

 ing to be devoted almost exclusively to the great 

 object of continuing the race. 



Though beautiful and rare, the species are 

 very numerous, and upwards of two hundred 

 are now known ; of these, the largest and most 

 splendid, are inhabitants of the American conti- 

 nent. 



A species of Buprestis, has furnished us with 

 a remarkable instance of insect longevity; the 

 following is extracted from a communication, by 

 Mr. Marsham, to the Linnaean Society. (See vol. 

 X. p. 399.) 



Mr. J. Montague, on going to his desk in the 

 office of Works at Guildhall, observed an insect 

 ^^ilich had been seen by his brother in the early 

 part of the day, endeavouring to extricate itself 

 from the wood, which formed part of the desk ; 

 he carefully released it from the cell, and it 

 proved to be Buprestis Splendens of Fabri- 



PLATE XXVI. 



