122 COLEOPTERA. 



are named Serricornes.* They are distinguished by 

 the shape of tlieir antennae, which are very long and 

 generally toothed like a saw. Among these are 



The Gold Beaters (Buprestis) *, conspicuous from their 

 size and the magnificence of their coloiu-s, which some- 

 times resemble polished gold, upon a field of emerald, or 

 blaze with every tint of blue and green, purple and 

 scarlet, mixed with metallic gleams of gorgeous brilliance. 

 These beetles are all vegetable feeders ; they walk slowly, 

 but their flight is rapid, especially in hot and dry weather. 

 When any one attempts to seize them they fall to the 

 earth. A few small species may be met with on flowers, 

 but they generally frequent forests and the vicinity of 

 trees. The females lay their eggs in dead dry wood, in 

 which the larv?e excavate long winding passages, wherein 

 they undergo their metamorphoses. 



The Spring Beetles {Elater)\ are remarkable from their 

 faculty of sjjringiug into the air when laid upon their 

 backs, in which position, owing to the shortness of their 

 legs, they would otherwise be completely unable to rise. 

 The most celebrated among them is 



The Cucujo {Mater noctilucus), which has upon each side of the 

 back of its thorax a smooth convex round spot, from which at night 

 there issues a light so brilliant that by its assistance it is easy to read 

 the smallest print, more especially if several of these insects are put 

 together in a glass vessel. By the light thus afforded, the Brazilian 

 ladies are able to embroider ; and not unfrequently they twine these 

 living lamps among then- hair to light them in their evening prome- 

 nade. The Indians fasten them to their mocassins, and thus illu- 

 minate their path. An individual once accidentally brought one to 

 Paris in some wood, wherein it had passed its larva state, and asto- 

 nished the inhabitants of the Faubourg St. Antoine by a display of its 

 brilliant light, an exhibition for which they were but little pre- 

 pared. Nearly allied to these are 



The Glow-worms (Lampyris),^ likewise distinguished 

 by their capability of emitting phosphorescent light. The 

 males of our common species are not particularly re- 

 markable, but the females, which are without wings, 

 are highly luminous. The light which they emit issues 

 from the hinder part of their abdomen, and the insect can 



* Serra, a saw ; cornu, a horn ; i.e. antenna. 



•j- fiovirprjcTTis, bouprestis, an insect said to poison cattle. 



J iXarr^p, elater, a leaper. 



§ XafXTTvpis, lampuris, a glow-worm. 



