50 BUPRESTID-BEETLES. 



The writer has kept such himinous beetles for a long time in the 

 hollow joints of sugar canes, much to the delight of visitors. The 

 Cuban ladies make a singular and pleasing use of these living 

 gems by keeping them in little lace pockets upon their dresses, or 

 arrange them as a fillet for their hair. A ballroom with numer- 

 ous dancers wearing such "flashing" jewels is a very peculiar 

 sight. Fig. 60 shows one of these large beetles ; the two whitish 

 spots, one on each side of the pro-thorax, and the posterior part of 

 the under side of the abdomen, are luminous. 



FAMILY BUPRESTIDAE. 



(Flat-headed Borers). 



These beetles, also called "Metallic Wood-Borers," and 

 "Sa-cV-horned Borers," resemble the click-beetles in shape, being 

 usually rather long and narrow ; their bodies are hard and com- 

 pact, frequently looking as if cast of bronze. Their feelers are 

 rather short, and serrated on their inner edge; the first and sec- 

 ond abdominal segments are soldered together on the ventral side ; 

 the head is deeply inserted in the pro-thorax, and the latter 

 broadens but slightly behind, fitting tightly over the base of the 

 wing-covers. The beetles do not possess the power of springing 

 when placed on their backs. The colors found in this family of 

 beetles are richer than those found anywhere else in nature ; some 

 species are pale brown or gray with brassy or coppery reflections, 

 others have the entire surface minutely roughened and indented, 

 looking like beaten metal. Still others are blue, green, violet or 

 golden, burnished in spots, or covered with delicate shingle-like 

 scales, seemingly made of polished metal. Such beetles are diur- 

 nal insects, flying about during the hottest part of the day, or dis- 

 porting themselves upon the trunks of trees, running about 

 swiftly, or resting, always exposed, as if proud of their beauty. 

 Some of them are very active, almost as much so as tiger-beetles, 

 and use their wings with great ease ; others drop to the ground 

 when. disturbed, or feign death, not trying to escape by flight. 



