COLEOPTEKA. — CASSIDID^. 



377- 



equestris, upper, 46. 2. ditto, underside) ; with the antenna} {jig.'^Q, 

 7.) inserted near together on the crown of the head, and straight, short, 

 filiform, or nearly cylindrical, and slightly thickened towards the tips. 

 The mouth is situated on the underside of the head, with the lower 

 parts very weak and membranous, being defended by the prostcrnum 

 when at rest; the palpi very short and filiform (_/?y. 46. 3. labrum, 

 4G. 4, mandible, 46. 5. maxilla, and 46. 6. labium of Cassida eques- 

 tris) ; the eyes are oval or rounded; the legs are contractile, with 

 broad short tarsi (^Jig.^6. 8.), the third joint being very deeply bi- 

 lobed, and inclosing the terminal joint between its lobes. The body 

 is flattened beneath, so that, by the assistance of the dilated tarsi, the 

 insects are enabled to lie close upon leaves, where they generally re- 

 main in an inactive state. They are of an orbicular or oval form, 

 with the thorax and elytra dilated at the sides into a broad and flat 

 margin ; the head being concealed by the anterior margin of the for- 

 mer (^Jrg. 46. 2.), or deeply immersed in its anterior emargination. 

 The colours of these insects are very agreeably diversified, being or- 

 namented with spots, fasciae, &c. Some of the foreign species are of 

 the most singular forms ; some bearing a very strong analogy to the 

 Testudinata, whence the family has received the name of Tortoise 

 beetles. In some exotic species the centre of the suture of the elytra 

 is elevated into a long upright horn. 



Gutrin. Icon. R. An. 



Griffith. Animal Kingd. Ins. 



Guerin and Perchcron. CJen. dcs Ins. pi. 12. 



Paykull, in Act. Holm. 1801. 



Thunherg, in Nov. Act. Upsal, vol. viii. (3 .Spec. Aluiiuis, Cape G. Hope). 



And tlie works of Fahric'tus, Olivier, Gijllenhull, Sec. 



