of the Species of Popillla. 33 



becomes a matter of courtesy to adopt the names thus proposed, 

 unless a suitable reason can be eiven for doinc otherwise. 



But little appears to be known of the species of Pojnllia, except 

 as they exist in collections. There is, however, no doubt of 

 their subsisting on living vegetables ; and from the various close 

 relations exhibited in their structure with that of the Phyllo- 

 perfJia horticola, I am inclined to believe their principal food to 

 be the petals of flowers. 



The generic name Popillia appears to have been proposed by 

 Dr. Leach, but I cannot find that that learned Entomolooist has 

 ever assigned it characters. The genus has, however, been fre- 

 quently described under the name, and is therefore fully esta- 

 blished. Trich'ms bipimctatus of Fabricius, an insect not unfre- 

 quent in the neighbourhood of the Cape of Good Hope, appears 

 to be taken as the type. 



Genus Popillia, Leach.* 



Head porrected, flat, as far as the eyes immersed in the pro- 

 thorax ; clypeus separated by a transverse suture ; eyes distant, 

 lateral ; antennae as long as the head, inserted in front of the eyes 

 and beneath the clypeus, and composed of nine joints, the first 

 elongate and somewhat club-shaped, the second very short and 

 nearly globular, the third longer, externally somewhat incras- 

 sated ; the three following are somewhat cup-shaped and much 

 diminished in length, the remaining three are produced laterally, 

 lamelliform, and together form an elongate clava : labrum con- 

 cealed beneath the clypeus, slightly emarginate, n)andibles in- 

 curved at the apex and bifid, below the apex furnished with a 



• It seems allowable to observe, that an abstract of the following pages, con- 

 taining descriptions of each species, was published in the " Magazine of Natural 

 History," for June, 1838. lam not aware that any species then characterized 

 has since been described by any other writer ; but as Entomologists have been 

 manifesting a most wholesome and laudable spirit of activity during the four years 

 that have elapsed since these memoranda were arranged for publication (viz. in 

 the winter of 1837-8), I think it but fair to date my names from the day when 

 they first actually appeared before the public, clothed in the dress which science 

 prescribes. It may not be amiss also to state, that during this long interval 

 several new species have come to my knowledge ; and I have reason to believe 

 that many others have reached this country and the continent of Europe. I shall 

 gladly describe these at any future time, should an opportunity be kindly allowed 

 rne by their various possessors. — E. N. November 15, 1841. 

 VOL. III. D 



