LEAF-CHAFERS. 83 



The following three species uuiy be takeu as representatives of the 

 gemis: Tro.v poreatus, Say, nearly half an inch long, the elytra with 

 elevated, interrupted lines, and numerous transverse punctures on the 

 interstitial spaces; T. terrestris, not quite quarter of an inch in length, 

 the elytra with raised obtuse lines on which are little fascicles of short 

 hairs ; and T. utriatidm, only three-twentieths of an inch in length, with 

 regular groo\es between the ridges on the elytra. 



Teibe vin. 

 LEAF-CIIAFEKS. 



Herbivora hunelUcornia. Thalerophaga, MacLeay. 



The Chafers, or leaf-eating laniellicorus, are easily distinguished from 

 the Dung-beetles, by the tips of their abdomens being always uncovered 

 by the wing-cases, by their usually more slender legs, and by their 

 lighter and often variegated colors. As we have seen above that the 

 Cicindelidic represent the lion and tiger amongst the higher animals, 

 so the present tribe may be regarded as representatives of the rumina- 

 ting quadrupeds, being, as a general rule, the most bulky of coleopte- 

 rous insects, and. exclusively vegetable feeders. 



They generally feed, when in the beetle state, upon the leaves of trees, 

 but many of the smaller species devour the petals and pollen of flowers. 

 The Anomalie are particularly destructive to the foliage of the grape- 

 vine. 



The larvie are found partly in rotten wood and partly in the earth, 

 where they feed ui)on the roots of grasses and other plants. The com- 

 mon white grub furnishes a familiar example. 



Like the ijreceding tribe, they comprise four families, which can usu-' 

 ally be distinguished by their general aspect and coloration, but which 

 exhibit but few distinctive organic characters. 



They may be tabulated thus : 

 A. Head or tjiorax, or both, almost always armed with one or two 

 horns or tubercles ; upper lip concealed beneath the clypeus, 

 which is not separated from the front by a suture. Size gen- 

 erally large, or very large ; color often black or blackish : 



Dynastid^. 



A A. Head and thorax unarmed ; labrum often partially visible in 



front of the clypeus, which is separated from the front by a 



transverse suture, (except Cetoniidie.) Size various; color 



never black, (except in a few Cetoniidtf.) 



