154 NATTTEAL HISTOET OP 



of the thorax prolonged into an acute spine, and by 

 being incapable of leaping. The name Buprestis* 

 was applied by the ancients to certain insects, of 

 what particular kind cannot now be easily deter- 

 mined, which were supposed to be possessed of qua- 

 lities which rendered them noxious to cattle. Geof- 

 froy transferred the term to another group, under 

 the idea that such an application of it was more in 

 accordance with its original usage, and distinguished 

 the present one by the generic name of Cucujus. 

 It now designates a numerous and well-defined fa- 

 mily, including nearly 200 known species, many of 

 which are the most beautiful and richly ornamented 

 of the coleopterous tribes. They are adorned with 

 the most brilliant green and golden colours, often 

 glossed with purple and blue, and variegated with 

 bands and markings of the highest metallic lustre. 

 A few species inhabit this country, but several of 

 the larger kinds included in the British Fauna have 

 been introduced without sufficient authority. Their 

 proper geographical position is within the tropics, 

 where they may be seen flying about in great num- 

 bers in the open parts of the forests and on the 

 margin of rivers, or reposing on the trunks and 

 leaves of trees, as if enjoying the heat of the meri- 

 dian sun, which is reflected with great brilliancy 

 from their polished surfaces. 



* From £flt/,-, an ox, and r^fu, I inflame. 



