COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 25/ 



which they practise in common with several allied 

 kinds, that of covering their bodies, when larva?, 

 with their own excrements. In order to enable 

 them to do this with facility, they are provided with 

 a forked process issuing from the anal extremity, 

 which can be turned upwards, and laid along the 

 back. Upon this they deposit their excrement, 

 and support the load in such a manner as to cover 

 the body. This singular covering is probably de- 

 signed to shelter the tender body of the larva from 

 the air and sun, and at the same time to conceal it 

 from birds. The outer shell of the perfect beetle 

 considerably overlaps the body, and the legs can 

 be drawn completely within it. The species are 

 very numerous, and many of them highly ornamen- 

 tal, as will be seen from the adjoining figures. 



CASSIDA BICORNIS. 



PLATE XXVIII. Fig. I. 



Fair. Ent. Syst — Olivier, vi. No. 97, pi. 4, fig. 59. 



The colour of this insect is bluish green, except 

 the antennae, which are black with the radical joints 

 bronzed. The thorax has two or three small im- 

 pressions ; and the elytra, which are punctured, have 

 a long obtuse spine projecting sidewise from each 

 shoulder. It occurs in Cayenne, Surinam, and 

 other parts of America* 



