64 DR. HARRIS'S REPORT. April, 



margin above armed with the teeth, and the apex with a pair of forked, 

 recurved horns or hooks. Beneath this is situated the anal proleg, 

 which is retractile, and (at least in one species, E. oculatus,) fur- 

 nished behind with two small incurved hooks, and spined at the sides. 

 The true legs are six, each armed at tip with a single claw. The 

 total length of the largest larva found here is 2^ inches. 



The pupse of Elaters, like those of most coleoptera, bear a near 

 resemblance to the perfect insect. After their last metamorphosis, 

 Elaters make their appearance upon trees and fences, and some are 

 found upon flowers. They fly both by day and night. Their food, 

 in the perfect state, appears to be chiefly derived from flowers, 

 though many species do not probably take any in this state. When- 

 ever discovered, they should be immediately destroyed. The larva 

 of Elater noctilucus resides in the interior of the sugar cane. The 

 perfect insect is remarkable for its luminous properties. Elater ocu- 

 latus I have found in the decayed stumps of apple trees, both in 

 the larva and perfect state. We have a great many small species 

 which appear to live upon the roots of the grasses. These will 

 probably in time become serious assailants of vegetation. There are 

 a ^evi^ which, in the perfect state, are found upon flowers, and 

 which have their nails pectinated or divided, like the teeth of a comb. 



Our attention is next attracted to that great family of insects com- 

 prehended in the iiinnean genus Scarab-Eus. These insects are 

 easily recognized by their antennae, terminating in several leaf-like 

 joints, and by their legs, particularly the first pair, which are furnished 

 with several strong projecting teeth. Among these are the insects in- 

 cluded by Fabricius in his genus Melonontha, a word used by the 

 Greeks to distinguish these same insects. More than 400 years 

 before the Christian era, Aristophanes alludes to a custom which his 

 commentator says was conunon to the children at tliat titne, of fast- 

 ening a string to the leg of a Melolontha, and then allowing it to fly 

 in the air. His words may be translated, 



" To winds thy cares commit 



Like Melolontha string-bound by the feet." 



(Aristophanes' Clouds.) 



It is not a little remarkable, that this kind of sport should still exist. 

 De Geer says, that, in the Netherlands, the children amuse themselves 



