COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 77 



the Count de Jean at Paris, one of the most exten- 

 sive that exists, contained no fewer than 20,000 

 species. Many others are no doubt to be found in 

 different collections ; and when we take into account 

 the discoveries daily made by the numerous culti- 

 vators of this branch of zoology, and the extent and 

 fertility of the countries with the insect productions 

 of which we are wholly unacquainted, there seems 

 reason to believe that it cannot be much short of 

 30,000 that is 10,000 above the estimate formed 

 by Ray nearly a century and a half ago, as the pro- 

 bable amount of the whole class of insects ! 



This order comprehends some of the largest as 

 well as the most minute insects with which we are 

 acquainted. Certain orthopterous species belonging 

 to the genus Phasma surpass them in length, and 

 several gigantic moths are of greater superficial ex- 

 tent ; but in many beetles length of body is com- 

 bined with a proportionate breadth and thickness, 

 which renders them the most bulky and massive of 

 their class. A fine specimen of Prionus giganteus 

 measures nearly half a foot in length, the breadth 

 is about two inches, and the expansion of the wings 

 is nine inches. A handsome and scarce species of 

 the same family (Prionus armillatus) is about five 

 inches long and one inch and three quarters broad, 

 and the antennas, which are very strong and rigid, are 

 upwards of six inches in length. The Hercules beetle 

 (Dynastes Hercules), and Scarabseus Actaeon, mea- 

 sure respectively about four and a half inches in length 



