216 NATURAL HISTORY OP 



ten exceed the length both of the head and thorax 

 they are strong, and bent towards each other, especi- 

 ally at the tip; their internal edge is deeply serrated, 

 and one of the teeth near the middle is considerably 

 longer than the rest : they have likewise a strong tooth 

 or salient angle on the outer edge towards the ante- 

 rior extremity. The elytra are dark brown, varie- 

 gated with numerous longitudinal stripes of reddish 

 yellow, which are often interrupted, and united with 

 each other. The under parts of the body, and the 

 legs, are of a ferruginous colour ; and the latter are 

 without spines. This species varies much in size, 

 some of the specimens which we have seen measur- 

 ing upwards of five inches, while others do not ex- 

 ceed two and three quarters. It is an inhabitant 

 of Brazil and Cayenne, where it is universally known 

 by the name of Mouche scieur de long. r j"his ap- 

 pellation refers to a very peculiar habit which the 

 insect is recorded to practise. It is said to seize a 

 branch of a tree or shrub between its long and 

 powerful mandibles, and to fly round the enclosed 

 twig till it has succeeded in sawing it off. " Al- 

 though I have not myself been a witness of this oc- 

 currence," says M. Lacordaire, " I am inclined to 

 believe it, both because I have been assured of its 

 truth by individuals worthy of credit, and because 

 I have seen on several occasions branches cut in 

 the manner alluded to, and bearing the evident 

 marks of mandibles which must have belonged to 

 an insect of the size of this species." A like prac- 



