THE EUPODA, OR PHYTOPHAGA. 215 



seeming to be truncate in front. Their antennae are 

 long and filiform ; their thorax margined ; their pygi- 

 dium not entirely covered by the elytra, and their eyes 

 kidney-shaped. 



Our single genus, Cryptocephalus, contains many 

 brilliant species, found on hazel, oak, birch, sallow, etc. 

 They are only to be seen during fine weather, and chiefly 

 in the hottest part of the day, retiring when the sun is 

 overclouded. The approach of the net, and sometimes 

 even the step or shadow of the collector, is enough to 

 make these wary little beauties drop from their leafy 

 perch. Their larvae are enclosed in cases somewhat like 

 those of Clythra, supposed to be formed of earth, but 

 which in one case has been found to consist of the ex- 

 crement of the larva, moulded into shape with its man- 

 dibles. 



The sexes vary somewhat in this genus, the males 

 being usually less bulky, and having longer legs and an- 

 tennae. In C. coryli, found on hazel bushes at Darenth 

 in June, the female is entirely red, while the male has 

 a black thorax. 



C. sexpunctatus , found in the same place, and at 

 Cobham, Kent, is elegantly spotted ; though the palm 

 of beauty in this respect must be given to C. decempunc- 

 tatus, recently discovered at Rannoch, by Mr. Sharp and 

 the author, on dwarf sallow. This species is exceed- 

 ingly variable; one form being clear yellowish-white, with 

 ten round black spots ; another orange with transverse 

 black bands, and a third entirely black. Others of our 

 Cryptocephali are wholly of a lovely green ; either frosted 

 (C. aureolus and sericeus ; the latter common at Mickle- 

 ham on Hieracium) or dark and shining (C. nitidulus, 

 Cobham and Mickleham, birch) . Of the smaller species 



