122 COLEOPTERA. 



and concealed under, or deeply sunk into, the thorax. The 

 legs are very short, and hardly seen from above. These 

 insects are often gayly colored or spotted, which increases 

 their resemblance to a tortoise ; they creep slowly, and fly 

 by day. Their larvae and pupae resemble those of the 

 following species in most respects. 



Cassida aurichalcea (Plate I. Fig. 5), so named by Fabri- 

 cius on account of the brilliant brassy or golden lustre it 

 assumes, is found during most of the summer months on 

 the leaves of the bitter-sweet (SoUmwm dulcamara), and in 

 great abundance on various kinds of Convolvulus, such as our 

 large-flowered Convolvulus sepium, the morning-glory, and 

 the sweet-potato vine. The leaves of these plants are eaten 

 both by the beetles and their young. The former begin to 

 appear during the months of May and June, having probably 

 survived the winter in some place of shelter and concealment, 

 and then* larvae in a week or two afterwards. The larvae 

 are broad oval, flattened, dark-colored grubs 

 (Fig. 55), with a kind of fringe, composed of 

 stiff prickles, around the thin edges of the 

 body, and a long forked tail. This fork serves 

 to hold the excrement when voided ; and a 

 mass of it half as large as the body of the 

 insect is often thus accumulated. The tail, 

 with the loaded fork, is turned over the back, 

 and thus protects the insect from the sun, and probably also 

 from its enemies. The first broods of larvae arrive at their 

 growth and change to pupae early in July, fixing themselves 

 firmly by the hinder part of their bodies to the leaves, when 

 this change is about to take place. The pupa remains 

 fastened to the cast-skin of the larva. It is broad oval, 

 fringed at the sides, and around the fore part of the broad 

 thorax, with large prickles. Soon afterwards the beetles 

 come forth, and lay their eggs for a second brood of grubs, 

 which, in turn, are changed to beetles in the course of the 

 autumn. In June, 1824, the late Mr. John Lowell sent me 



