92 INSECTS. 



racter: those of the Scolytus destructor consist of 

 a tube bored upwards by the mother, of two or three 

 inches long, in which she deposits her eggs. The young 

 larvae when hatched commence forming horizontal bores 

 on each side of this tube, and at right angles with it. 

 These tubes, usually about sixty or seventy in number, 

 at first close together, spread apart as they proceed, and 

 in them the metamorphosis takes place, the beetles when 

 perfect, not gaining daylight by returning through the 

 tubes, but boring their way out of the tree by a short 

 cut to the surface. The female, having deposited her 

 eggs, is generally found closing the mouth of her 

 burrow with her own dead body. It is remarkable that 

 she never encroaches on the burrow of another indi- 

 vidual. 



Another species is named Scolytus Typographia, or the 

 Printer, from the resemblance which its mines bear to 

 a printed page. 



Several of the weevils have a power of producing a 

 low sound by rapidly vibrating the last segment of the 

 abdomen, and rubbing it against the elytra. Some other 

 beetles are capable of producing sound, as the sexton 

 and the asparagus beetle. 



The LONGICORNES are generally of a larger size than 

 beetles of the preceding group, and are mostly wood eaters. 

 Among them are some dusky insects of nocturnal habits, 

 but there are several species certain to attract notice 

 by the beauty of their form and colouring. The musk 

 beetle (Cerambyx moschatus) is remarkable both for its 

 size and beauty and for the peculiar scent whence it de- 

 rives its name. It is of a metallic green, and covered with 

 fine indentations ; it is above an inch in length, and some- 

 what narrow in proportion. This insect is to be found 



